Ibrahim Maiga
Born (1963-01-03) 3 January 1963
Mopti, Mali
Nationality
  • Malian
  • Slovak
Other namesIbi Maiga
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actor
  • comedian
  • politician

Ibrahim Maiga, also known as Ibi Maiga,[1][2][3] (born in Mopti, 3 January 1963),[4] is a Slovak singer, actor, comedian, and politician.[5][6] The BBC describes him as a "celebrity in Slovakia".[7]

Biography

Maiga moved to what was then Czechoslovakia in the late 1980s as a student at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava and subsequently obtained Slovak citizenship. He "quickly became famous as a singer and actor".[8] The BBC describes him as "a well-known figure" through his "infectious humour and songs about his homeland, Mali".[9]

He stood as a candidate for the European Parliament during the 2009 elections, representing the Party of the Democratic Left (SDL).[10][11] As a pro-European, he has stated: "Particularly now, in a time of crisis, we see how important the European Union is. Without its existence, several states might have suffered collapse".[12] Explaining his choice to run for the European Parliament, he also stated: "I really want to fight this election just to show Europe that Slovakia has a great future in Europe. If I'm elected and for the first time in history a black man represents Slovakia, that's going to be obvious to all of Europe."[13]

In 2019, Maiga announced his return to politics and ran for a seat in the 2019 European Parliament election in Slovakia as a representative of the Priama Demokracia party.[14]

Maiga speaks six languages.[15] He has two children, a son and a daughter.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Slovakia struggles to avoid lowest EU vote turn-out again", EU Observer, 15 May 2009
  2. ↑ "Sänger aus Mali drängt ins EU-Parlament" Der Standard, 27 May 2009
  3. ↑ "Berie politickú kariéru vážne? Odpovedal Ibi Maiga", Aktuelne, 22 May 2009
  4. ↑ "Sänger aus Mali drängt ins EU-Parlament" Der Standard, 27 May 2009
  5. ↑ "Stars try to energise Slovak voters", BBC, 4 June 2009
  6. ↑ "Slovakia struggles to avoid lowest EU vote turn-out again", EU Observer, 15 May 2009
  7. ↑ "Slovakia struggles to avoid lowest EU vote turn-out again", EU Observer, 15 May 2009
  8. ↑ "Slovakia struggles to avoid lowest EU vote turn-out again", EU Observer, 15 May 2009
  9. ↑ "Stars try to energise Slovak voters", BBC, 4 June 2009
  10. ↑ "Stars try to energise Slovak voters", BBC, 4 June 2009
  11. ↑ "Sänger aus Mali drängt ins EU-Parlament" Der Standard, 27 May 2009
  12. ↑ "Sänger aus Mali drängt ins EU-Parlament" Der Standard, 27 May 2009
  13. ↑ "Stars try to energise Slovak voters", BBC, 4 June 2009
  14. ↑ "Z Ibrahima Maigu poslanec: Čierna bača vstupuje do politiky!" [Ibrahim Maiga for MP: Black whip enters politics!]. topky.sk (in Slovak). 14 March 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  15. ↑ "Slovakia struggles to avoid lowest EU vote turn-out again", EU Observer, 15 May 2009
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