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Lauwarm puts the topic of racism in the foreground

Cultural Appropriation – The reggae band, whose concert in Bern was canceled due to allegations of cultural appropriation, believes it is important to discuss this topic. Among other things, it is about racism. At times, however, the discussion went in the wrong direction.

“Many don’t know what cultural appropriation is about,” said singer Dominik Plumettaz in an interview with “SonntagsBlick”. As a result, certain comments were anything but decent and offended those people who take the issue seriously. “That will not do.”

The July 18 concert at Bern’s Brasserie Lorraine was canceled because people in the audience felt uncomfortable with a white band playing reggae music and band members wearing dreadlocks. Various concertgoers are said to have perceived this as cultural appropriation and complained to the brasserie team.

“We can understand that some people are bothered by it,” said Plumettaz. “But we see ourselves as a band that draws inspiration from different cultures.” They also got positive feedback straight from Jamaica that they are totally okay with the band members wearing dreadlocks. The band members would not cut their dreadlocks now because of the incident.

“Don’t steal culture”

Bassist Julian Mangold, who wears such dreadlocks, admitted in a conversation with Keystone-SDA on Saturday before a concert in Edlischwil SG that you go into yourself when you are confronted with such an accusation. “But I don’t see myself as someone who steals culture with my hair.” For him, it’s just a hairstyle that he’s had for at least six years and that belongs to him.

In the same interview, Plumettaz said the situation was “like a dagger in the heart” at first. “We didn’t understand the world.” Over time, they could have gained a little distance. They would then be glad if they could withdraw from the limelight again. After all, it’s about the discussion about non-white people (“People of Color”) and racism, and not about them as a band. The topic was simply broken up at their concert.

The incident in the Bernese brasserie caused waves at home and abroad. The debate about cultural appropriation is not new, but it is currently spilling over Switzerland. In essence, it is about people making cultural assets of other cultures their own.

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