Three-time Grammy Award-winning musician Ricky Kej recently met French President Emmanuel Macron at a lunch organized in his honor in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Kej shared details about his meeting with the President and even clicked a selfie with him.
Reflecting on the event, Kej said, “I’m very honored to be a goodwill ambassador with the United Nations, particularly with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The UNCCD is organizing their COP16, the Conference of Parties 16, in Saudi Arabia this year. I’m here to attend the conference, film a music video, and create a documentary about land degradation and desertification to raise awareness of the environmental challenges we face.”
He continued, “While attending formal events for COP16 in Riyadh, President Macron was also in town. I reached out to him, and he invited me for lunch.”
Recalling the meeting, Kej added, “We hugged, and the lunch was beautifully organized by the Saudi government. President Macron also introduced me to His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture. We discussed ways to collaborate between India and Saudi Arabia through music and our shared cultural heritage. During lunch, the three of us took a selfie—President Macron even took it using my phone! I deeply admire His Highness Prince Badr for his vision and commitment to fostering cultural exchange between nations.”
Kej also expressed his deep gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for elevating India’s status on the global stage.
“The person I am most thankful to is our dear Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. He has made India visible on the world map. In the past, India was often sidelined in intergovernmental discussions. Now, India is not only participating but is also leading as a voice for the Global South. Because of this newfound visibility, Indian culture, traditions, and artists like me are receiving global recognition. It’s because of his leadership that the world wants to collaborate with Indian artists and explore our art and traditions,” Kej remarked.
He added, “This push from PM Modi has led to a global resurgence of Indian music. Our traditional, classical, and folk musicians are performing at international venues and doing large concerts like never before. I will always be grateful to our Prime Minister for showcasing India in such a beautiful way and encouraging all of us to do the same.”
On social media, Kej shared the selfie from his meeting, captioning it: “Wow! What a day. Met my friend, someone I have absolute respect for—President @EmmanuelMacron—at a lunch organized in his honor in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (The last time we met was at a dinner he hosted for our very own Prime Minister @narendramodi ji.) I also had the honor to meet His Highness Prince @BadrFAlSaud, with whom I had a fantastic meeting about musical collaborations between our two great nations. Here is a selfie we took together 🙂 I congratulated President Macron on a fantastic Olympics and how he is leveraging arts to unite the world and build a compassionate future. He is just awesome!”
Last year, Kej attended a banquet dinner hosted by President Macron at the Louvre Museum in honor of Prime Minister Modi. Reflecting on that occasion, Kej wrote, “Wow! Our Hon’ble Prime Minister @narendramodi ji, you constantly make all of us Indians proud! Attended the official dinner in honor of PM Modiji at the @MuseeLouvre hosted by the suave & gracious President of France @EmmanuelMacron. The last leader hosted at the Louvre was Queen Elizabeth II in 1957! A huge honor to be seated with the two world leaders and dine with them. The world is indeed in great hands. Bright future ahead.
