Unicef criticised for ‘blackface’ advert

 

The reputation of Unicef, the human rights organisation for children, was tainted in July after the German branch of its operations were internationally criticised for commissioning an anti-African advert featuring european children doused in mud in the “blackface” style to appeal for donations for a campaign to build schools in Africa.

African people were further left demeaned and angered when translations for the dialogue accompanying the advert’s images were revealed to play on and reinforce stereotypical propaganda that asserts that education is a rarity in Africa.

After much pressure in the form of petitioning, letter writing and emailing from the international Pan African community Unicef Germany withdrew the advert from its website and released a statement claiming that the advert had not meant to offend and they, as well as the advertising agency who had created the advert, had sourced opinion from the German public for the advertisement before the campaign was unveiled and they received no feedback expressing concern.

Their plea of naivety failed to convince many people, leaving the reputation of Unicef considerably compromised.