Zül-Qarnain Nantambu, a 41-year-old New Orleans-based artist, took a bold stance during Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show at the Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. As the crowd watched, Nantambu unfurled a joint Palestinian and Sudanese flag and ran onto the field, waving it for about 30 seconds before being tackled by security.
Nantambu’s action sparked national attention and was seen as a powerful protest against the ongoing conflicts in Palestine and Sudan. The civil war in Sudan has left millions facing acute hunger, while the Trump administration’s freeze on humanitarian aid projects has exacerbated the crisis.
Nantambu said he couldn’t stay silent about the suffering of his fellow Muslims abroad. “I can’t live in America while those are suffering, without trying to help or bring attention to it,” he stated. He was inspired by Lamar’s revolutionary messaging and felt compelled to speak out against injustice.
The artist’s actions were seen as a powerful statement on humanity and solidarity. Despite facing detention and questioning from security, Nantambu remains undeterred, believing his actions were part of a larger plan to bring attention to the cause.
Source: https://theintercept.com/2025/02/10/super-bowl-kendrick-lamar-gaza-sudan-protester