Squashbox

SQUASHBOX is a short poetic documentary that tells the story of the history, meeting, and work of Qadasi & Maqhinga, a SAMA (South African Music Award) Award-winning South African maskandi duo.

The squashbox is the Zulu concertina, a European instrument that has had its internal reeds altered to play traditional Zulu chords. It is a fundamental instrument in maskandi folk music. I used this idea as an extended metaphor throughout the short doc to explore the complex cultural landscape of post-apartheid South Africa and its effect on the maskandi music scene. This metaphor was also used to illustrate the experience of David Jenkins as he navigates the traditional maskandi industry as a white man born in the new South Africa. In effect, David is represented by the squashbox - a European brought to South Africa and influenced by the culture around him - and it serves to illustrate his life and inspiration.

SQUASHBOX makes use of various visual techniques to illustrate the vast differences between the two main subjects of the film, Qadasi and Maqhinga. They are completely different ages, from two different generations, they come from different backgrounds and cultures, and have had vastly different life experiences. David is white, Maqhinga is black; David was born at the end of apartheid, Maqhinga succeeded in the music industry despite the discrimination he faced. They could not be more different, yet they have developed a strong father-son bond that has transcended all differences. To show this, SQUASHBOX makes use of contrasting locations and cinematography cut in quick succession. Stark white and black studio environments are used in conjunction with suburban and rural locations to fully illustrate Qadasi and Maqhinga’s different experiences.

SQUASHBOX also serves to present the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal (Zululand) and its influence on Maskandi music. Maskandi and KZN are inextricably linked, and migrant workers in cities developed the style of music which they brought to all corners of the province. Maskandi is music for travel - it makes the distance feel shorter - and transports the musician to where they want to go. This is shown in the film by using maskandi and music cues to transport the viewer to many different locations in KZN, and even on tour with Qadasi and Maqhinga as they travel to Ireland.