K'naan, rapper behind Wavin' Flag megahit, charged with sexual assault in Quebec City
Alleged incident took place during Quebec City summer festival in 2010
K'naan, one of Canada's most prominent rappers, best known for his 2009 hit Wavin' Flag, has been charged with sexual assault in Quebec City.
The artist, whose real name is Keinan Abdi Warsame, is accused of sexually assaulting a person between July 16 and July 17, 2010, according to the charge sheet. At the time of the alleged incident, the 47-year-old performer was in Quebec City for the Festival d'été de Québec, a major summer event in the provincial capital. Radio-Canada reports that the alleged victim was a woman in her 20s at the time.
The alleged victim filed a complaint with Montreal police in May 2022. The case was later transferred to Quebec City police, as the crime is alleged to have taken place in a hotel room within their jurisdiction, according to Radio-Canada.
Although the case was in court on Thursday morning, K'naan was not present for the proceedings. The preliminary inquiry has been scheduled for April 2025, and Radio-Canada also reports that the artist's lawyer indicated K'naan wishes to be tried in English before a jury.
Earlier this week, the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) awarded K'naan the Cultural Impact Award, recognizing the "global and lasting impact" of his 2009 song.
K'naan, who grew up in Toronto, currently resides in New York City.
