Rastamouse Branded “No Better Than The New Sambo – Golliwog In Drag”

Levi Roots, Benjamin Zephaniah and psychologist Delroy Constantine-Simms all have their say on CBeebies sensation Rastamouse.

It’s hard to keep up with all the Rastamouse controversy, we reported earlier this week that the show had already garnered a combined 101 complaints and now high-profile Rastafarians have been giving their opinion on the show with Reggae Reggae Sauce founder Levi Roots saying he doesn’t support the use of a mouse to represent his culture “I was asked to do the voice of the mouse, but I said no. I am a Rastafarian and I wouldn’t want to portray a Rastafarian as a mouse. For me it is about integrity.” he told The Mirror “I’d never portray a Rasta as a pig or a mouse as I don’t think the values of being a Rasta are served by that. If it was a lion that would be very different, a lion is strong symbol in Rastafarianism.” continuing “Personally, I do not support this representation of us. But we do need representation on TV and as this is the first it should be given a chance. People need to decide whether it is right or wrong for themselves. I have seven children and I would most certainly not want them to watch this show.”

Benjamin Zephaniah was more contemplative about the show: “It’s not the greatest representation of the community, and the accents are not very accurate – probably because people wouldn’t understand a real one. But it’s the first, so of course it is going to attract criticism. The fact that he’s a mouse isn’t great. If you asked the community 99% would want a lion, but so would English football fans.” finishing “On the whole, I’d rather have Rastamouse than not.”

Controversially, in the same Mirror article psychologist Delroy Constantine-Simms called Rastamouse “no better than the new Sambo – golliwog in drag” continuing “No other ethnic group in Britain would allow their religion to be represented by a rodent. Can you imagine a Jewish person writing Jewie the Crime Fighting Pig? Or a follower of the Hindu faith endorsing Hindi the Crime Fighting Cow? Or a book from a Muslim writer titled Jihad Jane? It just would not happen.”

Rastamouse has already been licensed the in Poland, Australia, Canada and Israel and is set for a merchandise range as well as pop career following a record deal with EMI.