Ibrahim Maiga

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

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

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