Video: Tulenkey Speaks Against Child Abuse In New Video
Whenever the issue of child abuse is raised, the immediate picture that comes to mind is sexual exploitation or abuse. The statistics are very nauseating. According to the Advocacy Centre, 1 in 3 girls are sexually abused before the age of 18 while 1 in 5 boys are abused before their 18th birthday. In Ghana, the statistics are cringing: In a briefing by the Director of African Movement for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (AMPCAN), 33% of Ghanaian kids have been sexually abused.
Tulenkey is the latest to add his voice to the campaign against child sex abuse. In his latest video, the rapper flips the narrative, speaking about sex abuse from the perspective of a male victim through various epochs. This is different from the usual narrative where females are victimized.
With this flip, Tulenkey is shedding light on a situation least discussed when the conversation about sexual abuse comes up. Tulenkey spreads his message over Cardi B’s global smash hit ‘I Like It”.
The story of the video is delivered in three parts. The first part of the video is set in 1901. Tulenkey plays the role of a black slave fleeing from his horse riding mistress. (She obviously has turned him into a sex slave). The video shifts to 1960, where as a student, wards off the sexual advances from fellow female students.
In 1990, Tulenkey is a young pop star resisting the attempts of two vixens who are trying to take advantage of him. Towards the end of the scene, Tulenkey, the child pop star couldn’t fight anymore. He succumbs to their violent advances. The young pop star has become an adult by the turn of the millennium. Drawing from his experience, he raps about the subject and the need to end it. Tulenkey is now a star and with his power, calls on Medikal to help him spread the message loud and clear.
What is interesting about the video is how the director, Kofi Awuah II and his team, creatively captured each epoch using the aesthetics of that era, mostly through costuming, graphic effects and colour grading. And what better way to grab attention than using comedy to communicate a serious topic like sexual abuse. Also, getting young kids to sing a part of the song is brilliant.
Sex abuse is a serious subject that need the collective efforts of all to curb it. Kids being the most vulnerable in society need, not only our protection, but also, education on preventive measures. Like Tulenkey’s opening statements admonishes: Let THIS be the last one.
