Dilema............"Kaffirs Illustrated"..............

[Gwenick]

I'm in the process of putting the prints (reproductions) on our website - and in the catalouge sent 'fresh' from South Africa have some across a set entitle "Kaffirs Illustrated".......after doing some research this is indeed what George Angas entitled his drawings back in 1849.........

Problem is this.........."Kaffir" is now seen as a VERY derogetory (sp) name along the lines of the "N" word for blacks in South Africa..........and some of our 'target' customers are probably if not from SA, will know what 'kaffir' means.

Do we include those prints on our website - with the name (they're really nice "African" pictures actually) or exclude at the risk of offending????

Answers on a postcard please

Hi Gwenick

I haven't read the other postings so I may be repeating others' contributions.

I live in South Africa and I would say that this would be considered at best incredibly inappropriate in this day and age and at worst completely bigoted. I just couldn't include this in anything I had for sale. For me it would be similar to selling something along the lines of Dirty Stinking Jews iyswim? There isn't anyway it can be done in good taste.

HTH
dejags

Thing is Dejag - this supplier is IN SA, and selling their stuff out there too.....

It's a tricky one really - as it was painted in 1849 (the original that is) we have to ask if it was a painting of a Kaffir Lily - would that also be offensive??

ho hum - waiting to hear back from the supplier actually to see if they could change the 'title' of the pictures on the paperwork [frown]

totally unrelated but my cat was called kafir i thought id made it up as in a for apple k for kitten so named her kafir

dunno Gwenick - it's history, I definitely appreciate that. It's just the worst possible word that you could ever relate a non-white South African to.

Hope you get things sorted out soon.

dejags
x

I know that Dejags - DH is Zimbabwean and I lived in Zim for 2 1/2yrs.....anyhow, I'd better get on and get some more accessories on the website........that's what DH thinks I'm doing now

sorry, Hope you didn't think I was having a go at you. I thinks it's great that you are being so fastidious about what is sold on your website. It's a shame suppliers don't have the same scruples.