MULTICULTURAL MANNERS : Band Strikes a Wrong Chord

Claude, a Nigerian reggae star on tour in the U.S., uses American pick-up bands. During a club date in Texas, enthusiastic members of a largely West African audience come on stage during the performance to stick dollar bills to Claude’s forehead, on his head and onto his clothing. Many of the bills fall to the stage.

By the end of the set, Claude and the floor are covered with money. During the break, the local band members scramble to pick up some of the bills, infuriating Claude and leading to a dispute.

What went wrong?

The West African audience was observing the custom of “dashing” or “spraying,” in which patrons place money on musicians to honor their performance. Traditionally, the musician then makes up lyrics praising each person who dashes him. The custom has ties to the Middle Eastern practice of placing money on the bodies and into clothing of belly dancers.

In West Africa, the headliner is often treated like a king. The other musicians depend on him for food, clothing, housing and even their instruments. He decides how the proceeds are split, often taking the lion’s share. The other musicians are not supposed to help themselves. Rule: Cultures may have different ways of paying artists. It is safer to talk about money before starting the job.