NEWS
The protester who brought out a flag representing both Palestine and Sudan during Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime Show has spoken out. Revealing himself to be Zül-Qarnain Nantambu, the man spoke about his decision with Daily Mail for an interview published on Monday. Nantambu, who was working as one of the hundreds of on-field performers for the set, hoisted the flag in the air while standing atop the Grand National car on stage.
“It wasn’t a part of [Lamar’s] plan,” he explained to the outlet. “I don’t want to attribute any of that to him because he didn’t know anything about that.” He added that the move was a way of "showing solidarity with the people suffering over there." He also explained that "we live a life of luxury in comparison to what they’re going through.”
Shortly after his show of solidarity, police detained Nantambu but eventually let him go after the NFL confirmed he was one of the dancers and thus wasn't trespassing. "We commend security for quickly detaining the individual who displayed the flag," the league said. "He was a part of the 400-member field cast. The individual hid the item on his possession and unveiled it late in the show. No one involved with the production was aware of the individual’s intent."
The Daily Mail wasn't the only outlet Nantambu spoke with. He also discussed Donald Trump's stance on Palestine with NBC News for a separate interview. "I hope God shifts Trump's heart to be empathetic and compassionate to those who are suffering in Palestine and do what is right by the Palestinians," Nantambu said. "And if he can, help the Sudanese — which I'm sure he can." His comments come after the president suggested the United States should seek ownership of the Gaza Strip. He's said he wouldn't welcome Palestinians back to the area if that becomes the case. Trump was in attendance at the game on Sunday.
Ezra Furman has announced a new headline tour of the UK and Europe to take place early in 2026 – see all the dates below.
The Chicago-born singer-songwriter released her 10th studio album ‘Goodbye Small Head’ in May via Bella Union and is already set to take the record on the road around North America in August and October this year.
Now, she has added a slew of dates on the other side of the Atlantic, kicking off in Vienna, Austria on January 19 and taking in dates in Graz, Linz, Munich, Prague, Berlin, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Antwerp and Paris.
The tour rounds off with four UK dates – Glasgow, Manchester and Bristol are followed by a huge final show at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London on February 4. Tickets are on sale now and you can find yours here.
JANUARY
19 – Vienna, Arena Wien
20 – Graz, Dom Im Berg
21 -Linz, Posthof
22 – Munich, Strom
24 – Prague, Cargo Gallery
25 – Berlin, Columbia Theater
26 – Hamburg, Molotow
27 – Amsterdam, Paradiso Tolhuisten
28 – Antwerp, Trix Club
29 – Paris, Le Cabaret Sauvage
FEBRUARY
1 – Glasgow, The Art School
2 – Manchester, New Century Hall
3 – Bristol, Electric
4 – London, O2 Forum Kentish Town
Furman described ‘Goodbye Small Head’ as being “vivid with overwhelm”, adding: “They’re not about someone going off the rails, they are inside that person’s heart. The songwriting here is a revision to William Wordsworth’s famous proclamation that ‘Poetry is the spontaneous overow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquillity’. I can agree with that, except for the tranquillity part.”
Furman continued: “This poetry, my poetry, arrived in the midst of the storm. It was written as I teetered toward the edge. (I did the edits once I was safe again).”
