2007-12-10

Dancing Clean and Dirty on EastAfricanTube

EastAfricanTube is one of my favourite YouTube clones, being totally superior in finding genge and Bongo flava videos. But it also has a great depository of dance videos that besides a "traditional dances" category is broadly divided into two sections: mapouka dance and Bongo dance.

Mapouka is the archetype of a risqué dance style (yes, even more so than perreo) and some of the videos featured on the site are definately not safe for work, bordering on the pornographic. Or, in some cases, blasting right through the border. Looking around the net (do, or rather don't do, a google image search), "mapouka" is well on its way towards becoming a code-word for pornography in general.



This kind of forbidden dance (literally forbidden in the Ivory Coast!) as a vehicle for youth rebellion is common throughout the history of music. The incredibly obscene waltz, the tango, ragtime, Elvis shaking his hips, Line dancing if you're Ian Paisley - all once subject of parental and social dissaproval and thus irresistable to perform. There's plenty of interesting things to look out when it comes to this socially rebellious kind of dancing, but right now I'm more fascinated by its opposite.

Where mapouka is dangerous, Bongo dance is extremely safe by african standards. "Bongo" is a nickname for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and one would expect a connection to bongo flava based on the name. Indeed, some of the videos that have made it into this category have fleeting connections to that style, but most are extremely sedate swahili dance music/musiki wa dansi of the old style.

In sharp contrast to the modern Coupe Decale used in mapouka videos the music is slow, light, controlled, high-end-oriented and conservative. The dancers, of mixed gender, are shown from the front and only swing their hips gently. Everyone dances alone or barely touching each other, salsa-style. Often, group choreography is involved. The performers are conventionally good-looking and the feel is generally rather boy-band.

It's fascinating to see social dance as a vehicle for conservatism and good family values as well as for change, especially seeing as the Bongo dance videos outnumber the mapouka ones by 2:1. The edgeless commercial alternative seemingly wins out even in a country like Tanzania with its quickly progressing music industry...

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks Birdseed for providing EastAfricanTube website. This is what I have been looking for, I was lucky to stumble upon your site. I love African Dance Videos and for the past two hours, have been watching almost every Mapouka video on the site lol.

keegan said...

This website reveals the beautiful African dances that one loves to look into it. There is an amazing website that promotes salsa dance through its free online videos.

Shyne said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Shyne said...

Warning!!! It is alleged that the administrators [Hassan N, Don and Kifua Chuma] behind Eastafricantube is involved with trafficking of poor African minors and child pornography. The site also has thousands of unauthorized uploads of copyrighted videos and music. Sponsors of Eastafricantube should be boycotted, so use caution while accessing this site.

Shyne said...

EastAfrican Tube convicted Child molester Kifua Chuma. Kifua Chuma a 50 year old chair bound gimp, convicted and served time for the anal rape of an 8 year old male relative. This pathetic excuse for an human being should have been and still should be burnt to death. However this piece of shit [Kifua Chuma] is being hyped (showcased) at EastAfrican Tube by the Administrator there Don. Don is alleged to be using the site as a front for the trafficking of poor African minors and child pornography. It's obvious that Don (being sick himself) is taking advantage of what Kifua Chuma was subjected to during his stint in prison (pick-up the soap). It is understood that the bitch Kifua Chuma has served his time and Kifua & Don have the right to share each others butt holes; however I support the beating and burning of both of these sick punk-ass bitches. A message to all members and visitors to the site, "BE CAREFUL AND AVOID THESE CHILD PREDATORS"! A message to advertisers at EastAfrican Tube, "PULL YOUR ADS"! A message to Hassan N Don and Kifua Chuma, "EAT SHIT AND DIE"!

Shyne said...

The administrator (Hassan) is manipulating site stats and hiding questionable videos @eastafricantube.com in an effort to keep sponsors and to get renewed. They have a history of showing nudity and collecting uploads from members banning them and retaining their contributions. They don't have an option for members to delete or opt out of their account. Members have no editing control over the media they upload, the search along with other features are altered (set to redirect). East African tube has thousands of fake accounts (created by the administrator) to embellish the sites popularity. Bottom line is it's a scam! It is alleged that the administrators [Hassan N, Don and Kifua Chuma] behind Eastafricantube is involved with the trafficking of poor African minors and child pornography. The site also has thousands of unauthorized uploads of copyrighted videos and music. Sponsors of Eastafricantube should be boycotted, so use caution while accessing this site.