for Muktar

I am a German citizen living in Berlin
I was born in Africa and speak my native language of Oromo

One day I saw one of my people interviewed on German television
As the German announcer interpreted,
He changed the text of the Oromo woman
He said she believed and wanted things she never spoke about
He created ideas she could never know about
He made her sound like a German woman

I began to be aware of more abuses after this experience
I asked questions of the people who dub foreign films
I was told the text for foreign films and television programs
Is changed to make the mouth movements match the words
And to make it more understandable to the German audience

I asked why subtitles were not used as in many other countries
I was told too many people would be put out of work
I suggested that dubbing gave more opportunity for abuses
They said that was only my point of view
Germans have a right to hear everything in German

And so the people who watched the Oromo woman believe a lie
How many other lies do they believe also?
For me it explains many misconceptions of other places in the world
Everyday German television and movie theaters perpetuate nationalism
They take works of art from foreigners, „Der Auslander“
And in a subtle, simple way make Germans believe
That the whole world is like Germany

For the artists and people of the countries of the films’ origins
We watch in horror as our customs and cultural identities are destroyed
To us the pervasive practice of dubbing is censorship
We can use a popular German phrase to explain how we feel
„We would like to see our cultures presented in our own languages“
If it’s good enough for Germany, it’s good enough for us too