White artists with dreadlocks are suspect in some circles. The Bernese reggae band feels this for the second time.
Here they were allowed to play: lukewarm at a concert at the Paleggo Festival in Edlischwil, July 30th.
The Bernese band “Lauwarm” has been world-famous since this summer. Her picture appeared in the London Times, among others, under the headline “White Reggae Band silenced”. In fact, to the frustration of the band members, “Lauwarm” became famous less thanks to musical performances and more because of protests against the hair of individual band members. Because they wear a rasta hairstyle, viewers felt “uncomfortable” at a concert in Bern’s Brasserie Lorraine – whereupon the operators ended the performance and announced a discussion.
So far, this has not taken place, but “cultural appropriation” is being debated in Switzerland and other countries. The question is whether white artists are entitled to adapt fashions and music from other cultures that were once oppressed by whites. The list of those who are criticized “because of cultural appropriation” is getting longer and longer. The Zurich bar “das Gleis” uninvited the Austrian musician Mario Parizek last week because he wears rastas. According to “20 minutes”, the Swiss comedy duo Ursus and Nadeschkin had to publicly explain themselves this Saturday because Nadeschkin wears a Rasta wig.
At the same time, there was a remarkable change in the program of the “Lorraine Chilbi” in Bern today. In addition to the Salvation Army ensemble, various slam poets and music bands, “Lauwarm” should have performed there. At least that’s what it said in the festival program until Friday evening. On Saturday morning the name “Lauwarm” suddenly disappeared, instead the formation “Adava” should appear at 10:30 p.m. Jesse Meyer, the drummer of “Lauwarm”, tells the NZZ that the decision “was not in our hands”.
That doesn’t sound like a voluntary retreat. The organizing committee of Lorraine Chilbi has not yet responded to a request from the NZZ. The Chilbi program also includes an “Anatolian cooking workshop” and a braided hairstyle course “for young and old”. It is quite possible that further allegations of cultural appropriation will be made.