AfriCampy
The other day I was listening to music on my iTunes and I saw that the next song in the cue was going to be, African by H2O Feat. Zubz, (from the compilation Mzansi Music/Young Urban South Africa.)
I didn’t know that the play function was on shuffle and the song Aguanile, by Willie Colon & Hector Lavoe (from El Juicio,) came on instead.
Not super familiar with either, I heard the intro and was like wow! I can’t believe this young South African musician sampled this stereotypical 60′s explore Africa documentary as an intro. What a great example of Camp Africain.
Then the part familiar to me, where Hector starts to sing came on and I was a little disappointed. Not that a Nuyorican salsa record can’t reference Africa, but their use of stereotypical cues just seemed a little less… Funny.
So I decided that I really like Camp, and especially lately, I really get a kick out of when Africans do it. Not everyone can take themselves seriously. And I even do it myself.
Yet I’m always watching out for instances when people just use stereotypical cues to further their point without any deeper exploration of what that means to those people that they’re stereotyping. For a more in depth and long winded exploration check here: (Ping).
Otherwise, have a laugh (it’s okay!) and enjoy, these examples of great campy African comedy.
Naija Boy
wayne&wax
HIlarious! I suppose that “I Go Chop Your Dollar” could also fit into the series of videos you offer at the end.
Your discussion reminds me of a great article by Manthia Diawara called “Afro Kitsch” — it’s not about African uses of camp, but rather campy African-American uses of Africa. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to locate a version online.
zizek
great post vamanos! hilarious and amazing music as always.