Is Beyonce Appropriating The African Culture in New 'Black is King' Film?
1 July 2020
by Kabura Ng'ang'a
Beyonce announced the release of her new film ‘Black is King’ with Disney+. They, a couple of days released the stills and trailer for this new film. This was the beginning of the appropriation claims; is Beyonce appropriating the African continent and its cultures?
In the project, Beyonce is wearing a lot of African; Yoruba to be specific; inspired attire and taps a lot into their culture. She uses African artists on part of this project and you can tell she recreates scenes from this culture.
However, people are not happy with the fact that she never tours in Africa and the film, once released it will not be on a channel directly available to Africa. But this is just the simpler way of looking at this whole matter.
It has been well explained that this is Beyonce using Africa to her advantage; in a way people are excited about learning their roots but she is not trying to get deep into what she is putting out. One social media user put it as, “Beyonce needs to come correct. We do not just take our wrappers, put chalk on our faces and go out to hunt lions.”
On the defense of many social media users who are displeased, using Africa like a prop is really misappropriating of the Yoruba culture on Beyonce’s part and her team.
How do you feel about Beyonce using this film to appropriate the African; Yoruba to be specific; culture?
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