Of twerking video vixens and figure-hugging costumes....and nudity

Of twerking video vixens and figure-hugging costumes....and nudity

BY MUSYOKA NGUI

W

ikipedia defines twerking as a type of dancing in which an individual, usually a female, dances to music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low squatting stance. Oxford Dictionary agrees by defining to twerk as: (informal) to dance to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and low squatting stance. I do not entirely agree with both but have seen people twerking while dancing in real life and music videos well enough to throw my two cents.

First, twerking need not be a preserve of female video vixens. Of course they have biological advantage over male dancers as they have well rounded behinds which attract the audience in droves. Men try to pull it off but not as effortless as women.

In P-Unit’s recent release hit Weka weka, there are several male twerkers featured doing their thing, as it were, complete with full dance rounds. Citizen TV’s popular dance show Sakata featured male dancers trying to woo both the judges and the audience with twerking moves. Going by the applause and ratings they received they must have impressed.

Tanzanian bongo star Diamond also extensively employs twerking actors in his song Nataka Kulewa to a very successful degree.  While twerking requires the actors to wear tight costumes in order to effectively display their contours, it has evoked controversy as to whether it amounts to objectification of the female beauties on the one hand or it is just a matter of appreciating and tapping God- given “talent”.

There are various twerk dances depending on the creativity and flexibility of the twerkers. The audience can enjoy the show with their imagination stretched to film thinness. The images etched on the viewers especially the youth, can prove to be indelible and actually the highlight of the provocative video. This is so because the young people play those videos and pause to “internalise” the landscape. Others replay the tapes over and over again- without an iota of boredom.

Twerkers know their bodies like the back of their hands. You cannot pull a 180 degree thrust up and down repeatedly yet you have never practised that in private. Again, you must be wearing a tight pant and not a jeans or a skirt.

In its physical nature twerking serves as a calorie-burner. The exercise helps reduce excess fat and achieve the ideal shape of the a**. Your legs too get work out thus making you agile. Actually, you can carve out a career out of dancing if you practice the moves and have a passion. Twerk dance is no exception.

Accessorize with suspenders and waist chains like the dancers in Hivo Ndio Kunaendaga of Kenrazy, Visita and Majirani. Just ensure that you are in tune with the high tempo beats and your sweat will pay off once you get off the set.

Miley Cyrus is arguably the queen of twerking. She doubles up as a dancer, singer, actor and a model. She slams critics by quipping “Remember only God can judge us/Forget the haters if somebody love you/” in her lines drawn from her song We Can’t Stop.  Of course critics will dismiss her as a spoilt brat trying to export Western culture in order to “spoil our girls” and “steal our men”.  They can’t be more insecure. A roving eye will ogle regardless. Furthermore, what’s wrong if the trade brings home a decent earning? Isn’t it better than engaging in prostitution and drug abuse?

The same detractors have been on the case of the female twerkers like a cook picking rice. They say the dancers expose too much. It is true. They pull their pants too close. They tie their blouses on one end to expose their breasts. Others wear only shorts effectively showing their underwears. But that is what audience want. The audience is like a customer and is king. The twerkers are yet to go commando so hold your peace. A simple warning of parental guidance by the music director should serve the purpose of deterring those who will be upset by the pictures. The flipside of the PG sign or censoring of any nature is that it only piques the curiosity of the viewer who can’t help but to make him/herself comfortable on the couch and hit the play button on the remote control.

The writer is a Final Year Communication and Media student at Chuka University.