Part IV: Is Die Antwoord Blackface?

Haupt, Adam

Part IV: Is Die Antwoord Blackface?

Journal Article

2012

Journal Title

Safundi : journal of South African and American studies

Link to Journal

http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rsaf20/current

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Centre for Film and Media Studies

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

Is Die Antwoord blackface? In a word, yes. During an interview in the US, Waddy Jones reportedly said, ‘‘God made a mistake with me. I’m actually black, trapped in a white body.’’87 Jones’ claim is consistent with his lyrics on ‘‘Never le Nkemise’’ (off their recent album, Ten$ion): ‘‘Ninja, die wit kaffir/Ja, julle naaiers/Skrik wakker’’ [Ninja, the white kaffir/Yes, you fuckers/Wake up].88 ‘‘Kaffir’’ is a racially pejorative Afrikaans term for a black person and its use in everyday discourse has generally not become as acceptable as the term ‘‘nigga,’’ which has featured in the lyrics and interviews of gangsta rappers, like the late Tupac Shakur, or in ‘‘hood films,’’ such as Juice (starring Shakur), Menace II Society, or Boyz N the Hood. 89 Of course, the term ‘‘nigga’’ itself is a contested term and has been the focus of scholarly work, for example, Asim’s The N Word, 90 as well as documentaries such as Larkins’ The N Word91 and Lazin’s Tupac Resurrection. 92 Whilst, it is entirely possible that Jones is being ironic in the interview and his performances, it is worth noting that he reproduces racially problematic language that signals white, racist projections of blackness.

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