Australian woman Olivia Mahon took celebrating her 21st birthday beyond just drinking alcohol. Her party has become popular to the media but, unfortunately, not for the right reasons.
Mohan’s “African themed” 21st birthday bash led to a large amount of controversy and negative attention because a Tumblr user named Black in Asia reposted Mohan’s Facebook pictures in an album named “This is Africa-My 21st.” The album featured Mohan dressed as Cleopatra, and caucasian people had their faces and bodies painted black and brown and were dressed in traditional west African attire such as a traditional head wraps and matching printed gowns.
Others at the party showed up in dreadlock wigs, but a majority were dressed in cartoonish jungle costumes like cave men dressed in animal skins with tribal-style paint on their faces. The most interesting and offensive of these guests showed up as actual animals, and one individual was dressed up as a member of the KKK.
I am from Kenya, and I find this offensive to Africans and black people. Africa shouldn’t be considered a theme because it is not a country but a continent, and you can’t represent a whole continent in such a limited manner. Mohan had a private celebration in her house, and she had the right to have any theme she wanted, but she should have been more mindful.
According to New York Daily News, “Olivia, posted several insensitive pictures from the party to Facebook in September, but they went viral after Tumblr user Black in Asia spotted them and reposted them.” Mahon claims that the intent of having an “African-themed party” was so she could promote the culture of Africa.
According to huffingtonpost.com, shortly after the pictures went viral she posted an explanation on her Tumblr where she referred to Africa as a country and justified the theme of her party.
“In fact as you can tell from the photos I dressed up as Cleopatra, whilst a MAJORITY of my guests came as animals, that can be found in Africa or wore traditional African clothes or even dressed up as famous people who come from Africa. If anything this was to celebrate the amazing country and people,” Mahon said. “In no way was this party intended to hurt anyone’s feelings or upset anyone at all.” Maybe Mahon was trying to embrace the African culture, but she could have taken a better approach in her attempt by doing more research on how Africans dress. They don’t actually dress like cavemen.
The way she went about organizing her party displays a clear lack of preparation, and being an African myself, this only shows the perception Mahon and her friends have regarding my homeland. I must say the costumes and the paint in particular are beyond offensive, but it is also belittling. Seeing people dressed as monkeys and going to the extent of painting their faces black diminishes not only African cultures but African ethnicity and race. In fact, it comes across as extreme mockery. The album of the photos is titled “This is Africa,” but what is exhibited in the photos is not how Africa actually is… it’s far from it.
Mahon posted on her Tumblr “It was my ‘African-themed’ party, and I honestly made that theme because I have always wanted to go to Africa (to teach English) but haven’t made it there yet.” The fact that Mahon has never stepped foot in Africa makes the situation worse. Everything that occurred at her party was based on perception and stereotypes of Africa.
What’s really surprising is while in the midst of an “African-themed party” there was one guest who, according to the New York Daily News, “inexplicably donned a hooded Klu Klux Klan costume” but wasn’t asked to go change or leave the party. This guest was actually taking pictures with people who had their skin painted black. Mahon’s claim that she doesn’t see how this is a cause of concern, especially in terms of race, really does concern me.
Pasama Cole Kweli, a sophomore majoring in psychology, agrees. “I am a member of the African Student Association here at UT,” Kweli said. “No, I am not African, but I love the people and their cultures, and I would never do or say anything about any country in Africa if I haven’t done proper research or if I haven’t had first-hand experience from visiting a country in Africa.”
If Olivia really wanted to embrace the African culture, she should have done more research. She could have easily implemented a set of general rules in order to prevent people from showing up in offensive, stereotypical and racist costumes.
There is nothing wrong with trying to celebrate another culture, but if you are going to do it, be careful, and don’t go solely based off assumptions and stereotypes.
Irene Sidede can be reached at irene.sidede@spartans.ut.edu