Educating through comedy

Alfonso ‘Axarob’ Murorua doesn’t have much to smile about as he sits at Vinyls Music Cafe on a Tuesday morning.

The driver didn’t greet him when he got into the taxi, so when he reached his destination, Axarob told the driver, “Boss, I only have N$10. I’m keeping the N$3 for not greeting me.”

This humorous exchange reflects Axarob’s comedic style and his dedication to cracking a joke and upholding a Namibian culture.

Axarob, who has three Portuguese names, an Otjiherero surname and who speaks Damara, considers himself an anthropologist and a curator of laughter.

The comedian has been making waves in the industry with a Rietfontein advertisement, the ‘Vinyls Comedy Hour’ and an appearance in the ‘Ompata Web Series’.

In a time where the creative scene in Windhoek has been bubbling in various sectors, Axarob believes there is more to comedy than leaving people howling in their seats.

He says comedy – like music, dance and traditional stories told around the fire in our native tongues – can serve as a powerful tool to educate the public and tackle difficult topics.

He believes not everyone is interested in tuning into current affairs shows on the radio or television, but they can learn about politics and their rights during a stand-up comedy show.

Art is how Namibians preserve their culture but it should continue to evolve and grow, he says.

He’s adamant that as much as we joke about serious issues, people should leave one of his shows knowing they have learnt something new.

He says his mother instilled in him the idea of trying everything and he had the freedom to explore various activities as a child, including sport, theatre and backyard gymnastics like climbing trees.

He would thank his young self for trying out so many different things, as those experiences shaped him into a more well-rounded person and comedian, he says.

Axarob first experienced the thrill of performance in school when he participated in theatre productions.

He says being a comedian now is a full circle moment that has propelled him into fully embracing the stage.

While growing up in a funny household, he says he didn’t always realise he was funny.

“We were always making fun of each other, with jokes flying around. You couldn’t get grumpy because people were constantly joking about you.”

Realising that not every household is ‘comedy central’ is how Axarob discovered his comedic talent.

He says not everyone has the privilege to freely be themselves and he believes comedy can help people find their identity.

He argues that Namibians have a preconceived notion about comedians and they are often seen as caricatures, however, many comedians are actually very intelligent. This is despite mainstream comedy often relying on clichés, stereotypes and parodies.

It has led even smart comedians to start playing into these roles, thinking it’s the only way they are able to garner an audience.

It’s refreshing to attend a show where someone jokes about Namibian experiences without being rude, offensive or derogatory and Axarob hopes Namibian artists find inspiration from the global community without imitating other cultures and norms.

He emphasises the importance of preserving culture and says he hopes to continue to change the narrative and tell stories people can relate to.