Banula Marika is a song man,  dancer, actor, and performer from Yirrkala in North East Arnhem Land. The son of Roy Marika, he is a member of the Rirratjingu clan of the Yolŋu people, and is known for his performances with the Bangarra Dance Theatre since the 1990s. He is credited for his role as yidaki player in Jindalee Lady (1992), and for his first role as an actor in the film Bedevil (1993). His stage performances with Bangarra include Up Until Now (1991), Praying Mantis Dreaming (1992-3) and Bloodland (2011-2). He also served as cultural consultant on Bangarra's 2020 television production of Ochres.

He has performed as both vocalist and dancer and toured extensively with the band Yothu Yindi, including on their famous song "Treaty". He performed vocals on their third album, Freedom (1993), and performed with them in a joint project with East Journey, called Genesis, in 2015, including a performance at the National Indigenous Music Awards 2015.

He has collaborated with founder of the Australian Dance Theatre, choreographer Elizabeth Cameron Dalman, in a work entitled Morning Star (2012–3). Marika is custodian of the Morning Star story, and served as cultural consultant on the work. The Mirramu Dance Company performed Morning Star in March 2013 at the James O. Fairfax Theatre, National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. Banula is the cultural custodian/ director and collaborator of the manikay and bungul (Yolŋu song and dance) with  Gary Lang NT Dance Company. Since 2021 he has collaborated with Tracks Dance Company while working with Miku Performing Arts on the Dhangu Walu projects, and Wuyal - Sugarbag Man projects.