• Zul-Qarnain Nantambu described himself as a “freedom fighter”. “We live a life of luxury in comparison to what they’re going through,” he said.
• He went off-script, parading around the field at the Super Bowl with a banner combining the flags of Palestine and Sudan.
The dancer who raised a flag in tribute to Sudan and Palestine during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show has spoken out, explaining the motivation behind his bold act of defiance.
Zül-Qarnain Nantambu, 41, is the man who was seen sprinting across the field at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday (February 9), evading security. Lamar’s show featured high-profile guests like SZA, Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams, and DJ Mustard, while also delivering subtle jabs at Drake.
However, the celebrity-packed performance was momentarily overshadowed when Nantambu went off-script, parading around the field with a banner combining the flags of Palestine and Sudan. Security swiftly intervened, tackling and ejecting him from the stadium, while clips of the incident quickly went viral on social media.
Nantambu later confirmed he was the dancer who deviated from the planned choreography, and he expressed no regrets for his actions. He explained that he had been hired as a participant in the halftime show and had been involved in rehearsals for the past two weeks.
“I don’t want to attribute any of that to [Lamar] because he didn’t know anything about it,” Nantambu told the Daily Mail, emphasising that his actions were his own and not connected to the rapper.
Nantambu, who described himself as a “freedom fighter,” insisted that his act was not political but rather a gesture of solidarity with those suffering in Gaza and Sudan. “We live a life of luxury in comparison to what they’re going through,” he said.
“I wanted to show that we are united and that they are loved. They are loved here by believers. They are prayed for here by believers. And we’re in solidarity and unity with them, praying for the betterment of that situation.”
The NFL confirmed that Nantambu had been part of the 400-strong cast performing on the field. Shortly afterward, it announced that the New Orleans native would receive a lifetime ban from all NFL stadiums and events in response to his protest.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Nantambu spoke candidly about his fears during the stunt:
“The risk of a ban? I was afraid I was going to get sniped by a Secret Service bullet. I can watch a football program on the television if I choose to, sir.”
He elaborated further on his motivation, saying, “I thought I could contribute to taking it to the next level with this activism, protest, and enlightenment, to make others aware of what’s happening in other parts of the world. A lot of people don’t know what’s going on in Gaza or Sudan, and they feel like they’re not being represented properly. I had the opportunity to represent them on a global stage, and I had to take it—even just to get the prayers of the people.”
Nantambu also revealed in an interview with NBC News that he drew inspiration from the symbolism in Lamar’s own performance. “He had the people form the American flag; he had two large black flags with his record label,” Nantambu said. “And he talked about ‘the revolution being televised’ and consciousness. That inspired me.”
Nantambu remains resolute, believing his actions were necessary to raise awareness and show solidarity with oppressed communities across the globe.
