Snow-white gowns. Charcoal-black suits. Flowery altars. Makhosazana Azana Masongo’s latest visual offering ‘Sifanelene’ is the wedding cake and the cherry on top without one element obviating the need for the other. South Africa’s igagu portrays a smitten damsel in her own short film, supported by frequent collaborator and Mzansi vocalist Mthunzi, who plays her on-stage love interest as the build-up to her sophomore album coming late October heats up.
Water-like windows and a whitewashed, pillar-supported balcony open the music video. The opening seconds showcase a posh mansion decked with fine articles and intricate architecture consisting of a mahogany grand piano, a smiling Bhudda figurine, minimalist paintings, and a serpentine staircase with a finely carved banister.
“Ngihambile, ngagudla izintaba zonke / Angim’boni ofana nawe,” Azana croons over dulcet piano strings, attended by her bridesmaids dolling her up to regal heights fitting of the venue she’s in.
The pre-wedding scene cuts to a backflash of the ‘Your Love’ singer-songwriter recording in the booth before her on-camera lover breaks the session, gets down on one knee and impresses her with a precious stone nestled in a box. As she sings, she grabs hold of the recollection, cherishing it with a pearl-white beam as white as the shirts of Mthunzi and his best men in the scene that follows shortly after.
The latter half of ‘Sifanelene’ switches between two scenes. The first is that of the altar, with Azana in a flowing, snowy wedding gown and Mthunzi in a black suit awaiting to make an honest woman out of her. The second is an intimate take between the two, where the lovebirds consummate the love song with Azana serenading her lover, who backs her with his vocals and with the piano.
Much like a yin-yang, the contrast between the two of them in the video intersects with their dress codes; however, that’s not where the blend ends or even begins. Faithful to the song’s theme and title of suitability, the pair do not strive to be the best but to bring out the best in each other. The affection bleeding from their eyes as they gaze at one another is convincing enough to question whether it’s an innocent music video or something profound yet latent at play.
The music video, akin to the song itself, is an exhibit of peaceful matrimony vocally and physically.
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