Somali-Canadian Rapper K’naan Charged with Sexual Assault
Canadian authorities have charged Somali-Canadian rapper K’naan, whose hit song “Wavin’ Flag” became the anthem for the 2010 soccer World Cup, with sexual assault. The 47-year-old rapper, whose real name is Keinan Abdi Warsame, is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in her 20s in July 2010 during a music festival in Canada.
K’naan’s lawyers entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf in court on Thursday, and the rapper was reportedly not present. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 2025.
Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1978, K’naan fled the war-torn country at the age of 13 and grew up in Toronto, where he learned English through rap music. He now resides in New York City.
K’naan’s music career began to take off in 1999 when he criticized the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, catching the attention of Senegalese star Youssou N’Dour, who invited him to contribute to an album. His hit song “Wavin’ Flag” is a lively rendition packed with percussions and reggae rhythms.
After taking an extended break, K’naan returned to music in 2023, earning a special merit award for best song for social change from the Recording Academy. He also made his directorial debut with “Mother Mother” at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month.
This week, the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada honored K’naan with an award for the lasting cultural impact of “Wavin’ Flag” around the world. The case against K’naan is ongoing, and it remains to be seen how his music career will be affected by these allegations.
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