Not out of the ordinary for stars such as Mariah Carey who likes puppies and kittens backstage, or Van Halen who request that there be no brown M&M’s in their sweets bowl, M.I.A has recently topped the list in crazy gig rider demands.

A copy of her rider for backstage areas at gigs has caused a stir. Among the usual selection of mixed nuts and cheese, M.I.A also asked for "Three female extras for each show, each between 20 and 25 years old” on her 2011 tour.

The rapper went on to specify that the girls must have "stage presence and groove to the music on stage for the full duration of the show wearing full covered burkas".

M.I.A is also reported to have asked for a bottle of absinthe for the backstage area of each show, an incredibly strong form of alcohol, it now seems a little clearer why the rapper might have flipped her middle finger on American television at the year’s Super Bowl.

M.I.A - live