The case of the white rastas raises the question of cultural appropriation
After the controversy over the reggae group Lauwarm, how can you avoid criticism when creating music inspired by other cultures? We asked the question to four artists.
Posted today at 3:54 p.m.
Lauwarm’s dreadlocks and reggae have set Switzerland on fire over cultural appropriation.
BARBARA HERITIER
It was a concert like the group led by Dominik Plumettaz had played dozens of. But on July 18, customers of the Brasserie Lorraine in Bern, following judging that the rastas and reggae of “Lauwarm” were embarrassing to the point of representing “cultural appropriation”, demanded that the musicians stop playing.
