Over the Rainbow

In Over the Rainbow Ruga satirically references the end of the new South African honeymoon period and alludes to existing racial and social tensions that have been sugar-coated by ‘rainbowism’ in lieu of true societal transformation. His disenchantment also extends more specifically to the positioning of black artists in reference to the western gaze; a motif he plays with through the use of campy dressing room theatrics in which role-play, masquerade and critique are cleverly rolled into one. Mouthing the words to the iconic South African pop song Weekend Special by Music legend Brenda Fassie, Ruga laments the fickle affections of a lover, that are one-sided and bestowed only when convenient – a metaphor for the creative exchange with Africa, for the most part conducted according to the whims and for the satisfaction of western desire.