Somali-Canadian rapper K’naan charged with sexual assault, CBC says

Somali-Canadian rapper K’naan, whose song “Wavin’ Flag” became an anthem of the 2010 soccer World Cup, was charged on Thursday with sexual assault in Quebec City in 2010, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp said.

CBC, citing court documents, said the singer – whose real name is Keinan Abdi Warsame – is alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman in the city in July that year. The alleged victim was in her twenties at the time.

A preliminary inquiry has been set for April 2025. CBC cited a lawyer for the singer saying K’naan – who lives in New York – wanted to be tried in English in front of a jury.

The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada this week gave K’naan an award to mark the “global and lasting impact” of his 2009 hit. Coca-Cola chose a remixed version of the song as its anthem for the 2010 World Cup.