Erratum

Abstract

In article by Mustafa (2022) the identity of one of the secondary characters described is clarified.

After publication, it was brought to the author's attention that the dark-skinned character may have been reference to the Nigerian Boko Haram leader Abu Muhammad Abu Bakar Sheikawi. This seems likely, as Sheikawi, or Shekau, was once affiliated with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, although later replaced by Abu Musab al-Barnawi following orders by Islamic State over ideological disagreements, which resulted in a leadership dispute. Thus, the identity of Shekau would be known to those, such as the Bigh Daddy show creators, who were deeply familiar with Islamist group associations and membership outside the Arab world – but at the same time, unknown to most Iraqi and Arab viewers of the program. Without this necessary context, the parody of Shekau could not have resonated with the intended audience; it seems more of an in-joke for the authors, while functioning to reinforce stereotypes about black people's misrepresentation in Arabic films, drama and media. Also, it is possible that the teacher character represented Osama Bin Laden himself, but again that reference could have been lost in reception, leading to other stereotypes around the relationship between appearances and extremism. The show's creators could have clarified these references more explicitly for their viewers to avoid any misreading or misinterpretation. This question of the comprehensibility of satiricial references, depending on the context relevant to the particular viewer, highlights how culturally and politically situated such commentary is and demonstrates a practical boundary to this type of communication.

The author regrets this error.