Cultural Appreciation? More Like, Cultural Exploitation

FEATURE Section's Best Output in the Screening Program

Written by Aneesa Reigne Clare Q. Puno
Posted on September 22, 2021 | 8:30 PM

Culture is the driving force behind why people gather to share something beautiful. It encapsulates the people's shared beliefs, knowledge, traditions, rules, language, and arts; thus, its beauty should be preserved and respected. Through it, individuals and groups gain identity as it reflects their way of life. That is why Filipinos place such great value on their cultures; they always make certain that it is celebrated benevolently and appropriately. In contrast, the Palestinian-Israeli vlogger Nuseir Yassin, famously known as Nas Daily, has come under fire for disrespecting and capitalizing on our culture through his content on Facebook and YouTube.

The controversy began when Gracia Palicas, the granddaughter of the mambabatok [indigenous hand poke tattoo artist] Whang-Od, posted on Facebook that the "Whang-Od Academy" that Yassin had put up on his learning platform, which aimed to teach the ancient art of tattooing, was fake, and her grandmother did not sign any contract for it.

To prove that Whang-Od gave her full consent for the said learning course, Yassin posted a photo of Whang-Od placing her thumbprint on the contract. But in a separate post, Palicas said that her grandmother did not understand what the translators were trying to say at that time.

After Palicas’ posts and accusations, “Whang-Od Academy” was taken down in Yassin’s “Nas Daily Academy”.

Louise Mabulo, the founder of The Cacao Project, also exposed the vlogger. She accused Yassin of being disrespectful towards her family, the farmers, and their language. After that, Yassin spoke up, denied all the accusations and said that The Cacao Project was not what it claimed to be.

Yassin has lost thousands of followers since then. Many people admired him because they saw his eagerness to show the world the diverse cultures of different communities. However, people expressed their displeasure in the comment sections of Nas' posts as well as on their own social media accounts after what he did.

“Culture education and innovation is good―but not when it leaves culture bearers at a disadvantage.” – photojournalist Jilson Tiu

Consent. Borrowing a culture in order to share it with others requires the consent of those who bear it. For years, indigenous peoples or natives have worked hard to nurture and protect their culture from those who wish to exploit it. Taking advantage of them to profit from their culture is beyond offensive and disrespectful because it already crosses the line and does not uphold their rights in any way.

If you wish to help communities and individuals in making their culture known to many, it is best to be deferential and do it without harming anyone. Having prior research and knowledge is strongly advised in order to avoid any potentially offensive situations that these people may face. Taking the time to learn about the significance of their art or tradition is one way to express your admiration for its beauty. Cultures should be respected and valued at all times.