Flashback Friday: The fantasy world of Kenyan video vixens

 Video vixens have always been there [Photo: Courtesy]

These days, no secular music video is complete without a video vixen.

Even artistes who cannot sing to save their music careers know that in a music video, sexy girls will sell a song even if they are singing off-key.

Pulse’s ‘Main Feature’ for January 19, 2007 was about the then emerging trend of video vixens, and about the fantasy world they were creating in music videos.

One such girl who was a familiar face in music videos was Zein, who described herself as a dancer.

 She had appeared in several local music videos, such as Kamata Dame by Jua Cali featuring Pilipili and Hot Dogg by Circute and Jo-el.

Back then, Circute and Jo-el, with their raunchy lyrics and devil-may-care attitude, were the bad boys of Kenyan music.

Jua Cali was the king of Genge, while Pilipili was the heir-apparent to Jua Cali’s throne.

Which means that to be seen in the music videos of these musicians made one a celeb of sorts, and many young girls wished to be in Zein’s shoes.

The video vixen phenomenon was still in its embryonic phase. I doubt if Zein had a manager to handle her business.

Which explains the payment, ranging range from Sh3,000 to Sh4,000 per video. Zein said she didn’t mind donning something skimpy and showing off acres of skin if she was paid something in the range of Sh20,000, but would draw the line – made of no-nos – when it came to a nude shoot.

But the article talked about another worrying trend: young girls, barely out of their teens, getting lured by the dazzling lights and make-believe world in music videos, and throwing all caution – and sometimes even clothes – to the wind.

 Young naive girls who were diving into the deep end of video vixen pools, without knowing what they were really signing up for, much to the chagrin of their parents.

When such things happen, it is up to celebs to take responsibility because, after all, it is their career that is on line.

Genge rapper Nonini argued that he did not allow girls below the age of 21 in his music videos. “It has to be someone who can make up her own mind.

Many young girls have called and asked to be in my videos but I tell them, OK, fine, but come with ID.”

It may be common nowadays, but the idea of celebs making cameos in music videos started years ago. The famous personalities do this to help sell the video and drive up its views on YouTube.

Nini Wacera made a cameo appearance in Nameless’ Juju video, Pinky Ghelani in Bamboo’s Compe, or Gabrielle Union in Busta Rhymes’ I Love My Chic.

Then there is the token fly chick. “All she has to do is pose and look sweet, sultry or unattainable depending on the script. The token fly chic will get all the headshots and close-ups,” the article said.

Back then, other token fly chicks were model Andia, who together with model/entrepreneur Joy Wanjohi appeared in the Deux Vultures’ video Adhiambo C.

Nowadays, token fly chicks have become staples of high end music videos. That was ten years ago. I wonder where these video girls are up to now.

Not the likes of Pinky, Nini and Andia – (these had their careers paths sorted out) – but the random chicks who were doing it for the fame.

I wonder if their appearances in music videos advanced their ‘careers’, or if it was just a phase that they grew out of.

Where are they at? Did they find God, their groove or did they get another grind?