TKV's editor, Mashall Khattak's observations on a presumably well intentioned but seemingly (and amusingly) racist celebration in Karachi Pakistan in honour of the Re-Election of President Obama.
It appears to be that a group of activists that clamor under the banner of Pasban, met after Obama's victory and decided that it would be a good idea to celebrate USA's first black president's re-election. It appears that the event was held at the Karachi Press Club where the activists held a show of what seems to be their version of an 'African Tribal Dance' with fire breathers and men adorned in leaves and sporting grass skirts. The spectacle was meant to presumably draw attention to the case of Dr.Afia Siddiqi as the showcased performance took place with the backdrop of a large banner asking the newly re-elected president to "rectify the mistake".
Activism at its best? Possibly not. The activists indeed did pay tribute to President Obama's ethnicity in that he is half Kenyan and hence has African roots but some how one can't seem to ignore the fact that the reference point of portraying this heritage was rather laden with colonial cliches of the 'Dark Continent'. Not only were the performers seemingly chosen in a manner where all of them were individuals of a darker skin colour and dressed like 'man-eating-jungle-cannibals' and fire breathers but the performers acted out in a manner which either deliberate or in the heat of the moment made them seem like they were portraying 'savages' lurching and growling at audience members.
Perhaps, my years at my alma mater (the School of Oriental and African Studies) has drawn me to an unfavorable bias toward this celebratory performance but SURELY someone must have pointed out in their meeting that this is just well, a tad bit racist to the President of a country that contributes to majority of our aid.
Or maybe we just didn't care (after all we did burn G.W.Bush's effigies). However, I'll let you be the judge these pictures below were taken by AFP.
Activism at its best? Possibly not. The activists indeed did pay tribute to President Obama's ethnicity in that he is half Kenyan and hence has African roots but some how one can't seem to ignore the fact that the reference point of portraying this heritage was rather laden with colonial cliches of the 'Dark Continent'. Not only were the performers seemingly chosen in a manner where all of them were individuals of a darker skin colour and dressed like 'man-eating-jungle-cannibals' and fire breathers but the performers acted out in a manner which either deliberate or in the heat of the moment made them seem like they were portraying 'savages' lurching and growling at audience members.
Perhaps, my years at my alma mater (the School of Oriental and African Studies) has drawn me to an unfavorable bias toward this celebratory performance but SURELY someone must have pointed out in their meeting that this is just well, a tad bit racist to the President of a country that contributes to majority of our aid.
Or maybe we just didn't care (after all we did burn G.W.Bush's effigies). However, I'll let you be the judge these pictures below were taken by AFP.
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