Rapper Central Cee faces backlash after debuting Bantu Knots in Lil Durk's Instagram video

Central Cee, the British rapper known for his unique style and rapid rise in the music industry, recently found himself at the center of a heated cultural debate. 

A video clip of him sporting Bantu knots, a traditional African hairstyle, went viral on social media, leading to a firestorm of reactions and accusations of cultural appropriation.

The video, shared by X user @LilDurkCrave on August 11, 2024, initially intended to showcase new chains worn by another rapper, Durkio. 

However, it was Central Cee’s hairstyle that caught the attention of viewers. 

Bantu knots, which originate from the Zulu people of Southern Africa, involve twisting sections of hair into small, spiraled knots. The style is deeply rooted in African culture and holds significant cultural and spiritual meaning.

The clip quickly sparked a debate online, with many social media users expressing their displeasure at seeing Central Cee, who is of mixed heritage with a Guyanese-Chinese father and an English mother, don the traditional African hairstyle. 

Critics accused him of cultural appropriation, with one user commenting, "Why does Central Cee have in Bantu knots?!?!?!?!?!"

Another user added, "Man did a feature with Asake now he thinks he’s… nevermind," suggesting that Central Cee’s collaboration with the Nigerian artist might have influenced his choice of hairstyle. 

A particularly strong critique came from a user who said, "THIS is why the black community needs to stop being so welcoming to outsiders infiltrating our sh*t. The fact that this Caucasian felt comfortable to 1. wear Bantu knots with his weird *ss & 2. Wear them in the presence of black ppl. Way too comfortable is an understatement."

However, not everyone agreed with the criticism. 

Some users defended Central Cee, arguing that hairstyles cannot be gatekept and that people should not be so quick to accuse him of cultural insensitivity. 

One user remarked, "Why y'all wanna gatekeep hair smh weird af," while another pointed out that Bantu knots are a traditional Southern African hairstyle and claimed, "Bantu knots can be traced back to Southern Africa (hence the name Bantu) and I don't see a single Southern African complaining… It's always these Descendants of East African slaves with something to say."

The conversation also turned to discussions about cultural exchange and double standards. 

One user questioned, "So people have a problem with Central Cee with Bantu knots in his head and that's cosplaying. But when a black woman has Asian or Brazilian wigs in her hair, it's not cosplaying and it’s okay? I swear black people are the most toxic."

This isn’t the first time Central Cee has faced scrutiny online. 

Just last month, the rapper was embroiled in another controversy after his ex-girlfriend, Madeline Argy, accused him of cheating on her with fellow artist Ice Spice in a viral TikTok rant.