When and where was Mathangi Arulpragasam born?
Mathangi Arulpragasam was born on the 18th of July 1975 in Hounslow, London. Her family moved to Jaffna, northern Sri Lanka, when she was six months old.
Common questions about M.I.A. (rapper)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What does the stage name M.I.A. stand for?
The stage name M.I.A. is an initialism standing for Missing in Action and Missing in Acton. It refers to her missing cousin in Sri Lanka and the London district where she lived.
How did Mathangi Arulpragasam release her debut album Arular?
Mathangi Arulpragasam released her debut album Arular in March 2005 after signing to XL Recordings in mid-2004. The album was built from bedroom demos and featured beats programmed on a Roland MC-505 drum machine.
What happened during the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show in 2012?
Mathangi Arulpragasam performed alongside Madonna and Nicki Minaj on the 1st of February 2012 and extended her middle finger to the camera during the song Give Me All Your Luvin'. The NFL filed a lawsuit against her for millions in damages, which was settled in August 2014.
Why has Mathangi Arulpragasam faced criticism regarding her activism?
Mathangi Arulpragasam has faced criticism from the Sri Lankan government for her commentary on the oppression of Sri Lankan Tamils and her support for the Tamil Tigers. She has used her platform to highlight human rights abuses and war crimes in Sri Lanka since 2009.