Access Bank, Mariah Carey under fire for lavish $2m concerts
Mariah Carey has come under fire after she was allegedly paid $1 million to perform for Angolan President Josè Eduardo Dos Santos a day after she performed at a Lagos gig for a Nigerian bank which recently laid off 200 workers. The ‘All I Want for Christmas is You ‘ singer gave a two-hour concert for authoritarian Angolan President Josè Eduardo Dos Santos on Sunday December 15, 2013, in return for the huge amount, angering human rights groups. She had earlier performed in Lagos, Nigeria, for Access Bank which also allegedly coughed out $1m for her appearance. Her Lagos visit sparked criticisms because the bank had only recently disengaged 200 workers. Human Rights Foundation president Thor Halvorssen said: ‘ It is the sad spectacle of an international artist purchased by a ruthless police state to entertain and whitewash the father-daughter kleptocracy that has amassed billions in ill-gotten wealth while the majority of Angola lives on less than $2 a day.’