Human rights groups call on Nicki Minaj to cancel her concert for Angolan President after accusing her of 'callously taking money from a dictator'

Human rights groups have called on U.S. hip-hop star Nicki Minaj to cancel her upcoming concert in Angola after accusing the singer of 'callously taking money from a dictator'. Minaj is due on stage on Saturday in the Angolan capital Luanda for a Christmas concert hosted by the Unitel communications firm, which is part-owned by President Eduardo dos Santos's family. 

Fellow US singer Mariah Carey was criticised in 2013 for performing in front of the leader for a reported fee of $1million (£665,000).

Dos Santos, 73, has been accused of overseeing corruption, misrule and intimidation in a country that suffers endemic poverty despite being Africa's second-largest oil producer. 

Rights groups claimed Minaj's performance would endorse his authoritarian rule.

Jeffery Smith, of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights centre, said: 'Nicki Minaj is following in the footsteps of Mariah Carey, callously taking money from a dictator... who has effectively and ruthlessly choked free expression.

'This sustained crackdown on basic human rights in Angola has swept up activists, opposition members, journalists and even musicians.' 

Human Rights Foundation president Thor Halvorssen added: 'Nicki Minaj is a global artist. 

'There is no good reason for her to do business with the corrupt Angolan dictatorship and endorse the ruler's family company.' 

Angola marked 40 years of independence from Portugal last month, with dos Santos vowing to bring progress to the country, but critics accuse him of ruling through fear and repression.

Minaj has appeared in a Unitel clip on Facebook, promoting her Angola show.

Minaj also shared the event's poster on her Instagram account and tweeted: 'Guess who's performing in Angola Dec 19th at the Unitel Christmas Festival.'

The award-winning rapper will share the stage with local acts at the stadium concert, according to the Unitel website.