The internet has divided over Adele’s recent Instagram post to honour what would have been the Notting Hill carnival. Some believe her outfit is cultural appropriation, while others argue for cultural appreciation.
Adele shared this photo on Instagram in honour of the cancelled Notting Hill carnival, a three-day annual event that celebrates African-Carribean culture. This is the first time the festival was cancelled in over 50 years, and Adele captioned the photo “Happy what would be Notting Hill carnival my beloved London”.
In the photo, Adele is wearing a Jamaican flag bikini, and her hair is done up in Bantu knots, a hairstyle traditionally worn by people of African descent. The hairstyle has sparked controversy, with some followers expressing their disappointment. “Black hairstyles are not for white people to stead during festival season or ever!”, one commented, while another said “Unfollowing tonight. Please note that I’m from London. While it may appear cute to some, to show this type of appreciation, it’s not”.
One commentator summed up the injustice behind appropriation of hairstyles, by writing “many black and Latina ladies have been denied/fired from jobs and young children sent home from school with hairstyles like this”, while Adele is wearing this as a festival outfit which she can remove, and face no further discrimination from.
However, the Notting Hill carnival is a celebration and appreciation of African-Caribbean culture, and many have argued that she was in line with the spirit of the festival in honouring the culture. One commentator shared: “For all the haters: this look was probably done by a black woman. She also celebrated with black people. She is celebrating the culture, not making fun of it”.
Furthermore, many Jamaican people appeared unbothered by this. Naomi Campbell, whose mother was born in Jamaica, commented heart emojis and pictures of the Jamaican flag, while Jamaican musician Popcaan shared a fist emoji and a heart.
The discussion on the line between cultural appropriation and appreciation is ongoing and complex, and this image is just one example. Journalist Ateh Jewel from Glamour Magazine discusses why the image seemed more appropriative than appreciative here.
On a positive note, read about how the BLM Mural in Hollywood will become permanent here.
