Belgian character created to add inclusivity to festive season dragged into row

Queen Nikkolah, thought up by an artist as a riposte to Sinterklaas’s sidekick ‘Black Pete’, has faced hostility

The aim was to spread joy, hand out treats and carve out an inclusive celebration that could be added to the festive season’s roster.

But Queen Nikkolah – a black female character who offers children in Belgium a counterpoint to the festive figure of Sinterklaas and his controversial sidekick, Zwarte Piet, or Black Pete – has found herself in the eye of a cultural firestorm.