Being African Is Not A Trend

Warning!

I am going to warn you; this post is going to be controversial. But I have to rant about it. For a while now I have seen my pre-existing culture being displayed as a new phenomenon.  In this new “trend”, everybody wants to wear a dashiki, braid their hair, sing and listen to songs, and dance dances originating from the African culture. Ignorance is not bliss. Learn them if you wish but appreciate where it comes and give credit when it’s due. I am not here to join the queue with many other black people, especially women who have already spoken out against the nature of cultural appropriation. This is coming from an African who migrated with their family at the age of Eleven. I’m not only addressing this to White and Asian races but also the Black race. I remember starting High School in Birmingham and not only being teased because of my accent and short hair, of all races in the school (yes including the black races). This was unusual for me as when I lived in Ghana my skin colour was appreciated and embraced. I was constantly told by many people, by both genders and different types of pages how beautiful my dark skin was and to never consider changing it. I didn’t realise that being dark was undesired until I moved to the UK; I noticed this largely on media and comments directed to me.

“Woke” or Follower??

And now the very people who teased me because I didn’t speak with a British accent (which is somehow believed to correct way of speaking), somehow feels entitled to refer themselves as Kings and Queens of Africa. I understand and appreciate the “woke ness” that is spreading among our people but I wonder if the interest that was triggered is due to a diligence to know of our true history OR are they just following others so that they are not excluded?

 

Being African is not a Trend.

We are people and not a trend.

We are not high fashion

We are not dashiki, beads, and Afrobeat

We are not suddenly cool or the new in

You have ranked us in the hierarchy of the White, European and American blacks, and then Africans.

You have teased us, acted as if Being African is the worst.

The African Accent that is just hideous, laughable really!

You have had no interest in finding out about our culture and people based on our history taught to you by the Western World.

You have categorised us as the ‘Third World’

Do some of you even know that Africa is a Continent.

It is Continent filled with many Countries

Countries filled with people

And people filled with so much rich culture and abundant resources

You do not come to Africa for holiday, only for mission work.

Everybody only wants to go to Africa to go help the poor starving children.

There is more to my people, country and continent

We are the songs

We are the dance

We are the Kings and Queens

We are the cocoa producers

We are the miners that brings the gold, diamond, sapphires

The hands of our ancestors have built Great Nations

We have fought for and continue to fight for our Independence

It saddens me that the very people who acted as if being African was a disease,

Now want to be a part of the culture not because they truly value the history

But because they are fashionable.

We are not just the songs

We are not just the hairstyles

We are not just the dresses

We are not just the dance

We are not just the Jollof Rice (I know Jollof is bae)

The motherland has birthed countless resources

Timber, gold, cocoa, diamond, sapphires, all jewels you name it.

It has birthed culture

It has birthed land

It has birthed grace, power, love and laughter

And greatest of these is the people.

People have fought for their Motherland

The people are resilient

The people of Africa are not a Trend.

5 Comments

  1. Audra Michelle Custodio June 2, 2018 at 1:05 am

    First off Im so sorry you experienced such teasing and hurtful actions from people that look just like you ie. African Americans I appreciate the dialogue this post offers but hope that we don’t look at the new found movement of more AA wanting to connect with our roots as something to devide us. Your the second African individual that I have heard make remarks that we shouldn’t try and rock African stuff because its a trend etc. Many of us AA wish we did have someone that could readily teach us the significance of what something means but we have a lot to learn and unlike you no real reference point. Coming here years ago, being sold by our African brothers and sisters into slavery placed us in settings of self hate and plainly put AA are dealing with a lot of brokeness. There needs to be healing on both sides and I hope that more of that is seen. Maybe we can collab to further the discussion. Im glad that today you know that who you are is beautiful and those words didnt break you. From one queen to another xxoo

    Reply
    1. Jane - Site Author June 2, 2018 at 11:58 am

      Thank you for such an honest comment. I am happy to see the AA community wanting to connect more with their roots, it is important more ever than now for us to come together. I am more than happy to have a conversation where we can address the issues highlighted in the post and put them to rest. I totally agree with the healing for both sides and I have been trying to educate myself more about the AA community so that I can have a better understanding and a wider perspective. Also, a collab is a great idea and ill be happy to do so. And from one queen to another, your open-minded approach to this post is inspiring. I love that you brought a solution and ways to move forward, as well as express your opinions so eloquently. xoxoxo

      P.S I watched an episode of The Grapevinetv about the disconnect between Africans and African Americans. its a great watch I would like to recommend if you haven’t seen it already.

      Reply
  2. pliancy March 1, 2018 at 6:39 pm

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    Reply
    1. Jane - Site Author March 16, 2018 at 11:02 pm

      thank you 🙂

      Reply

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