“The Honorable Shyne” Documentary Accused of Exploiting Maya Culture

Last night, we shared the excitement surrounding the screening of Moses ‘Shyne’ Barrow’s documentary at the Princess Cinema, which received rave reviews from attendees. However, tonight, the documentary is facing some criticism. Maya Cultural Activist Juan Caal, who runs the Maya Culture Belize Facebook page, has accused Barrow of exploiting Maya cultural heritage. Caal is particularly upset about the cover art, which shows Barrow sitting in front of a Maya temple, and the fact that Barrow conducted an interview for the documentary at the same location. Here’s how Caal explained his objections to the image.

 

Juan Caal, Maya Cultural Activist

“If you look at it, I don’t know him personally. I have only been hearing about the documentary on the media as well. But, one must think like, is it not a logical question, what does the Maya temple have to do with your story? How does it relate? It is only logic, I would have seen him sitting down in front of the National Assembly. It is more relatable to the power that he seeks to become prime minister. That is my question when I share. It results in nothing else, but like some would say, publicity. But, I am not sure publicity for who. Publicity for him, publicity for the Maya people, but we have to look at it from a very in depth perspective. For you to do that, you have to be grounded in culture, you have to look at the respect you must have for your own culture and the culture of others.”

 

Paul Lopez

“So do you believe that his use of the Maya temple is a form of cultural exploitation?”

 

Juan Caal

“I think, these scenarios has been going on. His one is not just the first. We have seen so many times when we have seen artist, we have seen where in the name of so many things they use our cultural heritage. And, it continues to happen. I think this is the time we need to start dialogue with the cultural gate keepers on how we go about promoting the cultural heritage of Belize. We have to revisit policies that promotes appreciation of people’s culture.”