As the opening bars of Kendrick Lamar’s “tv off” began to fill the New Orleans Superdome on Sunday, Zül-Qarnain Nantambu, a New Orleans-based artist, knew he had a decision to make. Here he was on one of the world’s biggest stages — with millions tuned in for the Super Bowl LIX halftime performance. “Are you going to be brave? Are you going to be a coward?” he asked himself. “Are you going to take a stand?”
With the world watching, Nantambu, 41, made his choice. As the rest of the 400 hired dancers moved in a coordinated rhythm to Lamar’s music, Nantambu reached into his clothes and unfurled a joint Palestinian and Sudanese flag. He took off running, waving a flag adorned with the words “Sudan” and “Gaza” in black ink. After roughly 30 seconds, he was wrestled to the ground by security as the crowd watched.
Despite the mere seconds of screen time, his protest captured national attention.
“I don’t get caught up in politics or anything,” he told The Intercept, adding. “What’s going on in these places are inhumane. The civil war in Sudan, the oppression and the war and the tyranny that’s going on in Gaza, is inhumane. And these people are connected with us all as humans, and especially with me in faith.”
Over the last few weeks, both conflicts have been in the spotlight, thanks in part to the actions of President Donald Trump, who attended the game on Sunday. Trump has called for all Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to be expelled from the region in an ethnic cleansing to facilitate the development of seaside real estate. In Sudan, the civil war has continued to rage with millions facing acute hunger as the Trump administration freezes critical humanitarian aid projects in the country.
“I can’t live in America — live in a lap of luxury — while those are suffering, without trying to help or bring attention to it.”
Nantambu said that he couldn’t allow those who share his Muslim faith abroad to suffer without speaking out. “I can’t live in America — live in a lap of luxury — while those are suffering, without trying to help or bring attention to it,” he said.
The New Orleans performer and designer, who also hosts a YouTube show, said he was partially inspired by Lamar’s revolutionary messaging during rehearsal. “Looking at Kendrick Lamar’s performance, when he was talking about revolution, because we were at practice. So I’m seeing the performance. … I’m seeing him talk about the revolution is not going to be televised,” he said. “This is a lot bigger than all of us, bigger than me, bigger than the Super Bowl, bigger than Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s beef, because humanity is involved.”
Nantambu said that he decided to make the statement before it was announced that Trump would be attending the game. “That just added an extra layer of anxiety,” he said, “I was scared, I thought I was gonna get shot. I didn’t know what was gonna happen, but God gave me comfort, calmness.”
The performer said he was detained and questioned by security but was ultimately released. Despite reports suggesting that he may face criminal charges, Nantambu said he has yet to face any legal ramifications. Roc Nation, which produced the Super Bowl halftime show, denied any involvement in the protest.
Despite his initial fears, Nantambu said he feels as if he was brought to this exact moment for a reason. “God brought me there to send a message and show solidarity and the greatness of God and solidarity to the oppressed, to the Muslims all around the world,” he said. “Those who look like their voices and their pains are not being heard. And God can elevate them and bring awareness to them on the biggest platform, in the biggest stage.”
