Wetin be Cultural Appropriation?

The phrase Cultural Appropriation begin gain ground around the 80’s when some pipo wey know book begin look into the matter of colonialism and how di colonialist treat cultures wey dem come across. to define am, we fit say, Cultural Appropriation na wen one person or pipo from one culture adopt or copy some elements like fashion, symbols, ideas, artefacts, art, images, rituals, behavior, music, food or styles from another culture and no gree give due recognition to dat culture or wan even claim sey na dem invent di whole thing. Pipo dey vex for the matter well well, especially wen the culture wey dem copy so, na culture of pipo wey don suffer oppression in the past. Typical example dey the intro of dis podcast episode. 

Types of Cultural Appropriation

  • Cultural Exchange: Yu giv me ur own, take my own
  • Cultural Dominance: Yu use ur own culture press my own to make ur own look superior pass my own
  • Cultural Exploitation: Yu take my Culture, use am to ur own benefit without letting pipo know sey no be yu get am originally.
  • Transculturation: Yu look my culture con mix am with ur own to form something entirely new

Note: The type of Cultural Appropriation wey dey vex pipo pass na ‘Cultural Exploitation’, dat na wen dem take or use elements of a group or race culture without permission, or make dem reciprocate, or compensate, or try to even understand the culture, not to talk of even to appreciate the culture.

Elements of Culture wey fit be target of Appropriation

  • Intellectual property
  • Artefacts
  • Dance
  • Clothing and fashion
  • Language
  • Music
  • Food
  • Religious symbols
  • Decorations
  • Medicine
  • Makeup
  • Hairstyle
  • Tattoos
  • Wellness practices

How to know If something na Cultural Appropriation

To know if something na Cultural Appropriation, ask ursef dis questions…

  1. Why yu dey do wetin yu dey do?
  2. Yu dey follow trend abi yu dey learn about the culture?
  3. Yu dey knowingly wan insult person culture or yu dey use di culture respectfully?
  4. Yu dey buy something wey dem adopt from another person culture abi yu dey buy original?
  5. How di pipo wey get culture go feel about how yu use dia culture?
  6. Yu check weda wetin yu dey do na stereotype?
  7. Yu dey use item wey dey sacred to person culture anyhow?
  8. Yu dey borrow something from ancient culture con dey do like sey na yu invent am?
  9. Yu dey giv credit or kudos to the source of dat culture wey inspire you?
  10. Yu dey ignore di significance or importance of the culture wey yu dey borrow, just because yu wan join trend ontop social media?

When Cultural Appropriation dey become offensive?

To know if Cultural Appropriation don become offensive, you go ask yoursef dis questions…

  1. E don dey press button of negative stereotype?
  2. Dem don dey use the culture in a bad way or for bad thing or to paint a negative picture of the people wey get the culture? dem dey call dis one ‘Cultural Degradation’ too
  3. Dem dey use important or sacred symbols of dat culture inappropriately?
  4. Dem don take the element of that culture; sey food for instance, ship am to dia own obodo then turn am to dia own commodity?
  5. E dey possible sey any cultural or racial group go vex with di way dem use dia cultural element?

How we go take avoid Cultural Appropriation?

  1. Ask ursef all the questions wey dey up for here. Use dem take teach ursef how to respect other pipo culture.
  2. Give credit or at least try make you recognize the thing wey yu borrow from other pipo culture and no try to claim am as ur own.
  3. Take time learn about the culture and pipo wey yu dey borrow from before yu adopt dia culture. Try visit the place; for instance if na food, go dia restaurant, if na even, attend authentic events wey di real pipo wey get culture organize.

Appropriation vs. Appreciation

Na very thin line dey between Appropriation and Appreciation. Cultural Appreciation na wen person or pipo express dia willingness to learn and admire another other pipo culture without sey dem dey do compare and contrast. The major different be sey, while Appreciation dey start from curiosity or di willingness to learn, love and respect the culture, Appropriation na just to copy copy or straight thief thief of the culture or element of the culture.

Some resources wey we fit learn from

#SabiNation, make we all learn to respect and appreciate elements of other pipo culture.