Yaadt Queen Celebrates Cape Flats Music Genre at Silwerskermfees 2026

The vibrant sounds of the Cape Flats take centre stage in Yaadt Queen, a new short film making its debut at the 2026 Silwerskerm Film Festival. Co-written and co-directed by Kyle Morkel and Kirsten Jaftha, the coming-of-age drama explores identity, family, healing and the power of music through the lens of two uniquely South African music genres, yaadt and gqom.

The short film, primarily in Afrikaans and Kaaps, follows shy teenager Keisha, played by Chanté Grainger, whose relationship with her protective mother, Ruth, portrayed by Kim Syster, has become increasingly strained.

Away from her mother’s watchful eye, and with the help of her friend Shane Adams, played by Alvaune-Lee Lewis, Keisha secretly embraces her passion as a DJ on the Cape Flats yaadt scene. As long-held truths come to light, mother and daughter begin to understand each other, proving that healing can bridge both generations and musical boundaries.

Yaadt Music is here to stay

Before I continue, I have to clarify that as a DJ and music lover, I am not at all a fan of the yaadt genre, and there are many others who don’t particularly like it, but there are as many people who actually do love it.
We can’t deny that to them Yaadt music is relevant and enjoyable, and that the genre has immensely grown in popularity.

On the other hand, I really love a good captivating story, especially one that is relevant to the Cape Flats, and this one is promising to be good.

One of the things we at Bruinou.com love about the short films selected for the Silwerskermfees is that they often have experienced actors playing alongside the younger ones and newcomers.
Yaadt Queen is no different and features the award-winninng actress as Zenobia Kloppers as Antie and the acclaimed stage, TV and film actor Carlo Daniels, winner of kykNET Fiesta, Kanna and Fleur du Cap awards for his work in theatre.
Their inclusion gives the film gravitas and is enough to make me confident that this film will more than likely be right up my alley, and that you’ll enjoy it too.

Cape Flats music takes centre stage

For Morkel and Jaftha, placing yaadt music at the heart of the story was an opportunity to celebrate a cultural phenomenon that remains unfamiliar to many outside the Cape Flats.

They describe yaadt as a genre built around creatively sampling well-known songs for shebeens and house parties, explaining that it “was never meant as mockery, but as a celebration of the original music.” Combined with the electronic rhythms of Durban-born gqom, Keisha’s musical journey becomes both a tribute to her late father and a reflection of her own identity.

Yaadt, if you don’t already know, is the Kaaps or Afrikaaps term for yard.
Yard or Yaadt is also the colloquial term used for a shebeen or tavern, which on the Cape Flats often has outdoor seating or operates in a shed in the owners yard.

While music drives the story, Yaadt Queen also addresses the realities faced by many families on the Cape Flats. The filmmakers say they wanted to present those experiences honestly while avoiding stereotypes.

WATCH: Yaadt Queen Silwerskermfees 2026 Trailer

A story of healing and hope

“As young Coloured filmmakers, we feel it is important to portray our communities honestly and authentically,” they explain. “Film should not only be entertainment; it must also create space for people to recognise themselves and their experiences on screen.”

The story draws on experiences familiar to many communities affected by gang violence, absent fathers and intergenerational trauma. Yet rather than dwelling solely on hardship, the filmmakers say the film ultimately celebrates resilience.

“Yaadt Queen is ultimately about healing. It is about how we can move from surviving to truly living,” they say, adding that they also wanted to celebrate “our music, our humour, our resilience, our creativity, and our ability to still find hope.”

Inspired by familiar dreams

The filmmakers also drew inspiration from popular coming-of-age films centred on young people pursuing their dreams, while giving the concept a distinctly South African identity.

They cite films such as Honey, Step Up and Stomp the Yard as influences, but wanted to replace dance battles with DJ culture, which they believe currently plays a powerful role in bringing communities together across age, culture and background.

Beyond the music, they paid careful attention to capturing the visual character of the Cape Flats, embracing its colours, textures and authenticity rather than altering it for the camera.

Family ties behind the film

The project also carries personal significance for Morkel and Jaftha, who created the film together as family members through their production company, Maude & Mary Studios, named after their twin grandmothers.

Reflecting on the journey, they say, “Since we were small, Kyle and I have shared these dreams. To now see those dreams come to life feels almost surreal.”

As Yaadt Queen prepares to make its Silwerskerm Film Festival debut, the filmmakers hope audiences will connect not only with its music, but also with a story that celebrates the strength, creativity and enduring spirit of Cape Flats communities.

Yaadt Queen makes its debut at the Silwerskermfees Film Festival on Thurday 20 August 2026 at 09:30 at Rotunda at The Bay Hotel, Camps Bay, alongside the short films Twee persent & Verwerking, followed by Q&A Sessions.
Tickets cost R80 and can be booked through Quicket.

We of course also hope that, as is the norm with other films at the Silwerskermfees, Yaadt Queen will eventually be screened on DStv kykNET so that more people will get to see it.