Afrikaburn 2018: Annual arts festival lights up South Africa's Karoo Desert

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This year's Afrika Burn festival has just concluded in the Karoo Desert in South Africa. Now in its 11th year, the event brings together artists, musicians and performers in every genre to showcase their talents. Modelled on the American Burning Man festival, participants construct temporary artworks in a semi-desert environment, some of which are burnt at the end of the event. Susan Mwongeli reports.

Draped in colorful costumes and full of energy. Thousands of people have taken part in this year's event. All of them seeking to experience an environment far removed from their normal routine.

"So I did everything myself it took me about three months to get the inspirations and to do the work. So it was really nice to prepare everything and then that we can wear it was worth all the work. We come from Paris, France."

AfrikaBurn is affiliated with Nevada's Burning Man festival. It is run on several guiding principles, including participation. Some describe it as a giant sandpit for adults to play around in.

TRAVIS LYLE, DIRECTOR, AFRIKABURN "The world is full of a lot of noise and restrictions and there are very few free places where you can be what you want to be, and this is one of those places so we're not surprised that so many people find it to be the right experience for them."

No money exchanges hands at the festival -- everything is either given or received.

"Start here, There is no money for a week you don't have to worry what you can pay, or what you can't pay. Everybody is gifting something, some people gift music some people give art and some people give cappuccino!"

"I've been here 6 years now and the reason why we come is like you said, it's Utopia, it's Utopia in the desert where you get to live freely you get to be your best self, you get to love one another. Its the way human beings should live."

And when it's all over, nothing is left behind. Huge bonfires take place on the last few nights. All the artworks and garbage generated at the festival goes up in flames. Leaving no trace that anyone was ever there.

SM CGTN