Exciting new talent and upbeat original music was the name of the game as ‘Drag Night Unplugged’ made its return to Anna’s Kloovenburg in Windhoek last week Sunday.
Hosted by the glamourous, voluble Gigi Has Arrived and featuring singers Le-Clue and Rigaud Ashton Beukes, the show was held under the theme of ‘Regalia’ and invited guests to celebrate Africa Day by donning their literal and metaphorical crowns.
Though Drag Night Namibia was formally a regular platform, Namibia’s uptick in hateful speech and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex and other (LGBTQI+) people has slowed the once vibrant stage almost to a standstill.
“We have been treading lightly so as not to cause a major stir but we realised we cannot be afraid of living our truth. We cannot be pushed into a corner of shame. We have to do our art because it’s what makes us come alive,” said Drag Night Namibia co-chief executive officer Lize Ehlers in a statement ahead of the event.
“This show is a dedication to every single person we’ve lost in the last year and more.”
In a worrying trend, six LGBTQI+ people have been murdered in hate crimes in Namibia since September last year.
The current climate and the ongoing condemnation of LGBTQI+ people in Namibia makes the return of ‘Drag Night Unplugged’ all the more significant as a show of resilience and a celebration of the queer community’s talents.
With regard to the show itself, ‘Drag Night Unplugged’ is live and a vibe.
From the elegant interior of Anna’s Kloovenburg, to the savoury snacks and delicious wine selection, as well as Gigi’s humorous hosting and debuting of her tender, get-you-dancing and cheeky original music, the show was a heartfelt, fun and affirming affair intent on platforming new singers and upcoming pop stars.
New to the mic was the alluring Le-Clue, who started off a little shaky in an ensemble rendition of Rihanna’s ‘Stay’ but who came back to slay with his takes on Omar Apollo and Giveon.
Effortless in their crowd-pleasing and smooth vocals, Beukes, an aspiring pop star with a selection of original music on YouTube, was an instant favourite and no doubt garnered a room full of new fans.
The intimate evening, which thanked supporters such as Sandy Rudd, Woermann Brock and Anna’s Kloovenburg, ended with a performance by Gigi Has Arrived, but the show wasn’t without its flaws.
To level up, the wonderfully intimate and conversational ‘Drag Night Unplugged’ will need to keep the flow of the show a tad tighter to maintain an air of polish. The offering could also benefit from thoroughly rehearsing its harmonised multi-singer offerings, while saving more of that signature Gigi Has Arrived energy for a truly epic finale.
That’s not to say that ‘Drag Night Unplugged’ isn’t a fabulous and singular night out. Because it is certainly that and more. Join Gigi, Miss Mavis and the extended drag queendom for ‘Back at the Ranch’, Drag Night Namibia’s latest flagship show, at The Village Garden on 8 June.
– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com
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