A carnival in the northern French port of Dunkirk opened on Sunday clouded by a controversy over the use of blackface after criticism from anti-racism campaigners.
The weeks-long event, usually attended by tens of thousands of people, sees locals dress up and parade through the streets in costumes and painted faces, with some choosing to wear black make-up and clothing to resemble African tribal figures.
It is under particular scrutiny this year over the “Night of the Blacks”, a fundraising tradition dating back 50 years, which is set to take place on March 10 at the city’s main conference centre.
A poster, put up around the port before being flagged by anti-racism campaigners in December, featured three men wearing blackface paint and feather headdresses.
