Appearing on a music video as a vixen is looked to as ratchetry. But, as JACKSON ONYANGO explores, the career provides job opportunities for many, the dangers that come with it notwithstanding.
On May 4, 2020, enigmatic Nigerian cinematographer, filmmaker and owner of production company Capital Dreams, Clarence Peters, was apprehended by State authorities over the death of video vixen Love Divine Ike aka Picture Kodak at his residence on April 29.
Kodak was popular in the industry for working with Clarence in videos for a host of music acts including Burna Boy, Wizkid, Tekno, Davido, Joeboy, Olamide, Oxlade, Blaqbonez and Lady Donli.
She oozed sassy, stylish, boisterous, eccentric and sociable red-head vibes. It is said she was electrocuted while charging her phone.
“Love Divine and the entire West Life Crew was a huge part of Capital Dreams Pictures, and losing her hurts us all deeply. She was an exemplary person and a legend in her own right.
We will miss her very much. Words will never be enough to describe what her family is going through in these trying times.
My thoughts and prayers are with them, and I ask God to grant them all the strength & fortitude at this time.
This is a truly difficult time for us all, and we’re asking for a lot of patience and goodwill from the general public,” Clarence wrote on social media.
A crew member, Melvn said the incident happened at the studio in a building downstairs, while Clarence was upstairs in his office in a different building.
Clarence was picked up by police at his house, but was released on administrative bail alongside four other suspects. He was expected to be charged with murder of the 24-year-old entertainer.
“It is a full-fledged investigation. It is a murder charge. We are probably looking at murder.
We are not concluding at this stage. If she died of electrocution according to reports, it is left for us to find out.
Was she actually electrocuted, what went wrong, an autopsy will show,” said state police spokesman Bala Elkana.
A difficult hustle
In an unpredictable Kenyan entertainment industry, professional vixens—who are always masked in their plausible performances—have always voiced their concerns that seemingly get ignored by the industry players.
For instance, Becky Vixen, a vibrant and charismatic dancer born and bred in Mombasa, starred in one of the most remarkable songs not so long ago (Dundaing by King Kaka ft Kristoff and Magix Enga), that propelled her to becoming a staple figure in that sector.
“I am self-motivated, self-driven and ambitious. I set goals, so I have something to strive towards.
I am never comfortable, and always looking for an opportunity to do better and achieve greatness,” she talks of her personality.
Becky comes off as an alpha-female, being raised by a single mother who had to work three jobs to provide for her.
She says her mum continues to support her talent, as long as it does not cause her any harm.
“I have to deal with some rude and unprofessional artistes, my peers asking me to plug them for jobs, bearing in mind this is not a daily hustle; jobs come sort of few and far between.
A lot of times artistes even fail to pay your dues after you have tirelessly put in the work,” she tells Spice.
As one of the most prolific acts in her trade, she says it is heinous of the industry to be vile to her in that sense of disrespect.
“When I gain enough experience in the music industry, I wish to continue with my deejaying course and also study music production.
The vixen path has become too common for many people. Hopefully, I can start my own clothing line or even get into reality TV,” says Becky.
The misconceptions
Apparently appearing on a music video as a young female playing out a role does not automatically make you a vixen.
Singer, model and dancer Phieso has been making cameos in music video shoots, mostly by bubbling gengetone entertainers X Ray Taniua and his Boondocks crew.
She says the gigs have made a few other artistes begin to have a growing penchant towards her style and looks.
She hopes to disband the narrative of how women in videos are misunderstood.
“The video vixen image has become a staple and a nuanced form of sex work within popular music, especially within the genre of gengetone.
Remember that ‘sex sells’ too. Many video vixens are aspiring actors, singers, dancers or even models.
“Women have been portrayed either as fragile, manipulative, fetishistic or submissive within contemporary music lyrics and videos although this is not universal, as demonstrated by the archetypal ride-or-die chick.
I am not a video vixen; I have been featured in the music videos as a brand not a vixen,” says Phieso.
The sexism against women who choose to have fun and flaunt their talents in front of a camera can be vivid as day.
The debate for the profession to be acknowledged as a vocational activity that can actually pay bills or providence for families across both sexes is certainly picking up.
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