Dance moves provoke
DURBAN kwaito sensation Babes Wodumo has become the latest source of division between men and women, with the former praising her for her sexually explicit dance moves and the latter describing her as an embarrassment to women.
Bongekile Simelane, 23, popularly known as Babes Wodumo, became an overnight sensation after her hit Wololo, which has dominated many radio stations’ playlists.
Some women lashed out at how the pastor’s daughter from Lamontville dances, which they said promoted the objectification of women.
In the music video, which has had more than 1.28 million views, Babes Wodumo is with a group of skimpily dressed girls, with men sitting around gazing at them lustfully.
A member of a married women’s group on social media has prompted other married women to fight against “the woman who opens her legs widely and is labelled a ‘national key point’.”
Women would always be treated as inferior as “men only recognise us through thighs, hot pants and panties”.
“Our struggle for emancipa- tion will always be drawn back by those ‘Babes Wodumos’ who indirectly preach to inspiring women to rise to success and fame by flashing their bodies.
“Our struggle for recognition to self-worth, morals and fight for HIV/Aids is reversed by these women,” she wrote.
Women’s rights activist Koketsi Moeti said she found it interesting that women found Babes offensive, because the artist also came under fire for not knowing who Pravin Gordhan was. She said women were supportive then and even joked, saying: “Does Pravin know who Babes Wodumo is?”
“We live in a patriarchal society where objectification of women is a huge problem, but it does not mean that women cannot exercise sexual agency. Women can exercise sexual agency and it is not about the males’ gaze. It is about her being a sexual agent in her own right, and that should be respected,” Moeti said.
Society allowed sexual exploitation when women were not in control of their bodies.
While the kwaito star has fallen out of favour with women, she has massive support from men, who keep talking about her body and dance moves on social media.
Comment from her manager was not immediately available.