ALOK’s ‘Hairy Situation’ comedy tour hits Namibia

Internationally acclaimed American artist ALOK returns to Namibia amid the threat of rain, Namibia’s newly amended Marriage Act and American president Donald Trump’s controversial executive orders.

Windhoek’s TaTe Village, the venue for the latest instalment of ALOK’s ‘Hairy Situation Comedy Tour’ opens the evening with the establishment’s inauguration as a verified safe space for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and other (LGBTQI+) community.

Despite increased pushback against established LGBTQI+ rights and freedoms around the world, this Friday night is a festive one. The city’s queer community and allies come together for an evening of laughter, film and discussion.

But first, there is the funny part which ALOK has brought in barrels after a decidedly dark comedic opener by event host Hildegard Titus. ALOK, who made their Namibian debut with ‘Beyond the Binary’ in 2022, takes the stage and immediately declares their love for Namibia’s queer community.

“Everywhere I go … I tell the world about the Namibian queer community and the way that you all show up for each other,” ALOK says. “Tonight’s programming is dedicated and devoted to all of you.”

To begin, ALOK quells any confusion regarding their career. They are not, in fact, the widely successful Brazilian DJ, Alok. Instead the artist describes themself as “a transgender comedian with niche appeal”. One who is “not genderfluid enough to shapeshift into a Brazilian DJ with abs”.

Hot out the gate and going strong for a full hour, ALOK’s brand of self-deprecating, dark, anecdotal, situational and political humour runs like the most hilarious stream of consciousness.

Tickling the crowd pink with tales of living across the street from a funeral home and cohabitating with several thousand cockroaches, before regaling the audience with anecdotes about their Indian identity and the mishaps of their Hollywood hard launch, ALOK’s twists and turns through the humour and horror of simply existing as a gender non-conforming or trans person are alternately cheeky, brilliant, searing and bittersweet.

As for the ‘hairy situation’ of the show’s title, it is manifold. Referring to the difficulty and danger of being transgender, non-binary or gender non-conforming in societies committed to their villainisation and erasure, the hairy situation also includes the artist’s experience of their wealth of body hair.

“I should be doing more to support all the states that are banning gender-affirming care by donating my body hair to male politicians suffering from male pattern baldness,” quips ALOK.

Humorously educating the audience about anti-trans bathroom bills in Utah – where Alex Hedison’s short documentary film titled “Alok” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival last year – the artist sprinkles their set with breathtakingly poignant missives from a marginalised if not deified intersectional existence.

“Being trans is really confusing because I feel like my body doesn’t belong to me. I’m constantly having to audition for my own humanity,” says ALOK. “On one side I’ve been turned into a demon, here to destroy society. On the other I’ve been made into a deity here to heal it. But on both sides my body doesn’t belong to me. I’m regarded as a symbol, never experienced as a human being.”

For anyone watching, ALOK’s rousing, healing and community building ‘Hairy Situation’ elicits a range of emotions at breakneck speed and ends with the most versatile word in the English language.

After a screening of ‘Alok’, which features Namibian storyteller and researcher Namupa Shivute, the stage is opened for a panel discussion which includes Shivute and Transgender, Intersex and Androgynous Movement of Namibia’s (Tiamon) Deyonce Naris. Proceeds from the evening’s ticket sales will go to Naris’ organisation.

Concerned with the ramifications of Trump’s anti-trans executive order, the halting of various United States Agency for International Development programmes as well as the recent amendment of Namibia’s Marriage Act – which effectively prohibits the recognition of same-sex marriages – the panel discussion ends with hope, a renewed sense of purpose and with love…despite the hairy situation.

– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com