On cultural appropriation and Intellectual Property Rights in the Caribbean; How long can we shout strangers away from the yard? By Dr. Abiola Inniss Ph.D. LLM In recent weeks, and not for the first time, there has been a tremendous clamour over the issue of cultural appropriation. This time it was about the use of the word J’ouvert as the label for a rum product to be produced by the well-known American actor Michael B Jordan. In 2019 there was the matter of Kanye West using National emblems of Jamaica on merchandise that he was marketing in promotion of his church services. In both situations public condemnation and in the Kanye West case intervention by the Government of Jamaica resulted in the reversal of the decisions to use the identified term J’ouvert and logos for personal gain by these artistes. In some ways it is heartening that Caribbean voices are being raised in objection to the appropriation of cultural emblems, words, phrases, a
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Showing posts from July, 2021