«Non pago affitto»: «Bello FiGo» as performative reflection of the «spectacle of the other»

Abstract

In his viral song «non pago affitto», which collected more that 11 million clicks on YouTube in less than three months, the Italian-Cameroonian rapper «Bello FiGo» describes himself as following: «I don’t pay any rent, ‘cause I am nigger», «all my friends came with boats to Italy; as soon as we arrive, we have houses, cars and bitches». This «prise de position» caused an uproar inside and outside of the «marché des biens symboliques» and was discussed in nationwide televisions and even politics. There Bello FiGo was deliberately called a «nigger» and a «refuge» who is nothing but problem for Italy. Based on “naturally occurring data” (referring to David Silverman) such as YouTube videos, Facebook comments and newspaper articles, the paper asks how self-referential jokes by representatives of ethnic minorities fascinate and irritate alike. On the basis of Goffman’s studies of «stigmas », the paper argues, that self-mockery has to be seen as a strategy. As a matter of principle, Belo FiGo refuse to label his statement as unambiguously ironic or straightforward. In doing so he leads the audience onto a slippery slope. Likewise, the Swiss-Albanian rapper «Baba Uslender» Belo FiGo’s ethnic comedy is not just meant a bit of harmless fun, but rather all done with elaborate mirrors, spotlights and stages on which the audience is called to show its real face.