Saudi Arabia gears up for Nicki Minaj`s performance
- 04 Jul 2019
US rapper Nicki Minaj will perform in Saudi Arabia this month, organisers said, triggering a storm on social media.
Minaj, known for her profanity-laced lyrics and raunchy music videos, will perform in the western city of Jeddah on July 18, organisers of the ongoing Jeddah Season cultural festival announced on Twitter on Tuesday.
The headline act, to be televised on MTV, will also feature British musician Liam Payne and American DJ Steve Aoki, local media reported.
"She (Minaj) is going to be actively on her social media, she'll be posting right from the stage in Jeddah and at her hotel in Jeddah," Robert Quirke, an event organiser, was quoted as saying by the Arab News daily.
"Everyone is going to know that Nicki Minaj has landed in Saudi Arabia."
The news was widely welcomed in a country where two-thirds of the population is under 30, with one Twitter user posting a picture of Minaj and writing: "My dream has come true".
While Saudi Arabia is yet to offer tourist visas, the country has fast-tracked electronic permits for international visitors to attend such festivals to further boost revenue.
Agence France-Presse