Musician Gentleman takes a critical view of the debate on cultural appropriation Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Brita Pedersen
From BZ/dpa
The German reggae musician Gentleman is also concerned about the discussion about cultural appropriation.
“The danger I see in the debate is that it cuts us and that we are suddenly no longer allowed to do anything and can no longer exchange ideas,” said the 48-year-old in an interview with “Zeitmagazin” (Thursday edition). “That would be an AfD dream.”
Gentleman, whose real name is Tilmann Otto, was born in Osnabrück and now lives in Cologne. He doesn’t know whether he would still start making reggae “with today’s zeitgeist”, he said in an interview. “Today I wouldn’t be as impartial as I used to be.”
Cultural appropriation means that people use a culture that is not their own. Gentleman commented: “For me, the term cultural appropriation has always been related to learning, I’ve never seen it as something negative. The crux of the matter is whether I am aware of the history of colonization with all its negative aspects and symbolism.”