Former Ivorian footballer Yaya Touré has spoken out against the use of harmful stereotypes about African curses in media, following comments made by his former agent.
In a statement posted on his social media accounts, Touré expressed his disappointment and frustration with the media’s amplification of these stereotypes.
“My former agent is being quoted by the media about a ‘curse’,” Touré wrote. “Please don’t associate me with this nonsense and lazy stereotypes about African curses! Media… move on please. This man does not represent me in any way. Amplifying these stereotypes is harmful.”
The comments made by Touré’s former agent relate to a supposed curse that was placed on Touré during his time at FC Barcelona. The curse was allegedly responsible for a series of misfortunes that befell the team, including their elimination from the UEFA Champions League in the 2011-12 season.
Touré, who played for Barcelona from 2007 to 2010, has previously dismissed the notion of a curse and attributed the team’s losses to other factors.
The use of African curses as a media trope has been a contentious issue, with many decrying its perpetuation of harmful stereotypes. The trope has been criticized for reducing the diverse cultures and traditions of the African continent to a simplistic and inaccurate portrayal.
Touré’s statement serves as a reminder of the need to move away from these stereotypes and to strive for more nuanced and accurate representations of African cultures and traditions in the media.
