Many across the globe were left with their jaws ajar when J Balvin was named Afro-Latino Artist of the Year award at the 2021 African Entertainment Awards.
The most common complaint was that the star isn’t actually Afro-Latino.
It would appear the sentiment that J Balvin himself shares.
See what we mean below…
The performer was presented with the salute digitally:
View this post on Instagram
Yet, after mounting complaints, he took to Instagram to say (in Spanish):
“I am not Afro-Latino. But thank you for giving me a place in the contribution to Afrobeat music and its movement.”
Pivoting, the AEA changed the category title to Latin Artist of the Year and issued the following statement:
“After listening to the concern of our audience we have decided to maintain the purpose of the award but changed the name to Best Latin Artist Of the year.
The Best Latin Artist category is for any artist based in Latin America that is contributing to the African culture especially the Afro-beats sound globally. It is not based on race but more importantly based on pushing the African culture forward on the world stage. This is the first year that we introduced this category to include our Latin brothers and sisters who have embraced Afrobeats music within their platforms. The winner of this category has demonstrated that and is deserving of this award based on the fans votes.
Please remember the nominees in this category had no say in their nomination or influence on the award show. Instead of voicing dissatisfaction, let us encourage these artists to continue bridging the gap between Africa and Latin America. We are asking for your continued support, assistance and guidance in the nomination process for 2022. We thank you for your understanding and looking forward to an open dialogue. We apologize to the people who where offended by this category.”
With that, what are…
This is what happens when you give away Blackness.
I’ve never heard of anybody being made an “honorary Chinese” or “honorary Irish”, but our dumb selves say anybody who can sing on-key “got some soul in them” or can dance a little “got some rhythm”. And don’t get me started on “they must be mixed” that they did with Pink, John B, hat creep from Glee and so on.
Afro Latinos are Amara La Negra and as much as he hates it and bleached it out, Sammy Sosa. Jennifer Lopez, J Balvin, etc are very much Europeans.
Spaniards are European. They speak Spanish. They colonized South America. Hence why..those people..speak Spanish. They had their own indigenous languages before.
The problem is weirdos who are white thinking speaking Spanish somehow makes them less white. It’s the typical colonizer trying to assume the identity of the people they oppressed.
Can’t tell you how many Arabs try to claim African when it’s convenient, or British, French, Dutch try to claim Caribbean as well.
It’s sick and I’m glad he doesn’t try to claim it.
But we do this to ourselves allowing Justin Timberlake and justin Beiber “to the musical cookout” when we ourselves struggle to sell in the genre.
Sidebar: I can’t tell you after George Floyd’s street execution, how many whites who happen to speak Spanish suddenly took on the “Afro-Latino” identity. It’s creepy and weird!
Any excuse to say the n-word.
“Street execution” 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡 he killed himself with all the drugs he was on you 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤰🏾🤡🤡🐒🍌🤡🤡
SCREAMING 🤣 These höes dumb as ROCKS!
I KNOW y’all didn’t delete my comment when you allow Shayla and Clarkson to constantly disrespect Black woman and Black people 24/7, 365????????
Being an Afro Latino myself, from Caguas🙌🏽, I feel that the general representation of us is limited and our political representation is shadowed by other prominent movements. Any chance for legitimate representation of Afro Latinos should be taken serious.
I believe that when music and artists are nominated in categories where racial or ethnic identity plays a role in the decision, such artist and said music should be true representatives of the culture and the people the category is referring to; the only Afro Latino representation J Balvin can be associated with is that distasteful music video “Perra” where he’s seen walking real Dominican Afro Latinos on leashes after Hair and Makeup had them looking like actual dogs from the face.
Shut up, lunatic!
Releases a song called “In the Ghetto” and now he’s suddenly Black
This!
Being Black now is simply sampling an 70’s & 80’s Funk/R&B song while giving ur best impression of Black Musicians.
I get your point but the word ghetto isn’t equated to black people
Why not IZA or Ludmilla?
Real afro latinas ??
Another reason to give accolades to a white person
He considers himself white Latino obviously..
S
So where is your grandmother?
Y tu abuela done esta?
My brother my brother, how do you think latinos got to be latinos? Don’t you know Africa played a specific role in the heredity of your race. So, stop being a little twit, grow a pair, and accept the wonderful history Africa has bestowed upon you and your people.