On the surface, Afrikaaps appears to be a theatre piece within a film, based as it is on the creative processes and performances of the critically acclaimed stage production of the same name. But rather than depending on the drama on stage and the production’s prominent characters to carry the narrative, Valley finds revealing moments from the cast’s and production crew’s personal narratives that transcend what happens on stage. Afrikaaps, the film and the stage play, breaks ground by boldly attempting to reclaim Afrikaans – so long considered a language of the oppressor – as a language of liberation. It does this by foregrounding alternative histories of ‘the Creole birth’ of the language and shattering long-existing efforts to whitewash and purify Afrikaans. While the ideas of the film are informed by rigorous academic study, the presentation of those ideas are steeped in the now – conveyed by hip hop-generation Cape Town-based artists like Jitsvinger, Bliksemstraal, Blaq Pearl and Emile YX, who school audiences with an immediacy, irreverence and vibrancy often frowned upon in the academy.
Afrikaaps
Afrikaaps is a groundbreaking film and stage play reclaiming Afrikaans as a language of liberation. It shatters whitewashing efforts, highlighting alternative histories through Cape Town's hip hop artists who captivate with immediacy, irreverence and vibrancy.
Awards
6th Annual SAFTA (South African Film & Television) Awards (2011) – Nominated: Best Director (Dylan Valley)
Babel Film Festival Sardinia Italy (2011) – Winner: Best Film
CWFF (Cape Winelands Film Festival) Awards (2011) – Winner: Best New South African Documentary
Encounters SA Int'l Documentary Film Festival (2010) – Nominated: Audience Award: Best SA Documentary
Fleur du cap Awards (SA) (2011) – Nominated: Best New South African Script
Fleur du cap Awards (SA) (2011) – Nominated: Best performance in a musical revue or cabaret (Moenier Adams)
Kanna KKNK (2010) – Nominated: Beste KKNK-Debuutwerk
Kanna KKNK (2010) – Nominated: Beste Aanbieding
Kanna KKNK Awards (SA) (2011) – Winner: Beste Opkomende Professionele Kunstenaar (Moenier Adams)
Keuze van de WijkJury Amsterdam (2012) – Winner: Beste Voorstelling
Kyknet Fiesta Awards (SA) (2011) – Nominated: Best Production
Kyknet Fiesta Awards (SA) (2011) – Winner: Best Musically Driven Production
Kyknet Fiesta Awards (SA) (2011) – Nominated: Best New Afrikaans Production
Kyknet Fiesta Awards (SA) (2011) – Winner: Best upcoming artist & professional debut (Moenier Adams)
