Barakakings: The Drag King Collective Powering a New Wave in Brussels

Since its launch in 2022, the Barakakings collective has blown open Brussels stages for drag kings, queeings and drag creatures, proving there was a hungry audience – and a huge pool of talent – that had been ignored for far too long. What started as a small crew quickly became a reference point in the city’s queer nightlife, inspiring new collectives and encouraging more performers to step into drag masculinity and gender-bending performance.

From invisibility to a drag king explosion

When Barakakings began, seeing a drag king on stage in Brussels was rare – almost a minor miracle, as the members like to say. That scarcity was the clearest sign of how invisible drag kings still were, even within queer spaces dominated by drag queens. In just a few years, the situation has shifted: the collective now receives hundreds of requests to perform, join workshops or support the project, revealing how much demand there is for more diverse drag.

Economically, the collective is also a game-changer. By organising together, the artists can tour more, get booked more often and access more venues, inching closer to the coveted official artist status that remains difficult to obtain for cabaret performers. The problem is structural: fewer bookings mean fewer contracts, which slow down access to this status – and the limited spots that do exist tend to go to drag queens first. Barakakings challenges this imbalance by pushing drag kings to the front of the line.

A collective practice, not just a line-up

Barakakings is not just a booking label; it is a creative lab. The collective runs workshops on makeup, physicality and group creation, offering an accessible entry point for emerging drag kings and curious newcomers. Together, they think through the universes they want to create, the political messages they want to carry and the aesthetics that best express them. The goal is to resist the pressure to produce fast, social‑media‑ready drag, and instead take time to experiment, learn and share skills.

On stage, their shows are collective creations from A to Z: collaborative numbers, group storytelling, and choreographies built as a team. Every performance is a reminder that drag is hard work, deeply political and rooted in community care. Barakakings centres knowledge-sharing and mutual support, ensuring that each new king or creature doesn’t have to start from scratch.

Meet the founding members

The heart of Barakakings is its five founding members, each with a distinct style and story but a shared commitment to drag as resistance and joy:

• Cheri·e Chapstick
• Ernesto Coyote
• Enby Valent
• Dicklan
• Mama Tituba

Together, they turn every Barakakings night into a celebration of gender anarchy, queer desire and DIY cabaret, opening the door for a new generation of Brussels drag kings to claim the stage.

To keep the energy going, Barakakings is back with a new edition of its signature open stage. Barak’Open #6 lands on 11 March at Brasserie de la Mule, a Schaerbeek hotspot known for its local beers, concerts and regular drag shows. The collective will introduce a fresh wave of drag kings, queeings and creatures – from seasoned performers to first-timers testing the stage – proving once again that the Brussels drag king scene is very much alive and thriving.

Hosted by our very own @dicklan.king in full flamboyant mode, the night will feature performances by @dragobert_drag, @king_clark_, @camille__pier, @altesse_lupin and Todd Lidle – a line-up ready to feed your cultural and political cravings with moustaches, glitter and gender chaos. Doors open at 18:00, show starts at 20:00, entrance is pay what you can at the door (cash, and be early: once the room is full, access closes).

For updates, follow @labarakakings and keep an eye on Brasserie de la Mule.

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