A LEGO interpretation of Cape Town’s Bo Kaap has surfaced on the internet, and many locals were not happy with how the ‘product’ portrayed the iconic neighbourhood. People started calling the LEGO company disrespectful, and showcased anger toward the askew racial representation in the design, as well as the avoidance of crucial features of Bo Kaap.
The tweet that started the conversation
Oh look, Lego has gentrified Bo Kaap. ? pic.twitter.com/eOxXi3sNtb
— Gasant Abarder???? (@GasantAbarder) May 30, 2021
??? @LEGO_Group
No. Way. Nope.
FIX it. ?? pic.twitter.com/Vh5nHYXqGS— Refilwe Moloto (@RefilWest) May 30, 2021
Not a single person of colour in sight. Just vibes. https://t.co/jCmVER6KsN
— Shakeel Garda (@ShakeelGarda) May 30, 2021
Brown people you mean… No. Wonder if Bo Kaap residents were consulted even!
— Mark Strydom Says (@maroek) May 30, 2021
Bo-Kaap as the sherrif of Cape Town sees it in his ideal world. Sick.
— Annelize van Wyk (@annelizevanwyk) May 30, 2021
Not one babbie, one kofea( excuse the spelling), one gangster or one bubble corolla….what nonsense is this ?
— Tebza (@carlolinks) May 30, 2021
Not one gatsby or daaltjie?
— Ravi “The Heavy Roller” Reddy (@ravredd2009) May 30, 2021
The truth revealed
This particular set is not for sale. The idea was submitted to Lego by a local as part of a competition and people could vote for it to become an actual Lego set.https://t.co/QIsOI0svSO
— Celeste Petersen (@CelestePe83) May 30, 2021
The actual set design was revealed to have been submitted by a local Wayne Nestadt, as part of a competition back in 2019, where people could vote for it to become an actual for-sale set. It was eventually created, but allegedly not for sale.
The set was originally displayed at Canal Walk’s LEGO store opening back in 2019.
However, there is perhaps something to be said about the fact that people are speaking up about representation now, two years later. In just two years opinions have shifted, and people feel more comfortable about vocalising their thoughts now more than before.
Picture: Twitter @GasantAbarder