Our History
Uli Baba's has been the finest Flesh Merchant caravan in Black Rock City Since 2008.
Long ago, Uli Baba's first right-hand man, Pedro, visited Black Rock City. He consumed the indulgences that were offered lustily. During a particularly languid and potent interlude, he realized he needed to make a contribution to the fine entertainments available at Burning Man.
The origins of Uli Baba's theme camp lie in the Moroccan Slave Trade, and was an attempt to turn slavery upside-down in two ways: first, the Moroccan Barbary pirates enslaved white Europeans, and we found this to be an appropriate analogue for our caravan to "enslave" the predominantly white citizens of BRC. More directly, in our Slave Auctions we reversed the balance of power, so that "Slaves" would choose the winning bid from subservient "Masters."
However, the public discourse has deepened and our Moroccan "Slave Auction" is more hurtful than enjoyable. In 2018, after feedback from BRC citizens, we renamed our event to a "Self Auction." In 2019 we further played with the idea of a "Used People Sale." For 2022 our event has stripped off its clothing to reveal its essence: an "Experience Auction." We are trying to learn from and grow with our fellow citizens.
Leadership History
In 2008, a small camp erected a big tent. Nervous auctioneers sold their first willing participants into slavery. Everyone worked a little too hard and got a little too tired. But it was amazing.
In 2010, a bigger collection of camp mates was carefully cultivated by Pedro. It was easier to erect the tent. More events were possible. Uli Baba's started to earn a reputation.
In 2011, Pedro was once again at the helm. Many camp mates hit their stride and settled into comfortable roles: kitchen maven, structural engineer, generator genie, slave auctioneer, barmaid, emcee. Uli Baba's was placed in unfamiliar territory (the 7:30 Sector) and we had a fantastic time.
In 2012, Pedro's friends invited lots of new camp members, allowing Uli Baba's to expand the calendar of events. We returned to 4:30. Two camp mates got engaged.
In 2013, Pedro and veteran camp members started to pass their knowledge on to newbies, so everyone could be assured some time off to explore Burning Man by day. Two more camp mates got engaged.
2014 saw Pedro pass the inspiration to five-time camp member, Brian. A smaller camp that year set up shop on a Plaza and added new interactive features to our beautiful street frontage while continuing our most important traditions.
2015 saw Pedro pass the inspiration to five-time camp member, Kim. Her passion for passion led this dusty caravan of slavers to Black Rock City once again, simultaneously doubling down on consent culture initiatives and debauchery. The camp grew again, with burnlings and new thieves outnumbering veterans.
In 2016, Kim once again served as Right Hand to Uli Baba, joined by a seasoned leadership team and a large core group of beloved veteran thieves to bring the caravan's gifts to the Black Rock desert.
In 2017, a newly anointed Right Hand, three-time camp member, James, took the reigns of the band of misfits. With many seasoned leaders having babies, and getting married change was on the horizon.
In 2018, eight-time camp member, Mog, served as Uli's Left Hand. Mog previously humbled herself variously as kitchen lead, greeter/bouncer at auctions, and auctioneer. She is very concerned about acculturation. Burning Man is for self-discovery and boundary pushing; Uli Baba's is a wonderful home base for those who want to contribute in an interactive way, are willing to work hard, are able to honor their commitments, and remain ever-mindful of the 10 Principles.
In 2019 Ha and Brian were Uli's humble servants bringing a galley of camp mates to the desert. A hedonistic and hardworking bunch made for an epic Burn that year.
In 2022 Ha returned as Uli's Right Hand hand and once again lead our rag tag band of horny thieves into the desert. It was our first year with a storage container and our first year with solar power. The power! Mua-ha-ha. It was also the hottest year in memory and visions of air-conditioning took form... (Vision? Mirage? Hallucination?)
In 2023 Ha and Mog return as Right Hand and Left Hand, eager to see what the year will reveal.
* All those engagements lead to weddings and babies, and thus the next generation of Servants of Uli Baba has begun.
Long ago, Uli Baba's first right-hand man, Pedro, visited Black Rock City. He consumed the indulgences that were offered lustily. During a particularly languid and potent interlude, he realized he needed to make a contribution to the fine entertainments available at Burning Man.
The origins of Uli Baba's theme camp lie in the Moroccan Slave Trade, and was an attempt to turn slavery upside-down in two ways: first, the Moroccan Barbary pirates enslaved white Europeans, and we found this to be an appropriate analogue for our caravan to "enslave" the predominantly white citizens of BRC. More directly, in our Slave Auctions we reversed the balance of power, so that "Slaves" would choose the winning bid from subservient "Masters."
However, the public discourse has deepened and our Moroccan "Slave Auction" is more hurtful than enjoyable. In 2018, after feedback from BRC citizens, we renamed our event to a "Self Auction." In 2019 we further played with the idea of a "Used People Sale." For 2022 our event has stripped off its clothing to reveal its essence: an "Experience Auction." We are trying to learn from and grow with our fellow citizens.
Leadership History
In 2008, a small camp erected a big tent. Nervous auctioneers sold their first willing participants into slavery. Everyone worked a little too hard and got a little too tired. But it was amazing.
In 2010, a bigger collection of camp mates was carefully cultivated by Pedro. It was easier to erect the tent. More events were possible. Uli Baba's started to earn a reputation.
In 2011, Pedro was once again at the helm. Many camp mates hit their stride and settled into comfortable roles: kitchen maven, structural engineer, generator genie, slave auctioneer, barmaid, emcee. Uli Baba's was placed in unfamiliar territory (the 7:30 Sector) and we had a fantastic time.
In 2012, Pedro's friends invited lots of new camp members, allowing Uli Baba's to expand the calendar of events. We returned to 4:30. Two camp mates got engaged.
In 2013, Pedro and veteran camp members started to pass their knowledge on to newbies, so everyone could be assured some time off to explore Burning Man by day. Two more camp mates got engaged.
2014 saw Pedro pass the inspiration to five-time camp member, Brian. A smaller camp that year set up shop on a Plaza and added new interactive features to our beautiful street frontage while continuing our most important traditions.
2015 saw Pedro pass the inspiration to five-time camp member, Kim. Her passion for passion led this dusty caravan of slavers to Black Rock City once again, simultaneously doubling down on consent culture initiatives and debauchery. The camp grew again, with burnlings and new thieves outnumbering veterans.
In 2016, Kim once again served as Right Hand to Uli Baba, joined by a seasoned leadership team and a large core group of beloved veteran thieves to bring the caravan's gifts to the Black Rock desert.
In 2017, a newly anointed Right Hand, three-time camp member, James, took the reigns of the band of misfits. With many seasoned leaders having babies, and getting married change was on the horizon.
In 2018, eight-time camp member, Mog, served as Uli's Left Hand. Mog previously humbled herself variously as kitchen lead, greeter/bouncer at auctions, and auctioneer. She is very concerned about acculturation. Burning Man is for self-discovery and boundary pushing; Uli Baba's is a wonderful home base for those who want to contribute in an interactive way, are willing to work hard, are able to honor their commitments, and remain ever-mindful of the 10 Principles.
In 2019 Ha and Brian were Uli's humble servants bringing a galley of camp mates to the desert. A hedonistic and hardworking bunch made for an epic Burn that year.
In 2022 Ha returned as Uli's Right Hand hand and once again lead our rag tag band of horny thieves into the desert. It was our first year with a storage container and our first year with solar power. The power! Mua-ha-ha. It was also the hottest year in memory and visions of air-conditioning took form... (Vision? Mirage? Hallucination?)
In 2023 Ha and Mog return as Right Hand and Left Hand, eager to see what the year will reveal.
* All those engagements lead to weddings and babies, and thus the next generation of Servants of Uli Baba has begun.