Human rights activists have accused Erykah Badu of "endorsing a brutal dictator" by performing at the 46th birthday celebration of Swaziland's King Mswati III. The singer has refused to apologise for appearing at the show, insisting that, although she doesn't "keep up with current events", her "harmless" visit did not help "further [Mswati's] political agenda".

Badu was invited to Mswati's birthday concert by celebrity goldsmith Jacob "the Jeweller" Arabov, who asked her to sing Happy Birthday in an arena packed with thousands of people. "I went into a situation not completely knowing [Swaziland's] political climate," Badu told the Dallas Morning News. "[But] I can’t be held responsible for the situation in the kingdom, because I signed up as an artist, not as a political activist. I don’t belong to anyone or to anything … And all the money that I got from the trip I gave to all the servants in the house."

The singer was just as unrepentant in posts to her Twitter account, where she claimed critics were using her critics as part of "a political season".

We are in a political season and I am being Used. WATCH CLOSELY . — ErykahBadoula (@fatbellybella) April 29, 2014

"All the people were smiling when I sang," Badu wrote. "Thousands [were] cheering him on … We ALL felt good in that moment." She described the local culture as "uncontaminated" and "ancient", and then called on Swazi people to weigh in, giving their opinions on her show. "Where u at?" she asked of Swaziland again, an hour later, before someone pointed out it was 4am in the capital Lobamba.

O. Lol “@sindisoRedeem: @fatbellybella most of south africa is sleeping its 4am right now!” — ErykahBadoula (@fatbellybella) April 30, 2014

When one Swazi writer eventually commented that he was "directly affected by Mswati's oppression", Badu replied: "U on Twitter tho, oppressing me."

U on twitter tho, oppressing me. “@sipho_dube: @fatbellybella I'm a Swazi and directly affected by mswati's oppression” — ErykahBadoula (@fatbellybella) April 30, 2014

The Human Rights Foundation and the Robert F Kennedy Centre for Justice and Human Rights in the US have led the criticism of Badu's performance, protesting that "despite a carefully crafted image of American civil rights activism, Badu [is praising] Africa’s last absolute monarch, a strongman who imprisons dissidents." Mswati III has banned political parties in his country, imprisoning and torturing activists. Every year he selects a new wife from among tens of thousands of bare-breasted virgins. And despite his rumoured personal fortune of $100m (£64m), Swaziland is one of the world's poorest nations.

While Badu did receive a fee for performing at Mswati's party, she says she donated the money to "the servants in [his] house".

"And so the servants can live happily [ever] after as servants 4 a dictator?" asked one critic. "I don't know," Badu replied, "but they can eat today."

Reading on mobile? Click here to view Badu's Window Seat video

