Music Videos as a space for Identity construction
The song 'Young Van Riebeek or ‘YVR', is the creation of a persona which plays on the name of Jan van Riebeeck. The arrival of the Dutch lead by Jan Van Riebeeck, in 1652 marks the beginning of colonial history in South Africa. It was incidental to their trading with the East Indian companies. In summary, through the music video, Youngsta explores our history and present and how they are still interconnected and how history has thus shaped identities and the position most people are in today.
The music video was filmed and took place in contemporary Cape Town, specifically around the area of Kalk Bay. However, the use of the sunlight reflection within the video distorts our vision and clarity as to where exactly the video is taking place. Perhaps this was intentional. I also found It is interesting that Youngsta framed the music video against a familiar backdrop to possibly allude to the idea that slave trade mentality and segregation is still within in our midsts today. As Cape Town has been used as a marker of place, we can see that the clothing within the music video has been used as markers of identity and time. It is evident that Youngsta is creating a historical re-imagining of the time when Van Riebeeck came to the cape in the 1600s. The different outfits explore different cultures. For instance, we see the Europeans or the colonisers and their attire and the Muslim dress. It is clear to see that there is identity construction within the music video as Youngsta himself is portraying his own Muslim cape Malay identity.
Through the music video, the difficult realities of Cape Town are being suggested through different visual signifiers and the idea of spatial apartheid informing certain identities. The music video highlights the erasure of the history of what happened in Cape Town and aims to inspire the youth to break free from the slave mentality that still occurs in their own identity construction. Youngsta himself states that he wonders whos going to lead children to their own revolution, he presents that “If no one is going to teach them this history and tell them what they're capable of, then who is? It has to be me then”
http://www.kfm.co.za/articles/2018/12/03/watch-youngstacpt-yvr-young-van-riebeek-is SW-finally-out














