Interview with Artist, Desire Marea (Buyani Duma)

Buyani Duma is a performing artist, singer, poet and writer from KZN. We linked up with him via the internet to find out more about what he does; getting to know his mind too :)

RVL: A lot of people know you as Buyani Duma – Tell us more about who Desire Marea is, how did he/she come into existence?

Desire Marea: Buyani Duma is a beautiful space. I have always been obsessed with the process of re-invention and the crafting of one's identity. It is a process whose liberty and depth I have enjoyed most in virtual platforms of expression. What all my realities have in common is that they are all varying explorations of the process of crafting and assuming femininity and the sociological backdrop that augments the subjective expression of it. In the same way it is an exploration of my blackness. 

Desire grew into a hybridised sequel to all my previous personas, representing a more allegorical transformation of identity which translates well into her writing. The name Desire was initially supposed to be Desirée, after the 90s "You Gotta Be" and "Life" songstress. I was really feeling her vibe circa The Blacks Must Be Alright. Santu said Desire. I thought Desire was a beautiful thing to become. 

RVL: What is that you do?

Desire Marea: You know I experience glorious moments of short lived certainty, where I believe I have the answer to that question, but those moments always eventually get stirred into the greater peripheral nature of what I do. I would definitely say the closest title under which most of my work can coexist is performance.

Everything I do has to shibobo through the sacred legs of performance, whether it is my writing, my poetry, my music, my video work, my design, my art, being a micro internet figure – it is all performance, essentially. 

RVL: Where were you born? – Tell us about your background.

Desire Marea: I was born in the south coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal, in a town called Amandawe. My mother, Lindiwe Duma, was an English Teacher and my father, Menzi Mcunu, was a famous veteran artist. Both have parted with their bodies and I think my being is evidence that one does not need the physical to maintain divine connections. 

As a child I naively voiced my dreams of becoming a famous artist while secretly dreaming about about being a black female singer like Lebo Mathosa or being a black high school girl with a Technikon boyfriend. Those are all still valid dreams. 

RVL: You studied quite a number of subjects at NSA, but majored in drama in your final year of matric. How do all those traits and talents assist in your craft now?

Desire Marea: "Majored in Drama" is such a lovely vibe in this narrative :-). "DRAMA"! "MAJOR"! - Beautiful. Being a trained actor did help me a lot when it came to developing the realities/characters that would later become my primary outlets for creative expression. Having experienced all other art forms also contributes to the multi-disciplinary nature of my work. 

RVL: Interesting. What does independence mean to you and what are some of the challenges you face being a multi-facet artist?

Desire Marea: Independence, financially and professionally, is so important and I am not independent enough. Although I understand the beauty of collaboration, I still feel that it is easier to work if you have the skills and the tools to do so independently. The biggest challenge I face is that I am not famous enough. Also, I really do not have enough time. 

RVL: Do you think that artists are stigmatised way too much when it comes to their mental stability? If so, tell us why?

Desire Marea: When we pathologise the bravery of the artist (or anybody for that matter) that refuses, whether actively or passively, to conform to the hegemony of acceptable conduct, we alienate the voices we should be learning from. Every stigma is harmful to everybody. 

RVL: What does spirituality mean to you and how do you coil it with your craft?

Desire Marea: I try not to isolate spirituality from my craft, which is ultimately my self. It is everything.

RVL: Your music is very powerful and enchanting. Who inspires it?

Desire Marea: Thank you very much. I guess my first and only lived experience of music was through Gospel and African Choral music and I have allowed the aesthetics of my music to sail on those influences. 

RVL: We like how elusive, abstract, and unapologetic you are. What keeps you grounded?

Desire Marea: Thank you. The history around my anus of colour keeps me grounded. 

RVL: How important is it for artists to be bold and fearless?

Desire Marea: Nothing is important these days. It all depends on what you are trying to say. Being Bold and Fearless sometimes isn't the meaning and that opens doors to places where everything is meaningless because everything means everything. 

RVL: What does being a revolutionary artist mean to you?

Desire Marea: It means so much. A priest has persuaded a whole congregation to eat grass and enjoy it. That's the kind of influence I need in order to be anything close to a revolutionary artist. That’s the kind of revolution I want to see. We believed in Mzekezeke even in our disbelief. I would like to thank the internet, actually for keeping the kids off the streets. 

RVL: What else can we expect from Desire Marea?

Desire Marea: "Don't expect anything".  I am working on a series of written portraits. Expect mink because FAKA's debut. Don't accept everything, though.

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