Burna Boy

“Gbona”
General Conventions Analysis
GC1: Lyrics and Visual Narrative
• The video is performance based and
conceptual, with a very elliptical (Vernallis)
narrative, instead focusing on highlighting
African culture
• The visuals are of bright traditional prints,
coloured flags and smoke, and a concrete
building in a natural environment
• The actors are dancing in the video, replicating
the dancing style that matches the song
• The song is about being unique and having fun
dancing, so the artist is separated from the other
actors and there is a lot of dancing
GC2: Genre Characteristics
• The genre of the song is Afrobeat
• All the actors and dancers in the video are
African, as well as the shooting location,
and cultural references depicted
• The video reflects the way the melody is
meant to make the listener feel
• The setting is unmarked which makes it
more widely marketable
• There is a lot of dancing showcase in the
video
GC3: Intertextuality
and Postmodernism

• The narrative is non-

chronological, and cross-cuts
between scenes
• There is very little narrative or
character establishment
GC4: Representations
• The actors are all African and are representing
the dances, flags, and patterns of their culture
• There is a range of representation within the
dancers
• The protagonist clearly stands out as he is set
apart visually and physically from the others
• There is an element of male gaze (Mulvey)
with the dancers moving provocatively and
wearing little clothing, but the camera shots do
not anchor this reading (Hall)
• The location is relatable and accessible, as
well as not anchoring a specific area for wider
reach
GC5: Cinematography
and Editing
• The editing is discontinuous and has a
mix of slow and fast-paced, which
matches the rhythm of the song
• There are beat matches and the pace
changes in the song to reflect the tempo,
as well as movements from the actors
• It is shot through continuous movement
appearing discontinuous, and there is a
lot of panning and zooming
• There are transitions used between
scenes
• The lighting is yellow and resembles
sand or a desert
Notable Marketing
• BTS creation videos of the music video uploaded by the label onto
YouTube
Possible Influences
• Mixing interior and exterior locations
• Featuring dancing in the video
• Highlighting a main protagonist
• Non-linear narrative