On my way home, the cab driver definitely thought I was losing my mind. I was randomly bursting into hysterical laughter, the kind that has you slapping your knee with tears streaming down your face. It happened every time I saw a couple or a car with a specific sticker on it.
The driver looked genuinely concerned, and at some point, I had to try to explain that I was coming from a stand-up event, specifically Bexta Ndabalime’s Midlife Clarity show at Dopamine. I tried to retell some of the jokes to prove I wasn't crazy, but I don't have the structure or the delivery of a comedian, so it just made me look more unhinged.
Earlier on, going into the night, I had an idea of what to expect since I've seen Bexta in Nairobi before. But what made this different was that this time he was headlining.
And maybe it was the end-of-the-month energy or just the right crowd. I thought this was one of those events where everything just clicked, not perfect, but the performances just clicked.
But before we continue:
Who is Bexta
Bexta is a stand-up comedian and entertainer who was born in Botswana, raised in Zimbabwe, and established his career in South Africa.
Known for his Pan-African perspective, he has been a fixture on the Johannesburg comedy scene since 2013.
His routines are characterised by anecdotal storytelling that covers everything from personal family dynamics and social issues to continental politics.
Doug opened the night as the host and opened the evening by giving us a full set, a set anchored by storytelling.
He pumped up the crowd that was still settling in, using a high-energy presentation to set the pace. His material moved from his experiences with police officers and corruption to the impact of millennials.
Apart from the energy, I thought his structure was influential in all the performances that followed, I also appreciated the restrained approach to the crowd, which cut across all the perfomances.
Next up was Bashir Halaiki, who completely subverted what Doug had set up. He was incredibly composed and soft-spoken, standing almost perfectly still on that small Dopamine stage.
While Doug was all movement and expression, on everyone's business, Bashir was centred, physically and physiologically. He had this fascinating take on religion and festivals.
His punchlines were expertly timed, and delivery and timing stood out when he tackled alcohol and its influence in the country, something that is relatable, but it worked due to his delivery. By the time he got to a story about Thailand, he had the entire audience wrapped around his finger, utilising a call-and-response strategy that made the bit engaging and interactive.
Maina Murumba took the stage and things got unpredictable. He utilised misdirection and red herrings, moving from stage fright to money to his personal living conditions without warning.
You never knew where he was taking you, which made for some of the funniest moments. Another small but funny incident included how he handled someone trying to derail him, maintaining control while keeping everyone laughing and engaged. Murumba had the stage presence and energy to keep the energy high and set the right tone for the main act.
Main act
Bexta came out for the main event. What we didn't realise until later was that he was giving us a full stand-up special. The best way to describe his time on stage is: first third, good storytelling; the second third was more personal material centring on him as he embraces midlife; the final third he just went all out, challenging religious and relationship tropes.
His set kicked off with bits on South Africa and the president before diving into an experience at a club that painted a vivid picture of an evening in the modern dating scene—the good storytelling I was talking about.
As the set progressed, it got more personal, which fit the Midlife Clarity theme. He touched on getting older, the challenges of being proactively lazy, and being single. There was a level of vulnerability there that you don't always see on stage.
But this was the slowest moment of his set. The closing bit was what really killed it: his takes on being the black sheep, avoiding children, and the "afterlife" had the room in non-stop laughter. It was punchline after punchline, giving nobody a chance to breathe.
It is also important to mention that Bexta had done his homework in terms of just understanding where he was performing, with hints of Kenya-specific tropes sprinkled throughout the special.
Generally, his set, or in this case, special, was as engaging as it was vulnerable and ridiculously funny. Bexta utilised pacing, body language, cadence and intonation to give us a hilarious glimpse of his outlook on the “midlife crisis."
Gripes
My only issue was that I wish the Midlife theme cut across all the performances from A to Z. Bexta captured it perfectly in his second half, but seeing how the other comedians viewed a midlife crisis would have added a nice layer of cohesion to the whole night.
That said, it was a fantastic evening.
Even with the venue change from the Chemichemi restaurant to Dopamine, Midlife Clarity was one of those rare events where everything just clicks. It was efficient in relation to time while remaining funny. A lot of the material was relatable, and I just hope my cab driver will read this.
