Nicki Minaj Performs in Angola Despite Opposition From Human Rights Activists

Nicki Minaj performed in the Southern African country of Angola on Saturday (Dec. 19), and while the show was apparently a hit with those in attendance, it was met by opposition by some human rights activists.

According to the New York Post, the beef with Nicki's performance had more to do with money than music. Meek's boo performed at a holiday concert hosted by Unitel, a telecom company controlled by Angola’s dictator, José Eduardo dos Santos. For her set, she was reportedly given $2 million an amount that didn't sit well with the Human Rights Foundation who called for Minaj to cancel her show in an open letter prior to the event.

“The payment you are receiving from your Angolan sponsors is the result of government corruption and human-rights violations,” Thor Halvorssen, president of the Human Rights Foundation, wrote in a letter to Minaj last week.

Santos has been the president of Angola since 1979 and has ruled with an iron fist. He has been accused of being one of the most corrupt leaders in Africa, routinely using the position for monetary personal gain while most of the population lives on less than .2 cents a day.

The organization's reported pleas were not enough for the Young Money rapper to stop the show. Despite the calls to cancel, Minaj rocked the stage posting video of the crowd going crazy to her performance along with the caption, "Angola has my heart."

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