I know, I know…it has been a while. My absence is not a sign of forgetfulness but rather a signal that I have been having such a great time exploring new territories and striking down boundaries that I have not had the time to sit indoors by a computer and write about my experiences. But today I am moving into a new apartment and am sick of packing and sifting through dust!
Bourama Badji first came to Prague as a student from Senegal in the 1980′s to study engineering. When he was homesick and the coldness of Prague started to creep in, he would find a spot of sunshine near the water to play his drums to himself of home. His smooth melodies caught the ears of curious listeners and Bourama became a part of the local band Hypnotix! I interviewed Bourama a few weeks ago and gained a lot through my interaction with him.
I decided to label this post ‘Signs Of Immigration’ not because Bourama is an immigrant but because the bar we went to is the second bar owned by a Nigerian immigrant. When we were there I saw young white students who came to score some joints (this can happen at almost any club/bar in Prague, so I doubt that this was their main purpose) and African immigrants who were casually hanging out. This is not the only club in Prague owned and operated by African immigrants, there are two others about 10 and 20 minutes away from this one. These sites act as one of the only meeting points between African immigrants and White Czechs.
This makes sense. If we take into account the low number of Black immigrants and the low percentage of legal documentation amoung them, it is understandable that they would try to keep a low profile. As a result, oppurtunities to mingle with the mainstream society are few. Not all Blacks who are in the CZ are undocumented, of course many of them work for international companies, are here to study or are seasonal migrant workers. These African owned bars/clubs exist as enclaves for African immigrants and act as a way to stabilize their communities. So the function of these clubs is clear, they provide a safe haven for A.I.’s, documented and undocumented, are ethnic enclaves, and help to bridge the gap between A.I’s and White Czechs. But what is the symbolism?- the deliberate though encrypted message in the club’s decorations?
As we know, someone from Nigeria started the club and most of its Black patrons are also West African, so why the Caribbean theme? Why not something that reflects their own culture? The writing on the wall is partially in Jamaican patois and Rastafarianism has its roots in Jamaican, as a Jamaican religion. Though these were originally methods of resistance (using broken English instead of the ‘Queen’s English’ and a religious movement that was first anti-white), today they are have become commodities and are recoginzed as such. These clubs, are appropriating images and symbols to communicate a particular set of values and beliefs associated with reggae i.e. ‘One Love’.
I suggest, that they are adopting a Jamaican/Carribbean culture as it is less stigamatized than their own African cultures. Due to the fact that the CZ already has an established though small reggae following it is less foreign (but still exotic) for many. So they are can accept it more easily than something that they have never really encountered before.
Later that week I had the honor and privilege to interview the well-known Czech culture commentator, Vaclav Cilek. Though he is trained in geology, he also publishes his observations of Czech society and culture as it changes post-communism. My questions focused on Czech youth, religion pre, during and post communism, and the political views of young Czechs who are interested in multiculturalism…