‘I was inspired to shed light on our Muslim brothers and sisters who are suffering,’ Zül-Qarnaįn Nantambu tells Dazed
Kendrick Lamar began his half-time show at the Super Bowl by announcing “the revolution’s about to be televised”, but it turned out that the most subversive part of the show wasn’t planned at all. During the final song, Zül-Qarnaįn Nantambu – a New Orleans resident who had applied to take part as a backing performer – pulled out Gaza and Sudan flags, held them aloft and ran around the pitch, before eventually being hauled away by security.
A self-described "financial freedom fighter”, Nantambu (41) runs a clothing line, Qarnaįn Collection, and a YouTube channel, Open Book Platform, where he interviews influencers, artists and athletes about their lives and careers. A practising Muslim, his religious faith and his experience of being in community with Sudanese and Palestinian Americans informed his decision to stage a protest. He wanted to draw attention to the suffering of people in Sudan, where a civil war has killed an estimated 61,000 people and displaced millions, and Gaza, where after a military assault by Israel which many experts have described as “genocidal”, Palestinians now face permanent expulsion with the backing of Donald Trump.
We spoke with Nantambu to talk about why he staged his protest, what happened on the night, and whether he’s heard from Kendrick.
When you signed up to take part in the Super Bowl, were you planning to do this from the beginning?
Zül-Qarnaįn Nantambu: Honestly, no. I applied to be part of the halftime show and was selected. We were rehearsing for up to six hours a day for two weeks, and I was starting to think I’d bitten off more than I could chew – at first, I just wanted to go to the Super Bowl for free. But as we continued to practice and I realised the magnitude of the platform, I was inspired to use this opportunity to shed light on our Muslim brothers and sisters who are suffering, oppressed and going through hardships. As Muslims, we’re one body, so if one part of the body hurts, we all hurt. I just felt like I had to do my part and trusted God would do the rest.
How were you feeling beforehand?
Zül-Qarnaįn Nantambu: I just had to mentally get over the anxiety: this could happen or that could happen, what if nobody sees it, what if law enforcement does this or that… I had myriad thoughts that I just had to block out my mind and not put any energy into. Once I was out there running with the flag, I just felt like I was just in motion. It wasn’t an out-of-body experience, but I was in the moment. I wasn’t thinking, ‘oh, it's the Super Bowl and all these people are looking at me; Jay Z is there and Donald Trump's over there’. I was just doing what I needed to do.
What happened when you got detained by security?
Zül-Qarnaįn Nantambu: The dude kind of grabbed me and pulled me down. I was like, ‘OK it’s over’ – I wasn’t going to fight it, so I just went down. And they were pleasant, they weren’t cursing, yelling or aggressive. They were just doing their job.
The NFL were saying they wanted to charge me with something. But shout out NOPD [New Orleans Police Department], they were great – they were honourable. I didn’t commit a crime, I had all the credentials to be on the field. So that was the interaction with the police: they clarified that I didn't have any warrants against me and I was released.
We’re one body, so if one part of the body hurts, we all hurt. I just felt like I had to do my part and trusted God would do the rest
Have you heard anything from Kendrick or his people?
Zül-Qarnaįn Nantambu: I have not. I got an influx of messages and emails but I don’t see anything from Kendrick.
What do Gaza and Sudan mean to you?
Zül-Qarnaįn Nantambu: My connection is a human connection. My connection is also a spiritual and religious connection. We pray to the same God and we follow the same human being, the prophet Muhammad. So we’re connected in that regard, regardless of race, ethnicity, land or language. I don’t speak fluent Arabic. I couldn’t even hold a conversation with a Palestinian or Sudanese if they don’t speak English, but I know how to greet them. I know how to express that I love them, and when we pray together, we pray in the same language. So that is our connection, and that connection right there is great.
Do you have any demands? What would you like to see happen with regards to Gaza and Sudan?
Zül-Qarnaįn Nantambu: I don’t know the nuances, but I would like the suffering to end. I would like them to be treated like human beings. I would like them to live like how we’re living in London and America. I would like them to have their civil liberties. That’s the demand. ‘Give us free,’ like your boy said on Amistad.
What is Amistad?
Zül-Qarnaįn Nantambu: You've never seen Amistad!? James, what are you doing, bro? You’re Scottish – I’ve bet you’ve seen Braveheart?
I have.
Zül-Qarnaįn Nantambu: You gotta be William Wallace, bro.