French fashion magazine L'Officiel Paris has said Beyonce's face was “voluntarily darkened” on the cover of its latest issue.

The publication has come under fire after a video and images of the singer was released showing her with dark face make-up on.

But in a statement, the magazine said the pictures had been influenced by Nigerian musician and political activist Fela Kuti, who inspired the Broadway musical Fela!, which is backed by Beyonce's husband, Jay-Z.

"Far from the glamorous Sasha Fierce [Beyonce's alter-ego], the beauty posed for the magazine with amazing fashion designers' clothes, but also in a dress created by her mother," the statement said.

"A return to her African roots, as you can see in the picture, on which her face was voluntarily darkened.”

As previously reported, Beyonce is set to headline this year's Glastonbury festival alongside U2 and Coldplay.

Beyonce in L'Officiel Paris:

(by Jason Gregory)