Egypt suspends Dutch curators accused of ‘falsifying history’ for portraying black celebrities

Egyptian officials have banned the Dutch archaeologist from entering the country after an exhibition depicting black American singers, comedians and musicians as the rulers of ancient Egypt opened.

The National Museum of Antiquities (RMO) in Leiden has been condemned by the authorities in Cairo after the opening of the ‘Kemet’ exhibition.

Kemet, meaning ‘black land’, explores ancient civilization through jazz, soul and funk music to showcase the ‘significance of ancient Egypt and Nubia in the work of musicians from the African diaspora’.

The exhibit features a number of black American stars as popular historical Egyptian figures. This includes Beyoncé and Rihanna as Nefertiti, American rapper Nas as Tutankhamun and Eddie Murphy as Ramses.

Kemet, meaning ‘black land’, explores ancient civilization through jazz, soul and funk music to showcase the ‘significance of ancient Egypt and Nubia in the work of musicians from the African diaspora’.

Dutch archaeologists have been banned from Saqqara cemetery near Cairo over portraits described as ‘falsifying history’

However, Dutch archaeologists have been banned from the Saqqara cemetery, near Cairo, because of the portraits, which have been described as ‘falsifying history’.

That is what museum director Wim Weijland says to the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad“The accusation of falsifying history is inappropriate. This exhibition has been made with great care.

‘As scientists you don’t accuse each other like that. I want that qualification revoked.’

The controversy comes after Netflix received backlash for their casting of black British actress Adele James as Cleopatra.

The show has been subject to “blackwashing” claims after James was cast, despite historical records showing that Cleopatra was Macedonian-Greek.

The ban comes as a major blow to RMO, which has been active in Sakkara since 1975.