Rapper Nicki Minaj will perform in Saudi Arabia later this month as the country tries to shake off decades of restrictions on entertainment, reports the AP.
The big picture: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has been trying to present a younger and fresher Saudi Arabia to the rest of the world — especially after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
- The performance is part of a push to increase tourism to the country. The Saudi government will be issuing quick visas to foreigners.
- President Trump and other members of his administration, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have publicly stood by the Saudis after Khashoggi's death last year, despite the CIA's assessment that MBS ordered the murder.
The state of play: Even though Minaj is known for her provocative dances and songs, the women attending the concert are still expected to be dressed in abayas (long conservative gowns) and headscarves.
- Some women have taken to social media to critique the hypocrisy, according to AP. The genders will also be segregated during the performance.
The backdrop:
- The country's first movie theater since the 1970s opened in Riyadh last April, screening "Black Panther," reports CNBC.
- Women were allowed to drive last year after decades of protests following a ruling in 2017.
Go deeper: UN report says Khashoggi killing was "deliberate, premeditated execution"
