Society
If the clip “This is America” by Childish Gambino has recorded so many views since its release, it is partly thanks to its choreography. Directed by the Rwandan Sherrie Silver, it is inspired by dance steps inherited from the four corners of Africa.
In just over ten days, Donald Glover’s – aka Childish Gambino – music video has exceeded expectations. Today, “This is America”, which portrays a violent and racist America to a gospel tune, has more than 150 million views on YouTube. A hardly believable and unexpected success, in particular for the choreographer of the clip, Sherrie Silver.
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At 23, dancer and choreographer Sherrie Silver is entrusted with the choreography of a music video that promises to make noise. Born in Rwanda then came to the United Kingdom with her mother at the age of 5, the young woman takes advantage of the spotlight of the Childish Gambino team to fulfill a mission that she has always fulfilled: “Promote African culture and Africa in the world through dance “. A message that shines through carefully in the rhythmic swaying of the American singer, alongside his dancers.
“It’s time for African culture to shine”
Sherrie Silver rubbed shoulders with success at the age of 17, when she launched her own Youtube channel through which she made known her dance steps to afrobeat rhythms. Then there will be collaborations with artists such as singer WizKid. “YouTube, Instagram and the performance I did at the time for the president of Rwanda certainly opened a lot of doors for me”, she tells the magazine Forbes. Before being spotted by the actor and creator of the series Atlanta. “It was his manager’s niece who found me”, explains the young Rwandan. “She saw my videos, so she showed them to Donald’s manager who then showed it to Donald who reportedly said: Ok, we take it. “
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Very quickly, the young woman understands who she is dealing with: “I was a fan of his work even though I didn’t know him that much. But as soon as I met the character, I was like: Oh, whoa! “, she continues in the columns of Forbes. She then seized the opportunity to make the African flag shine in the eyes of the whole world. “I wish my dance could represent Africa in the world and bring the world to Africa (…) Everyone should know how we dance, how we live or how we eat. It is high time for African culture to shine ”, she says. Inspiring people, making diversity dance, showcasing her country and its culture, Sherrie Silver gives 100% to it. « I would like to be able to choreograph for even more influential artists in order to bring about change ”. In particular to help those in need. Thanks to the success of « This is America », the young choreographer also built several schools as well as family homes to help homeless children in Africa.
Private lesson
What if she expected such success? ” Not at all “, answers the young woman. The important thing is that she was able to bring her culture to the forefront of the world stage. “I feel like a heroine in Rwanda (…) with the feeling of making my flag travel”. What she wants is that “Everyone learns the movements of their dance”. So on YouTube, she shares tutorials to transmit the steps and other swaying inherited from the four corners of Africa. A story that everyone knows (almost) as well how to dance as Mr. Gambino.
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