Published Dec 07, 2023 • 2 minute read
Queen Nikkolah, a character intended as an alternative to Santa Claus in Belgium. Photo by Queen Nikkolah /Instagram
A city in Belgium has crushed the woke dreams of many after it cancelled an event that was to feature a Black, female Santa Claus.
Advertisement 2
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
REGISTER TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.
Article content
Queen Nikkolah was intended to be an African alternative to Sinterklaas, the Belgian Santa Claus, and the plan was for the character to set up at Ghent’s city hall and hand out presents to children.
Article content
Queen Nikkolah was created by artist Laura Nsengiyumva, who called for Belgium to be liberated from “colonial ideology” and planned for the Santa substitute to be wearing the colours of the Palestinian flag to raise awareness of the conflict in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, the Daily Mail reported.
The mayor of Ghent felt the heat from local politicians and cancelled the event which more than 300 children were planning to attend.
“There is nothing wrong with Sinterklaas, as we know him,” Mathias de Clercq said, according to the publication.
Advertisement 3
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
“We shouldn’t try to turn him into something else.’
The character of Queen Nikkolah, created in 2017, is described as a “mythological winter creature” and a “radical presence” on social media, was created to provide children with a new tradition of Christmas tales about Sinterklaas.
“People see Queen Nikkolah as a threat,” Nsengiyumva said. “But if I didn’t like this tradition, I wouldn’t have picked it up.”
She continued: “It’s also a desire to be part of it.”
She explained: “It came from a need from the community, not only people of colour, but I think also white allies who needed an alternative to deconstruct the colonial myth around Sinterklaas.”
RECOMMENDED VIDEO
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Nsengiyumva added: “I dream of a Belgium liberated from colonial ideology and a society without discrimination.”
Members of the right-wing New Flemish Alliance described the event as “woker than woke.”
Nadia Sminate, a vice-chairman of the Flemish parliament, said: “Queen Nikkolah’s initiative is actually saying that entire generations of Flemish people are racists.”
Recommended from Editorial
Woke Wisconsin council tells employees no Christmas decorations
WARMINGTON: The Grinch stole Christmas and left ‘Holiday’ trees
Woke school removes Christmas and Easter from academic calendar
Article content
>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Toronto Sun – https://torontosun.com/news/weird/woker-than-woke-black-female-santa-claus-slammed-by-belgian-critics
