Queer(ing) touch and worldmaking in the music videos of Nakhane

Abstract

In this article, I analyse three music videos by South African artist Nakhane using Connor’s concept of the skin as an “expressive screen”, Coetzee’s conceptualisation of reading what is “written under the skin” and Macharia’s framing of touch leading to pleasure, irritation, and even pain. Nakhane has created a significant body of literary, musical, and film work that not only explores what it means to be queer in Africa but, more importantly, what it means to be and become human. The music videos I examine are titled “In the dark room”, “Clairvoyant” and “Tell me your politik”. These videos demonstrate how touch and affect play a central role in making queer bodies and experiences visible. The main argument of this article is that skin, as an expressive screen, serves as a canvas on which queer affect and touch are negotiated and performed. The portrayal of touch on the skin, in various ways, is significant as it emphasises the importance of intimacy and embodiment in queer worldmaking.