Adele addresses photo appropriation and Bantu . culture

Island Gyal Adele, switch from to Cardi B.
Photo: Cliff Lipson / CBS via Getty Images

Adele reminded the world that the UK is an island last August when she posted a real photo Her head is full of Bantu knots with a feather collar and the top of the Jamaican flag. “Happy Notting Hill Carnival in London my beloved London 🇬🇧🇯🇲,” she captioned the post, in honor of London’s annual carnival becoming virtual. Adele admits sharing a photo of herself in Bantu knots lacks “context”. For those outside the wider African diaspora, the Bantu knot is a traditional protective hairstyle that has been around for more than a century. Like locs, box braids and corn, they meaningful in the Black community despite having a rife history cultural appropriation. “There was a lot going on in America at that time,” she said Face Journal, referring to the protests honoring George Floyd, who was killed by police violence last year. “I didn’t read the room and I should because I live in America. But I [Black] the girlfriends here, they say, ‘Are you okay? We personally aren’t offended because we know you, but here’s why [people are upset]. ‘ Mine The biggest question is why do I feel the need to post that when I’m so private anyway. I had such a great day with my friends in Jamaica, and that’s the Notting Hill Festival vibe to me, always. But I don’t give that context either.”

At the time, Adele did not respond to the viral photo and next meme, nor are online chats debating appreciation and appropriation. “I can see comments like ‘courage not to take it down,’ which I totally get,” she said. brother Vogue in October. “But if I take it down, I’ll act like it never happened. And it did. I totally understand why people feel like it’s taking over. ‘ At first, she thought, ‘If you’re not wearing clothes to celebrate Jamaican culture – and in many ways we are so entwined in that part of London – it’s going to be a bit like, ‘So What have you come for?”” The message, however, sank in the moment. “I had a hairstyle that was actually to protect Afro’s hair,” she added. Post-Bantu twist, Rich Paul – dating Adele’s new album, 30, reduced on Friday this week. Black Twitter, are you following?