Visuals to Ify Otuya’s modern African love story reblogged from Homagency and originally published June 7, 2015.
Yaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssssss.
It’s here people! The visuals to Ify Otuya’s debut single Body Work are now available!
The video was officially released on the 3rd of June, via Vevo (@IfyOtuyaVevo, youtube). No one has eagerly anticipated the release of this video as much as her fans – the Họmagency. And hello, is Minjin looking fuyyyyne in the video or what? The chemistry between Ify Otuya and her on screen love interest – original African ‘coupe de cale master’ – is undeniable. Simply magical. Indigenous rebellious romance on multiple fleeks!
STORY LINE
A Love Story
Body Work video’s storyline is an African love story set against the dual-backdrop of class divide and youthful rebellion.
The video opens with Ify Otuya starting her morning by obsessing over her love interest – Minjin. The accompanying lyrics at this point explain that when she gets up in the morning, she is inundated with images and thoughts of him. She sees his face in the mirror even when he is not there, has his pictures on her phone, and thinks of him when she should be thinking of other things. They are two characters in love. However, their happy ever after is threatened by external forces!
Two People Fight for Their Love
Minjin’s character is a servant boy who performs manual labour and delivers mail at a mansion located in a village setting. He is in love with his boss’s daughter (Ify). When his boss finds out (at the dinner table) that his daughter and servant boy have a thing going on, he terminates the boy’s employment and chases him out of the compound immediately. Distressed by the thought of being separated from her love, Ify pleads with her father. He doesn’t relent, so she runs away with her love. About halfway into the video, she is seen running away from the modern life of a mansion, its lavish cars, modern bathroom, luxurious dining; to a completely dissimilar setting.
Young love often wants what it wants when it wants it, and does what it wants when it wants to. Ify’s character fights for love. She runs away from opulence in shoes but arrives with her love hand in hand, in an opposite world – his world – without shoes. She does this for love.
Happily Ever After
In her new world, she and her love are finally able to be together without the overbearing threat of class divide and a disapproving father. They are seen spending time together romantically – just the two of them, away from the rest of the world. This is their happily ever after, where laughter, romance, friendship, seduction, communication, interdependency, warmth and love are theirs. In this story, Minjin rocks Ify Otuya’s body by seducing her against the backdrop of indigenous African tranquil and nature as they celebrate their love. Surrounded by lantern lights, this climax is the nucleus of Ify Otuya’s Body Work.
BODY WORK LOVE STORY – SYNOPSIS OF SCENES
Bathroom: This scene establishes Ify’s obsession with her love interest. She gets up in the morning, goes to take a shower and who does she see in the mirror?
Balcony: Viewers are introduced to the class difference between both main characters in this modern African love story. Minjin’s character is clearly a manual labourer who works downstairs, outside the house, while Ify’s character is an inhabitant of the mansion and lives upstairs in the house. We also get first glimpse at the fondness both characters have for each other.
Dining and House: Explores class difference. Also explores challenges in the African love story. Clearly outlines father’s difficulty in accepting the young characters’ love, as well as depicts his failure to manage/ control the situation.
Bed Scene: An MUA’s favourite. Scene explores indigenous African colour patterns and make up. Ify’s character is clearly a free spirit.
Dance Scene: Ify Otuya dances with two backing dancers. Overall styling and make-up are set against an indigenous African backdrop.
Lantern: This scene essentially establishes a happy ever after climax to a troubled love story. Love, laughter, friendship, romance and togetherness are enjoyed by the characters.
The overall styling for the video is indigenous African, cultural, princessy and free spirit.
It’s Body Work Season Peeps!!! Sing along to the lyrics here.
