Die Antwoord is now facing backlash after the public accused them of immersing themselves in a culture they have no history with.
In a post on social media, Die Antwoord revealed that they collaborated with the Baruch troupe.
Die Antwoord receives backlash for Tweede Nuwe Jaar celebration
The post read, “To all our beloved Zeflings…We have such cool news. Die Antwoord was invited to make a song with a dope-ass Klopse Crew called Baruch. We got the track ready to drop just in time!!! So we can all dance the New Years in together! Festive!”
While the collaboration was initiated by Baruch, Die Antwoord received extreme backlash as many felt that they formed part of a culture that they knew nothing of.
Director of Fim and Media studies, Adam Haupt explained just how the duo used their platform in order to gain influence with their music. He relayed that the group borrowed heavily from the Kaaps culture for their music to flourish.
Baruch theme song
He said, “Die Antwoord could appropriate this music because it had the power to do so. But its appropriation went beyond performing verbal stereotypes. It was also embodied, for example, in Ninja adorning his body with particular Cape gang tattoos,”
In the meantime, a spokesperson for the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association revealed that the association has no control over who the troupe’s invite nor is it their decision.
“Troupes don’t have to ask our permission to include people in their teams. They are at liberty to include who they want, quite frankly. From the association’s perspective, we are politically agnostic. We are religiously agnostic. And we are rebuilding an inclusive carnival for all.”
Klopse Troupe Baruch also commented on the issue and expressed no problem with the collaboration.
The said, “We invited Die Antwoord to do a theme song with us, and we invited them to walk with us. They are very, very good people if you get to know them. They are down-to-earth and very community orientated. We don’t want to comment anything further.”
News24 has reached out to the group for comment but has not received any response yet.
Source: News24