( CNN ) -- Sweden 's culture minister was feeling the heat Wednesday after a weekend art exhibit in which she cut up a cake baked into the shape of a cartoonishly stereotyped African woman . A group representing Swedes of African descent has called for Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth to resign over that it called a racist caricature . But Liljeroth defended her participation , saying the cake was designed to `` challenge the traditional image of racism . '' `` While the symbolism in the piece is despicable , it is unfortunate and highly regrettable that the presentation has been interpreted as an expression of racism by some , '' Liljeroth said in a statement issued by her office . `` The artistic intent was the exact opposite . '' The artist who designed the cake , Makode Linde , is of African descent himself and said the piece was aimed at condemning the practice of female genital mutilation . Pictures from the Sunday exhibition showed Liljeroth slicing into the cake from the `` genitals '' and feeding it to Linde , who told CNN he made himself the head of the figure and screamed in pain when it was cut . `` I did n't intend for anyone to feel singled out or embarrassed , '' he said . `` But we 're talking about female genital mutilation -- is there any comfortable or cozy way to talk about it ? '' Liljeroth was scheduled to meet with representatives of the National Association for Afro-Swedes , which has demanded she should step down , on Wednesday evening . The group said it hoped to ensure `` that similar events do n't happen again . '' `` To participate at a racist manifestation portrayed as art is definitely crossing the line , '' Kitimbwa Sabuni , the group 's spokesman , said in a written statement . He said the minister 's appearance shows she either supported what the group called a racist event `` or that she has an extremely bad sense of questions of racism . '' `` No matter what , the Afro-Swedes no longer have confidence for her as culture minister and demand that she assumes her responsibility and resigns , '' Sabuni said . The event took place at Stockholm 's Museum of Modern Art , which was marking World Art Day on Sunday . The museum was closed by a bomb threat Tuesday afternoon , but reopened Wednesday after no explosives were found , spokeswoman Kristin Ek said . CNN 's Per Nyberg contributed to this report .
Sweden 's culture minister unveiled a cake shaped like an African elephant at a zoo exhibit . A group representing African Americans has called for her resignation . The group says the cake was designed as a statement against racism .