KwaZulu-Natal born multi-disciplinary artist Desire Marea, born Buyani Duma, has cemented themselves as a creative force to be reckoned with. After touring the world extensively with FAKA, a South African queer performance collective they co-founded with Fela Gucci, Desire has embarked on an individual sonic journey rooted in their own healing.
Desire Marea’s voice is a culmination of many South African voices; a mouthpiece for a choir of spirits and entities. His second album On the Romance of Being is immersed in the communal, ceremonial and healing qualities of music.
Throughout the last two years, the Amandawe based artist trained as Sangoma, a traditional Nguni spiritual healer. Becoming sangoma is not vocational, one must be called on by spirit. It is for one’s own spirit to die and become a vessel for others. This connection to spirits and ancestors is one that encapsulates the knowledge of the universe and redresses spiritual imbalances on the living plane. "In my work as a sangoma, ancient songs and drumming sequences are used to invoke spirits who live in me so I enter into a trance state. In my work as a musician, I heal people using music. It's a different kind of medicine but one in which I often have to channel different spirits, different truths and the essence of light."
KwaZulu-Natal born multi-disciplinary artist Desire Marea, born Buyani Duma, has cemented themselves as a creative force to be reckoned with. After touring the world extensively with FAKA, a South African queer performance collective they co-founded with Fela Gucci, Desire has embarked on an individual sonic journey rooted in their own healing.
Desire Marea’s voice is a culmination of many South African voices; a mouthpiece for a choir of spirits and entities. His second album On the Romance of Being is immersed in the communal, ceremonial and healing qualities of music.
Throughout the last two years, the Amandawe based artist trained as Sangoma, a traditional Nguni spiritual healer. Becoming sangoma is not vocational, one must be called on by spirit. It is for one’s own spirit to die and become a vessel for others. This connection to spirits and ancestors is one that encapsulates the knowledge of the universe and redresses spiritual imbalances on the living plane. "In my work as a sangoma, ancient songs and drumming sequences are used to invoke spirits who live in me so I enter into a trance state. In my work as a musician, I heal people using music. It's a different kind of medicine but one in which I often have to channel different spirits, different truths and the essence of light."
