Copenhagen Jazz Festival poster sparks backlash over blackface resemblance

The Copenhagen Jazz Festival, which begins today, is facing criticism over its promotional poster, with some saying the design resembles blackface.

The artwork, created by artist Jack Kabangu, depicts a black figure with exaggerated hair and six fingers playing the piano. It appears on the festival’s programmes and marketing materials.

Denise Thigpen, an artist manager and daughter of the late jazz drummer Ed Thigpen, said she was shocked by the design. “I was shocked that the motif so strongly resembles blackface,” she told DR’s P1 Morgen. She argued that the image evokes negative stereotypes and fails to honour Afro-American cultural heritage, given jazz’s deep ties to the struggle against racial discrimination.

Kenneth Hansen, director of the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, defended the choice, stating that the festival selects an artist, not a specific motif. “This year, we chose Jack Kabangu. What he delivered is consistent with his usual style,” Hansen said. He described the figure as abstract and part of Kabangu’s recurring artistic themes.

Kabangu, who was born in Zambia and partly raised in Denmark, said in a statement that the design was inspired by a superhero series and a Zulu figure from his childhood. He expressed surprise at the accusations of racism, framing the poster as a symbol of cultural exchange. “It represents a time when Danish culture and Black culture can meet, coexist, and create something new together,” he wrote.

The festival issued a statement earlier this week, saying it was surprised and saddened by the criticism, which it claimed contradicts the event’s values and intentions.

Thigpen clarified that her critique was not directed at Kabangu’s artistic freedom but at the festival’s use of the image in its marketing. Hansen, however, maintained that the poster is part of the festival’s tradition of commissioning original artwork, a practice in place since 1982.