Machik Khabda
  • The Series
    • Resettlement
    • Redefining Srinmo
    • Anu Ranglug
    • Valley of the Heroes
    • Pekar Retrospective
    • Enticement >
      • Introducing Enticement
  • Khabda Blog
  • Donate

Machik Khabda Blog

Welcome to the Machik Khabda Blog where we are sharing notes, thoughts and insights from local Khabdas around the world!  All opinions expressed are those of the bloggers, unless noted otherwise. 

Cross Cultural Music & Its Implications

8/12/2019

2 Comments

 
Written by Tenzin Dickyi
Machik Program Intern & Senior at Colgate University 


The 4th Machik Khabda (MK4) was a really fun one to be part of.  Not only did my parents get to be part of it, but I spent the last month listening to ANU’s music and learning so much about them prior to Khabda.  While the Khabda in Washington, DC was held mainly in English, I am so grateful that my parents were there to experience it.  They did not speak out during the conversation because they are very shy, but afterwards my parents could not stop talking about ANU.  They wanted to know if my brothers knew who ANU were and had the song GAGA stuck in their heads for days. They were in awe of the Tibetan duo making waves through music.  Neither of them listen to a lot of music nor do they think about the impact of Tibetan hip hop artists from Tibet, but this Khabda got them thinking about contemporary Tibetan artists.  I enjoy Khabda so much because of the way it gets Tibetans and non-Tibetans of all ages thinking and talking about Tibetan creatives in Tibet.


During this Khabda, something that I couldn’t get out of my mind is the way that hip hop culture and Tibetan culture combine to make ANU’s music and clothing brand.  Growing up as a Tibetan in the United States, I have watched my culture be appropriated.  Even before I knew what cultural appropriation was, I remember feeling annoyed.  I noticed that some people could profit from Tibetan culture without fully understanding or crediting the meaning and history.  From this experience, I also learned to be sensitive to others’ feelings based on something I may have done.  During Khabda, we talked about the the word “Tigga” and its use in Tibet.  Someone at the Khabda brought up how a rapper who went by the name of “Rich Chigga” changed their name to “Rich Brian” after coming to the U.S. from Indonesia.  They told us about how once the rapper learned about the history of the n-word, he felt uncomfortable keeping his former name.  I think this is important to remember because it is possible that ANU and other rappers in Tibet may not have full access to the meaning and context of it all.  ANU is clearly influenced by Black-American creativity, through clothes or music.  Figuring out the difference between cultural appreciation and appropriation is difficult, especially in this special context.  It is still something that I am thinking about, beyond the conversation that occured during Khabda.  I am thrilled that Khabda gave everyone a space to explore these dynamics as well as learn about these incredible creatives in Tibet!
2 Comments
site oficial da prova link
9/8/2023 07:31:39 pm

Great ppost thankyou

Reply
Northridge Crossdressers link
6/9/2025 11:28:52 pm

It's great that MK4 provided an opportunity for discussion about cultural appreciation versus appropriation.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    April 2020
    March 2020
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019

      Subscribe to Machik Khabda!

    Subscribe to Newsletter

CONTACT

ADDRESS

Machik
​1203 K Street NW
​Washington, D.C
USA 20005

PHONE

202-536-4858

EMAIL

[email protected]
  • The Series
    • Resettlement
    • Redefining Srinmo
    • Anu Ranglug
    • Valley of the Heroes
    • Pekar Retrospective
    • Enticement >
      • Introducing Enticement
  • Khabda Blog
  • Donate