Comments On A YouTube Discussion Thread About Black Americans Hosting African Themed Parties

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents some general comments about the relatively new? custom of Black Americans hosting formal and often very lavish sweet sixteen parties that are similar to Latin American quinceañera (parties for females turning fifteen years old.)

This posts also presents selected comments from a 2017 discussion thread of a YouTube video entitled "Niyah African Sweet 16 Dance". These selected comments document the opinions of some African commenters' and other commenters' about Black people in the United States hosting "African theme" parties.

The above mentioned video is featured in this post for referencing purposes only.

The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in this video and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/11/comments-about-referent-akata-other.html for a closely related pancocojams post entitled "Comments On A YouTube Discussion Thread About Black Americans Hosting African Themed Parties".

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S COMMENT ABOUT SWEET SIXTEEN PARTIES
I happened upon this "Naiyah African Sweet 16 Dance" video while searching online for information about the female name "Naiyah"/"Naiya", "Niyah" and other similarly sounding names. Prior to watching this video and reading its entire discussion thread, I didn't know that Black Americans* having formal sweet sixteen parties was a thing. However, after watching multiple YouTube videos, it appears that the custom of Black Americans hosting sweet sixteen parties occurs throughout the United States. The Black sweet sixteen party videos that I watched which cited a location were from New Jersey, New York, Atlanta, Georgia, Durham, North Carolina, and Los Angeles, California. Some of the birthday celebrations that are documented in these videos were more lavish than others.

All of the Black American sweet sixteen videos that I saw listed on YouTube were for females. The earliest YouTube that I found of a Black American sweet sixteen party is from 2010. That said, it's likely that Black Americans hosting these types of sweet sixteen celebrations predate 2010.

As some commenters note in several discussion threads for (Black) sweet sixteen videos, the custom of hosting a formal party for one's daughter or niece etc who has turned sixteen is very similar to the Mexican
quinceañera https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quincea%C3%B1era#United_States. It's possible that the custom of lavish sweet sixteen parties, with some shared Mexican/Latin American quince traditions -such as the grand entrance, formally replacing the honoree's flat shoes with high heels, and choreographed dance performances-with and/or without the honoree- may have been introduced to non-Latino Black Americans by Black people who are now living in the United States but who are from Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

Also, as some commenters wrote in the YouTube discussion threads that I've read, the Black sweet sixteen "bashes" appear to be family/friends events (often including young children) that are very similar to wedding receptions.

I'd love to know more about the history of (Black non-Latimo) sweet sixteen parties in the United States. If you are aware of these parties before 2010, please share that information in the comment section below. Thanks!

*I'm using the term "Black American" instead of "African American" because I want to include Black people living in the United States who may not consider themselves "African Americans". For example, one sweet sixteen video that I watched was for a girl who is Garifuna* (from Honduras) and another sweet sixteen video that I watched was for a girl who is Nigerian (living in the USA)**.

* "Shelsy's Super "LIT" Sweet 16 (2015 BlayFilms)" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeC589nTVH0

** "Queen Essy Sweet 16" (2017) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnNcAt-dbuk

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Niyah African Sweet 16 Dance



Nicole Campbell, Published on Apr 21, 2017
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Statistics as of November 27, 2017 at 6:57 PM ET
1,300,910 views

total likes (thumbs up) 23K

total dislikes (thumbs down) 1K

total comments - 1,501 Comments

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*This total view number is very high for this type of YouTube video.

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SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT BLACK AMERICANS HOSTING AFRICAN THEMED PARTIES
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3hb8buLU0w

Pancocojams Editor's Note
These selected comments are representative examples of that discussion thread's comments on this topic. These comments are given in chronological order based on their publishing date with the oldest months' comments given first, except for replies.

The comment that follows the word "REPLY" are usually but not always the one that followed the preceding comment in that discussion sub-thread. "***" marks the end of a sub-thread of comments.

I've numbered these comments for referencing purposes only.

July 2017
1. Modern Moana
"do you even know what part of Africa you are from?"

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REPLY
2. Shekinah's World
"exactly what I was saying this whole joke of a video"

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REPLY
3. Modern Moana
"+Shekinah's World yes its disrespectful to see this . especially when only one certain country wears dashikis . lol ...they need to learn the history first . people from Africa hate seeing culture appropriation."

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REPLY
4. Modern Moana
"Its from Nigeria"

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REPLY
5. Shekinah's World
"Girl yes I know! I'm Nigerian lol"

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REPLY
6. Modern Moana
"+Shekinah's World yeah they should really stop wearing those and be themselves . its not "pro black" and Africans don't even call them self black they call them self whatever country they are from whether it be Ethiopian, Nigerian ,or morrocan.... I find it very funny how blacks decided to steal someone else's identity /culture ...they need to get a DNA test and find out what African country they really are from and not steal other peoples culture"

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REPLY
7. Modern Moana
"+Shekinah's World just because you are 'black" doesnt make it automatically okay to claim everything that is from Africa ...they forget that Africa isn't a country lol."

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REPLY
8. Shekinah's World
"YES took the words right out of my mouth! another argument I hate that they make is "There are so many countries in Africa so theirs no way for us to know exactly what country we're from" like what......If I didn't know what country I was from I wouldn't Just go and start practicing some random culture just because it's "trendy" that disrespect to the highest form."

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REPLY
9. Modern Moana
"+Shekinah's World exactly and I hate when people like to make fashion trends out of other peoples culture. They have to have some kind of respect for other peoples culture . just like I love Asian culture but I'll never wear a kimono or a geisha dress lol so disrespectful on so many levels"

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REPLY
10. adenike akinsola
"I'm so lost on this whole "African" themed party like how is African a theme"

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REPLY
11. NW Johnson
"I was t inking the same thing oh! I am Liberian and you can just tell when people are straight from Africa, but these people only wore dashikis. There were no old mas with patterned head ties and lappas."
-snip-
"mas" = mothers

"lappas" = material wrapped around the waist down to the ankles (a skirt). The top that is worn with this is sometimes called a "bubba". Also, "gele" (pronounced "gay-lay") is another name for wrapped "head ties"/"head scarfs".

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REPLY
12. Modern Moana
"+NW Johnson exactly!!"

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August 2017

REPLY
13. Obe T.
"That is so true. Africa isn't even a country and it baffles me that people categorise it as if it is a country with one culture, language, etc. Also, you're right in saying that it is not good to just pick and choose from the various cultures present on the continent just because it will make them look "unique and different". It is ridiculous. And am I the only one who has noticed that the individuals appropriating the various African tribes/countries only pick the good things from the tribes/countries? EX: the food, the clothes, the dances, the music, etc. It is never the bad that comes along with it. But it is not only African Americans who do it as well, other Africans do it too. And they themselves are not helping by referring to Africa as a country.

With this video, I see nothing "African" about it. It would be nice if people would quit referring to the continent as a country."

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REPLY
14. Modern Moana
"+Obe T. Exactly , when will people learn"

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REPLY
15. Obe T.
"They won't learn and that is the problem right there. I myself am from the continent(Ghana to be exact) and it bothers me when people refer to the continent as a country and its people as one people having the same things. And when I point out that the people(well at least in my country) tend to identify more with their tribes instead of what colour they are, some people get offended by it, which confuses me as tribes have been around for thousands of years."

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July 2017

16. Angeleena Adu
"I'm confused is she actually african? or is it african themed because of the dashikis?"

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REPLY
17. Nicole Campbell [video publisher]
"Angeleena Adu its just a theme it' was other decorations that represents Africa in the party"

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REPLY
18. Angeleena Adu
"Nicole Campbell ohh I see"

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19. Rican Beautyx
"The only thing african about this was the dashikis. Bye!"

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REPLY
20. Rican Beautyx
"As an african i will take the time to break it down for my non african brothers & sisters
1. Africa is not a place where people wear dashikis all day long.
2. African songs dont have this dancing.
3. Dashikis is not the national dressing code for any africans alive. Amen hallelujah
4. African songs are more lit and have lots of nice dancing beats to it.
5. Africans can not show their thighs infront of their parents like that and most likely there would be no boys at your party apart from your cousins and small nephews plus if you start to bring any funny dance that party is off
6. Africa is a continent not a dashiki world.

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REPLY
21. Nicole Campbell [video publisher]
"Rican Beautyx that's good to know but everyone with these negative comments is missing the point here this wasn't a African dance it was a theme once again these are a bunch of kids celebrating my god daughter birthday everyone so busy worrying about what they wearing lets be thankful these was doing something positive they not put gang banging in the street they enjoying life so to anyone who's African no disrespect to you but this is a trend jersey does its all different themes people do"

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22. Sadejah Ogun-McCants
"This is kinda disrespectful to me, how you wear a dashiki with booty shorts and this is an African dance??? I only saw 1 or 2 African moves."

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REPLY
23. Icy crown
"How is that disrespectful? lol"

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REPLY
24. NW Johnson
"Being from West Africa, Africans generally listen to the same music from there, you know Liberians, Nigerians, Ghanians, etc. But I did not here any song I recognized. I think they are black Americans trying to get back to African roots, because they are only wearing dashikis. If you go to a real African event you will see all the old mas wearing their head ties and lappas with different patterns. Not trying to throw any form of shade, just saying I see mostly black Americans wearing dashikis, a lot of my relatives and friend who are also African don't. You can just tell when people are raw Africans."

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REPLY
25. Nicole Campbell [video publisher]
"NW Johnson this was sweet 16 African theme party this a trend that everyone doing with they sweets A few years ago my daughter theme was Egyptian"
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The commenter's response could be interpreted to mean that she is distinguishing an "African" theme party from an "Egyptian" theme party, even though Egypt is in Africa.

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26. Shakena Sampson
"african pride baby !!"

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August 2017

REPLY
27. Akbbba 1
"Shakena Sampson there was nothing 'african' about this but their dashiki and since they were clearly faux print those werent even african, just to let you know."

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REPLY
28. Shakena Sampson
"Akbbba 1 it was because she enjoyed the african culture ,even though shes not fully african or not she still enjoys and embrace their culture so it is african pride. her and her family enjoyed it thats all that matters , doesnt matter what material you have on, its the fact that shes embracing her ancestoral culture. point. blank. period."

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REPLY
29. Shakena Sampson
"Akbbba 1 just to let you know 😘"

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REPLY
30. newnen
"Shakena Sampson deep sigh young lady, woow its clear you dont know and a probabley young so I'll just consider you and explain. People have a very weird perception of what african culture is, where it came from idk. But this is NOT african culture not even a little bit the 'dashikis' dont even look african if she was wearing kente or ankara or any other trational cloth and used actual African (high life, afro beats ) music fine.

But i wont let you who clearly does not know anything of any african culture try and dismiss the truth and say this is in any way shape or form african that is highly disrespectful if you dont know. we already have it tough with people thinking we are all poor we dont need people defaming our cultures and history, this was very cute but its clear she didnt do a single bit of research to learn of any of the true african cultures availiable to her and the fact you want to label this as african when someone is telling you this is not our cultures just shows how deep the disregard runs, for you this is may be a trend but for us this is our language, history and culture its shame other diasporas so deeply learn of their histories whilst our own dont even bother to learn of one dynasty when there is so much ready for then to discover instead we are their 'style' which will surely pass.
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The bold font was used in the original comment

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August 2017

31. Tiima Jayy
"Where Specifically Is She From In Africa ? ONE African Song Being Played....??? Okay."

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REPLY
32. Sarah clarkson

LMAO right I was like....these akatas
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The word "akata" is a Nigerian reference for African Americans which, in my opinion, is an offensive put-down. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/10/ataka-is-mean-spirited-word.html for a 2011 pancocojams post entitled "Akata Is A Mean Spirited Word".

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August 2017

33. Sila Fero
"I really hope people don't think this is African dance. It just doesn't captivate even 1 culture. The fact it's theme, like why make a culture a theme idk...."

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REPLY
34. Trend Setter Chic
"its their heritage"

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REPLY
35. adenike akinsola
"Fatima Jay idek anyway all my Africans remember when we used to get teased in school about being African but now it's praised... smh"

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REPLY
36. Modern Moana
"+adenike akinsola you right"

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REPLY
37. Taniya Herring
"I am African American but I truly enjoy African culture so much but I am afraid to learn dances and wear certain clothing because I wouldn't want to offend anyone."

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REPLY
38. HGsoul4ever
"Don't let anything stop. Nigerian here. As long as you're not ignorant and you put in interest, Africans will embrace you. I'd recommend watching Joulezy's videos. She's an African American that embraced her African heritage the right way (except for one or two things). Cheers, dear."

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REPLY
39. Marie T
"I was wondering where the African part came in. The issue with people trying to "claim their heritage" is that they don't know the culture. They don't speak the language and understand the ways, so they will definitely make mistakes and misconstrue it. If you really want to learn a language in its true intent you have to go to the country. Culture is your surroundings, so I don't get people trying to claim other cultures that you are not surrounded by. Just appreciate, learn as much as you can, and keep looking on as an outsider, but claiming it is....."

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REPLY
40. Steph I
"Marie T can't say how much I agree with you"

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August 2017

REPLY
41. Its Daune
"i think she african american the idea is lit but she didnt realky do african dance i love the theme but there was no african besidea the clothes"
-snip-
The word "lit" usually is a superlative that means "high energy". However, in the context of this comment, I think that "lit" means "very good".

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REPLY
42. Its Daune
"Marie T you dont have to speak the language to know your culture and you dont have to go to the country you can do other things to learn like pen pal etc. Tbh i think she should have just called it a dashiki party or something cause their was no african dancing or anythinh i love the theme it just was not executed"

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REPLY
43. Marie T
"Meow Caroon I used language as an example of something you fully better understand when you are in its land of origin. Like I said they can study and learn the culture, but unless you have truly lived it, you cannot claim it. That was my only point. I study Asian, Middle Eastern, and Latin culture does that all of a sudden make me any of those things? Heck no. I dont even mind buying you a nice "African outfit", since I do it for my white friends. It just doesn't make you African because you know Wizkid, Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkrumah, or Tiwa Savage. Also for people who yell cultural appropriation alot why is someone who is not from any African country allowed to use someone's culture as a prop. Beyonce and others are getting away with it, because Africans tend to not be bothered about those things. Had a Kardashian done it.... Oh My!!!"

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REPLY
44. Marie T
"You can't actually get the full experience of a culture, because you a read a book or watched a movie. Even Africans immigrants in Western countries try to come back to Africa and go right back, because they grew accustomed to another way of life. So I dont know about someone who has never been or even interacted with more than 20 Africans at a time. One African American(black American) youtuber said she didnt want to come live in Africa, because to her she would be benefiting off the lower class. According to her there are only poor and rich people in West-Africa no middle class. Wow. The assumption that should would even just automatically thrive in Africa baffles me. Since she said she was middle class in the U.S."

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REPLY
45. Faith Ogie
"+sarah clarkson akatas LMFAOOSHSJSSH fr"

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REPLY
46. Steph I
"Taniya Herring it's okay just do your research and don't appropriate like these girls"

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REPLY
47. Aycha Sade
"Oooo 🙄😒 why somebody (a lot of y'all) always gotta start that sh&t*, stop making such a big damn deal about country and culture... calling them akatas, y'all sound bitter and foolish, they were having fun that's all it was. DAMN."
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment

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REPLY
48. Ruby Cupcake21
"I see Africans all the time listening to African American music but you don't see me complaining about how they don't know the culture because I can care less their having fun"

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REPLY
49. Marie T
"Well I don't know who you are talking to exactly, but I only spoke about knowing the culture in reference to a person who commented that they were trying to claim a heritage. I don't mind people partaking in it respectfully but claiming it is another case."

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REPLY
50. Steph I
"Ruby Cupcake21 Dashikis being worn and one African song being played is appropriation of African culture I could also care less as long as no one is offended and no culture is appropriated. For comparison it is kind of like African/African American culture being appropriated with cornrows and other things. I'm sure a lot of Africans remember when we were being made fun of for our heritage and now African Americans are trying to reclaim their roots by wearing dashikis/listening to wizkid or something I hope you can see y some Africans are getting offended."

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REPLY
51. Asma Hayan
"Tia Renee the song is a Somali song called HILOWLE and they're definitely not doing any African dance. HILOWLE is a dance to a song. So idk y they're mixing EAST &WEST Africa. Black Americans appropriate African culture too much. Sometimes even steal it but wanna make fun of us when they want to. In school, it was always the black kids that made fun of African culture but now they wanna "claim their heritage"

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REPLY
52. Reelani Lola Makiese Mwabula
"There was more than one African song ....does it even matter where they are from they are black! !"

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REPLY
53. Steph I
"Reelani Lola Makiese Mwabula Not saying we aren't equal or anything but there are stark differences between Africans and African Americans like MAJOR lol this dance isn't rlly African it is an stereotype of how Americans think Africans dance"

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REPLY
54. Bean Butterfly
"+Steph I totally!!! I agree, I was like when does the African dancing begin"

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September 2017

REPLY
55. Jane Johnson
"Marie T I agree with you partly however speaking the language doesn't mean you can now claim your culture because I'm Nigerian,I'm black I know African dances but my language is just not very common on the internet so it's hard to learn by myself however I am still of African heritage and know a lot about my culture the only problem was that I grew up in England so I'm bound to learn English.If I grew up in Nigeria I would most likely learn the language to depending on how my parent teaches me"

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August 2017

56. Don't Haveone
"First and foremost, you all did an amazing job, and I love the African theme! Secondly, for the people who keep commenting about which part of Africa they are from, could you please just enjoy the video Geez!! It's like damn if they do, and damn if they don't. Birthday girl,next time do a Carnival theme birthday party, wear carnival costumes and incorporate some Soca songs to your hip-hop choreography and I wouldn't chastise but be flattered that you embraced the culture. Don't let the negative comments discourage you from learning and embracing your African roots, they all don't think like that. I'm Caribbean living in a America so I understand. ✌🏽"

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57. Darkskinned_ kid
"Niyah so beautiful to me knowing that she repping my culture 🤘🏾🤘🏾😍"


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58. Krap Patty
"I'm sorry but what's Part of Africa are they representing? Africa is not a country"

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59. msCHIevous94
"Lets put on some hooded Dashikis!! Lets be african.. stop it. My culture aint a costume.. yall dnt even know where dashikis orginate from."

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60. Kehinde Timothy
"As a Nigerian there is almost nothing African bout this. For the people looking for real African music look up Afrobeats which is mostly from Nigeria and Ghana"

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61. Pryncess
"Im nigerian and my parents would have killed me ohhh, i would have had to wear one of those itchy traditional outfit and danced that dance, dashiki with short shorts, I MUST WANT 16 years to be my expiration date. my parents would kill me."

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September 2017

62. Maroon Horizon
"why has my continent become a trend?"

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63. Omar Delmar
"In Africa we dont have sweet 16 dances thats a mexican thing
This is african Americans twisting african culture just like the names
This dance belongs in syrip joints"
-snip-
"syrip" is probably a typo for "strip"

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October 2017

64. Key Da Phenom
"I'm Nigerian ok...and as much as I appreciate the embracing of the African theme, we are VERY ENERGETIC lol these dances were Ok! The girl with the green dashiki was great to watch; however, they needed to have her stamina if you will and be more coordinated with their transitions as they were slow and out of tempo most of the time."

-end of selected comments-

PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTES
The "Shelsy's Super "LIT" Sweet 16 (2015 BlayFilms)" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeC589nTVH0 which was mentioned near the beginning of this pancocojams post is a Garifuna Sweet sixteen party which was held in the USA. As shown in that video, that party's music consisted of African, Central American, and Caribbean music. Click http://globalsherpa.org/garifunas-garifuna/ for an article about Garifuna history and culture.

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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/02/dashikis-adaptation-of-yoruba-dansiki.html for a 2012 pancocojams post entitled "Dashikis - An Adaptation Of The Yoruba Dansiki".

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One of the things that I found disconcerting about some comments that weren't included in this compilation was that a number of commenters (who I presumed were African American) didn't appear to know that the "shirts" or "outfits" worn by the female and male dancers in the "Niyah African Sweet 16 Dance" video were called "dashikis" and that these "shirts" were worn by afrocentric African American males to represent our African cultural heritage.

Actually, since at least the 1970s, I've noticed via YouTube videos that the African American adapted form of Yoruba (Nigerian) dansikis have been worn and continue to be worn by mostly male folk singers in South Africa and in East Africa as an immediate symbol of African culture. I think this is because the traditional attire of those ethnic groups would be considered inappropriate for contemporary (Westernized) performances. For example, click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FclwRECHoWc&t=141s for a video of the South African group "Ladysmith Black Mambazo". That group also wears dashikis in a number of other YouTube videos.

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