Public outrage as Sweden 'removes' ABBA from cultural heritage list

Recently, the Nobel Prize, the main character of 'Pippi Longstocking', the furniture brand IKEA... have become iconic cultural heritages of Sweden. However, the most famous name abroad - the legendary band ABBA - is absent.

After many years of work and a cost of 8 million kronor (about 22.3 billion VND), historian Lars Trägårdh officially "named" Sweden's cultural heritage at a recent press conference in Uppsala.

The list is said to define what it means to be Swedish and establish a "common map" to establish the Nordic country's identity. It includes the Nobel Prize, the protagonist of Pippi Longstocking , the furniture brand IKEA, paternity leave for men to share with their wives, and the bible by Gustav Vasa, published in 1541.

Other names featured include Ingmar Bergman's iconic 1957 film The Seventh Seal , Hilma af Klint's abstract painting series Målningar till templet , Ragnar Östberg's Stockholm City Hall, Allemansrätt (access to nature), Kakelungnen (18th-century fireplaces) and songs by author and singer Evert Taube.

4 ABBA members receive Royal Vasa Medal in their home country of Sweden from the king and queen in 2024

PHOTO: VARIETY

After the announcement, the public went from surprise to outrage when ABBA - Sweden's most famous cultural export, did not make the list.

According to the selection committee, the criteria for names to be included in the list is that they must be at least 50 years old. They said the band ABBA "has not been around for more than half a century, so they are not included here".

However, this explanation was quickly dismissed when ABBA was formed in 1972, won Eurovision in 1974 and released their third self-titled album with hits like SOS, Mamma Mia... in 1975. These numbers all show that ABBA fully meets the conditions to be included in the list.

After the announcement, Swedish MP Jan Ericson said ABBA was "one of the most important symbols of Swedish culture" internationally. He wrote on social media: "And yet a group of erudite public relations (PR) experts did not include ABBA. ABBA is one of the most important symbols of Swedish culture abroad. What the hell were they thinking?"

The above review period also excludes most contributions from foreign-born Swedes, as most of them immigrated here after 1975.

However, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson defended the initiative, saying: "Understanding the culture that shaped our country is important for everyone, but perhaps most important for those who came to Sweden and who grew up in homes where many aspects of Swedish culture were absent."

Meanwhile, many organizations and communities have criticized the list as discriminatory, including the Swedish Academy, which awards the Nobel Prizes annually. Representatives of the indigenous Sámi people have also criticized the initiative as too narrow and exclusionary. The association representing the indigenous Tornedalen people in northern Sweden has a similar view.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cong-chung-phan-no-khi-thuy-dien-xoa-abba-khoi-danh-sach-di-san-van-hoa-18525090512520249.htm