The Queen B elects to Pantsula
As I’m sure everybody knows, Beyonce’s new video is out and I have no better word to describe than fierce. I had been looking forward to seeing the accompanying visuals to this woman-empowering anthem.
So here I am this morning doing my normal email-facebook routine and I come across Who Run The World‘s new music video. I’m excited and I click play. From the get-go, the anticipatory and tension-filled music has me hooked! I mean hook, line and sinker; from the stallion she is riding to the lion crouching beside her, I am hooked. Her gaze meets the camera and she looks more beautiful than the Cleopatra she is emulating. She does her walk, the music starts and out comes Sasha – oh snap! This is gonna be hot, I think to myself!
The chorus kicks in and the very first movements she does scream isiPantsula! uyaPantsula I think to myself. Throughout the entire first verse she Pantsulas. Initially I wasn’t pleased with this at all – she is jacking one of South Africa’s dancing styles, I thought! Is she going to give credit where it’s due? Perhaps it was the attitude she performed it with, or the fact that she had two Mozambican kwaito dancers dancing with her, or maybe because she did the flat-footed dance in heels that won me over.
ukuPantsula means “to waddle,” like geese do. I don’t like geese – that’s a story for another time. I am not entirely sure whether it is a Xhosa or Zulu word since the two languages share so many words – I would say Xhosa but I don’t want to anger any Zulu-speakers. isiPantsula was developed in the townships of South Africa primarily by males. I have memories of my childhood in Mamelodi Gardens, in Pretoria, where the older guys would be wearing All Star shoes or Converse (as is in the video) doing the pantsula and competing to see who was more skilled at it; in a style similar to breakdancing here in the United States. The dance requires you some serious technique.
I must say that she actually does a good job in the video – especially in heels. I wish she would “waddle” a little more and add more of the flair of the nonchalant flair that isiPantsula has – and she captures it in some moments. I am impressed with her hard work. It is not an easy style to crack! And thank you for releasing the video on South Africa’s democratic election day. Coincidence or not, it makes a point.
Bravo Queen B! F*** you if you don’t like me…or her 
Check out some South Africans doing the Real Makoya!
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A lot of folks had no idea that there was a dance that came from South Africa by the name of pantsula. A super star of her stature bringing this before an audience that had no idea doesn’t seem like a jack move to me lol There’s elements that i’ve seen in different viewings of pantsula dancers that I know came from hip hop dance styles but I never looked at them as jacking anything or as if they had to shout from the rooftops where they got a step or move from. I’m no fan of the chick but I liked the visuals of the video.
I personally am not impressed with Beyonce’s new video.She should have given credit to Pantsula greats such as TROMPIES AND ALASKA and South African townships in general.She goes and gives credit to some Mozambique group who follow SAn music,since it is all over Africa.South Africa is the envy of many Africans and they follow its culture like nothing.We are not some stupid primitive country that’s going to go WOW when we see Beyonce doing some Pantsula moves in one of her videos and not give credit where it’s due.
I don’t like her and probably never will.She also copied some routine from some Italian artist for her Grammy night performance.All the greats were originals,i’ve never heard of a great who steals everything from people,who depends on her body getting naked like a stripper to sell records. SHE’S ANNOYING and her voice doesn’t assist much.
2.I personally am not impressed with Beyonce’s new video.She should have given credit to Pantsula greats such as TROMPIES AND ALASKA and South African townships in general.She goes and gives credit to some Mozambique group who follow SAn music,since it is all over Africa.South Africa is the envy of many Africans and they follow its culture like nothing.We are not some stupid primitive country that’s going to go WOW when we see Beyonce doing some Pantsula moves in one of her videos and not give credit where it’s due.