Intermission of independence

Desire Marea is one half of FAKA. Since 2015, the duo has kicked cis-heternormative ass through a multidisciplinary practice that worked at normalising queerness through provocative music, fashion, dance and installation. Together Desire and Fela Gucci have given us a soundtrack for South African queerness and an online community in which to find queer solace. Their influence not only saw Donatella Versace inviting them to a show, but she asked for their permission to use their music as the score to Versace’s spring/summer 2019 fashion show in Milan. They walked so that South African queer artists such as Gyre, Angel-ho, Umlilo, Mx Blouse and K-$ could fly.

After presenting their artistry as a duo for four years, Desire decided to go solo.taking its first steps alongside the debut album is Desire’s record label, Izimakade Records. “I spent the entire year trying to connect to labels that released things that sounded similar. None of them really got back to me so I created my own home,” they explain.

Izimakade Records will also be releasing work by Sanele Ngubane and Neo Hlasko Mahlasela in 2020.

FAKA remains unharmed by Desire going solo because they believe that an intermission of independence is necessary for the sustenance of a long-term collaboration. “When you are a part of something that is as powerful as FAKA, some of the things that form a part of your individual artistry can be neglected,” admits Desire. — Zaza Hlalethwa