Fans of iconic 70s' band ABBA have been told not to wear afro wigs at the Swedish group's Voyage shows, which use holograms to transport audiences back to their heyday. Promoters have emailed those who have purchased tickets that while they understand people will want to dress up, they should avoid the hairpieces as a condition of entry to the arena.
According to the Mail On Sunday, the promoters wrote: "Many of our guests will want to get in the spirit of the show by dressing up for their visit. [But] please do not wear so-called 'Afro' wigs. These wigs are culturally insensitive and not appropriate to be worn as fancy dress.
"If any guests are wearing this style of wig they will be respectfully asked to remove them as a condition of entry to the arena."
The London show's prohibition on wearing certain wigs has been included in the its website's FAQ section since its opening in May 2022. However, ticket-holders have now received the information via email, under the subject line 'Some important information'.
The ABBA Voyage concerts use holograms of the band's members in their 1979 prime, featuring virtual performances from Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid 'Frida' Lyngstadas. Running for over 90 minutes, the show includes 22 of the Swedish supergroup's greatest hits such as Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, and Waterloo, which won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 and launched their international success.
The band had eight consecutive number-one albums and sold 385 million records globally. ABBA Voyage's producers have refused to comment on the matter of the wig ban. A few supporters have expressed their approval of the ban on social media, with one individual even stating that they appreciate ABBA Voyage's statement that cautions against white individuals wearing Afro wigs.
