BBC Radio 4 Drama - Tribe of Two

I had the honour of providing some mbira music on BBC Radio 4 drama Tribe of Two. You can listen to the drama here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0022tm1

About Tribe of Two

Growing up in Devon’s sleepiest market-town, Mari has never felt she belongs. There’s the day-to-day trials that come with being a mixed-race kid in noughties rural England. And then there’s Baba, her larger-than-life Zimbabwean father – a local celebrity on the world music festival circuit.

Baba is desperate for Mari to learn his songs and follow in his footsteps, and Mari plays along. Literally. But she feels little connection to a country and a culture that Baba has always been strangely reluctant to talk about.

All that changes one blissful, teenage summer, when a daring distant cousin comes to visit from Zim. A fuse is lit in Mari that will blow the familiar certainties of her old life apart. When she swaps her dad’s world of festivals for uni in Plymouth, the town’s straight-talking, rough-edged gay scene offers a fresh sense of identity.

But will Mari’s new-found strength be enough to confront a dark family secret?

A story of multifaceted identities and what it means to truly make your own kind of music.

By Malaika Kegode

Mari - Mae Munuo
Makenda - Mogali Masuku
Baba - Cyril Nri
Mum/Chrissie - Mary Woodvine
Ben - Nay Oliver Murphy
Salt Peter/Hippy - Stephen Kennedy
The Jess’s/Form teacher - Jade Matthew
Lad - Flynn Hallman

Other voices played by the cast

Composer, Harry Wrigley
Mbira player and composer, Otto Gumaelius

Sound design, Adam Woodhams
Mix, Steve Bond

Executive producer, Nicolas Jackson
Director/Producer, Jesse Fox

An Afonica production for BBC Radio 4

Otto and the Mutapa Calling Live at The Rising SE1

Here’s a little snippet from our show at The Rising in London last night, in celebration of Black History Month.

Royal Opera House with Kamilla Arku and April Koyejo-Audiger

What an honour to have been invited to perform at the Royal Opera House today alongside the phenomenal artists Kamilla Arku and April Koyejo-Audiger, in celebration of Black History Month.

Liberian-Norwegian pianist Kamilla Arku draws on her diverse background as inspiration for her work as a performer and educator. She gave her London debut recital at the renowned 'Pianists of the World' series at St. Martin's-in-the-Fields in 2013, and has since performed as a soloist and chamber musician in the UK, Europe and Africa. 

British-Nigerian soprano April Koyejo-Audiger is a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Royal College of Music. She also serves as a Director/Trustee for the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Her training includes as a Link Artist (2019–20) and Jette Parker Anniversary Company Artist (21–22) for the Royal Opera, Covent Garden; her performances there include Barena in the Olivier Award-winning production of Jenufa, which won her the 2022 Black British Theatre Award for Best Opera Production or Performance.

Backstage with Kamilla Arku and April Koyejo

Chamakanda - An African Storytelling Tale from Zimbabwe

It is National Storytelling Week this week here in the UK. One of my favourite African stories is Chamakanda, a tale from Zimbabwe which I came to know through my dear friend Peta Axelsson, narrated by the late mbira ethnomusicologist Ephat Mujuru. Happy National Storytelling Week!

About National Storytelling Week

The Society for Storytelling was founded in 1993 to support and promote storytelling in England and Wales. It provides a central place to find out about storytelling events, to ask for advice on using storytelling, about workshops to help you find your individual voice as a new storyteller and it is also the place to find other storytellers.

National Storytelling Week is an annual celebration of storytelling in the UK.

For more information about the Society for Storytelling, please visit: www.sfs.org.uk

Otto & The Mutapa Calling Live at Grow Hackney

We had a fantastic time at Grow Hackney earlier this summer! We performed two sets on their outdoor floating stage. Click on the videos below to watch us in action. The songs included in each set are listed below each video.

SET 1 SONGS

Mugarandega, Mangwane Mpulele, Umbombela / Shosholoza, Hlonolofatsa, Makoti

---

SET 2 SONGS

Mamaliye, Dineo, Cha Chimurenga, Waka Waka, Gandanga, Manhanga Kutapira, Chemutengure, Mhururu

---

-- ABOUT OTTO AND THE MUTAPA CALLING --

Otto & The Mutapa Calling is a lively London based marimba band playing energetic, joyful music from Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe, including folk songs, original songs and popular southern African covers. The band's set-up includes soprano, tenor and baritone marimbas, mbira, hosho, drumming and singing, with both traditional and contemporary dances. The marimba band’s sound is full of energy and pulsating rhythms - and their music shares the rich cultures, histories and stories of the people of southern Africa. Otto & The Mutapa Calling is a unique and colourful experience and is the only active professional marimba band of its kind in the United Kingdom.

www.ottogumaelius.com

-- SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS --

Like on Facebook here

Follow on Instagram here

Listen on Spotify here

Watch on YouTube here

World Heart Beat Music Academy

It was a huge pleasure to be invited to work with the students of World Heart Beat Music Academy at the end of 2020, after many months of being at home without playing or teaching any music due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Here are two clips we recorded for their annual fundraiser.

World Heart Beat is a place of excellence and joy that embraces a myriad of musical cultures. Their students love to learn and benefit from programming and teaching of the highest quality and care. World Heart Beat thrives in the positivity it radiates and is a place where students and teachers alike wish to be.

Their main objectives as an organisation are to:

• Widen participation in music education for children and young people from socioeconomic disadvantaged backgrounds and challenging circumstances;

• Provide a world-class music-led education and performance centre that promotes a global music programme, extends our reach to audiences and promotes social cohesion;

• Support gifted and under-represented artists and generate more opportunities for them to perform and showcase their talents.

Visit their website here to learn more and support them: https://worldheartbeat.org/

Listen to Otto and the Mutapa Calling on Spotify

I am delighted to announce that my band’s debut album, Mvura Ichanaya is now available on Spotify for streaming. The 9 track album can be streamed on all major outlets - and is available for download on iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon.

The album is a self produced 9 track album that was recorded in London and includes acoustic marimba, mbira, drumming and singing. It is a colourful collection of folk melodies from across southern Africa.

The opening track, and the title track of the album, Mvura Ichanaya is an adaptation of a Shona harvest song. The lyrics say “this is the year the rains shall come” – and expresses through African metaphorical speech the hope for good things to come.

The second track is Dineo, an original Setswana song written by Otto which is addressed to parents, reminding them that the talents of their children come in different forms, and those less academically gifted should never be given up on.

The third song on the album is Mhondoro, an adaptation of a Karanga rain making song which was inspired by the passing of a family member.

Mancube is next on the album, and is a traditional Ndebele song named after a man’s wife who has gone missing. The man seeks the assistance of a traditional healer to find her whereabouts.

Hondo, track five on the album, is a Shona folk song and the lyrics sung on this recording are a combination of traditional lines and slightly more modern lyrics adopted in the early 1980s during the time of independence. The lyrics celebrate the fact that independence was won because people went out and fought for it. The song closes with some soft mbira playing, bringing it back to its traditional origin and sound.

Ke Ne Kele Kae is sixth on the album and another one of Otto’s original songs. The song is a reminder to young people not to neglect their homes and families as they progress in life.

Track seven is the popular Sotho gospel song, Hlonolofatsa – a song that was made popular in the early 2000s by a musician called Ishmael, and is sung and recognised right across southern Africa.

Gandanga is a Shona song from the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe where the freedom fighters sang to remind the villagers whom they sought refuge amongst that they deserved more than just scraps to eat.

And lastly, the album closes with the upbeat farming song Kusarima – a song which encourages people to pick up their tools and help farm the land.

Stream the whole album now on Spotify.

-- ABOUT OTTO AND THE MUTAPA CALLING --

Otto & The Mutapa Calling is a lively London based marimba band playing energetic, joyful music from Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe, including folk songs, original songs and popular southern African covers. The band's set-up includes soprano, tenor and baritone marimbas, mbira, hosho, drumming and singing, with both traditional and contemporary dances. The marimba band’s sound is full of energy and pulsating rhythms - and their music shares the rich cultures, histories and stories of the people of southern Africa. Otto & The Mutapa Calling is a unique and colourful experience and is the only active professional marimba band of its kind in the United Kingdom.

www.ottogumaelius.com

-- SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS --

Like on Facebook here

Follow on Instagram here

Listen on Spotify here

Watch on YouTube here

Usacheme by Chiwoniso Maraire

One of my favourite songs by the late Zimbabwean mbira player, Chiwoniso Maraire, is a lullaby she wrote to her children Chiedza and Chengeto. The song is called Usacheme - Don’t Cry.

A lot of people around the world are in need of some comforting during these troublesome times. I hope you enjoy my band’s rendition of this beautiful song.

-- Lyrics --

Usacheme - Chiwoniso Maraire

Chinyarara mwana wangu (Don’t worry my child)
Usacheme ini ndiripo (Don’t cry, I’m here)
Ndokutora mumawoko angu (I will take you in my arms)
Usacheme-iwe (Hey, don’t cry)

Shu-shu-shu-shu Chengeto wangu, (Hush my dear Chengeto)
Amai vanokuda (Mum loves you)
Ndipopa ugere (Where ever you are)
Chinyarara mwana wangu (Don’t worry my child)
Usacheme-iwe (Hey, don't cry)

Shu-shu-shu-shu Chiedza wangu, (Hush my dear Chiedza)
Uringirozi rekudenga (You are an angel from heaven)
Chinyarara mwana wangu (Don't worry my child)
Usacheme-iwe (Hey, don't cry)

-- About Otto and The Mutapa Calling --

Otto and The Mutapa Calling is a lively London based marimba band playing energetic, joyful music from Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe, including folk songs, original songs and popular southern African covers. The band's set-up includes soprano, tenor and baritone marimbas, mbira, hosho, drumming and singing, with both traditional and contemporary dances. The marimba band’s sound is full of energy and pulsating rhythms - and the band’s music shares the rich cultures, histories and stories of the people of southern Africa.

www.ottogumaelius.com

-- Social Media Links --

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Instagram

Listen to us on Spotify

Watch us on YouTube

Otto and The Mutapa Calling performing at Music For Liberia Charity Fundraiser

Since 2008, Music for Liberia has raised money for education in Liberia through events featuring a diverse array of world renowned musicians, including Stephen Kovacevich, Sona Jobarteh and Alice Zawadzki. The donations received by the charity have enabled their partners and beneficiaries to fund crucial work in Liberia, including funding scholarships, supporting rural schools and providing accommodation for Ebola orphans. 

The charity also works with and provides performance opportunities for young musicians in London, including East London’s Kuumba Youth Music and Wandsworth’s World Heart Beat Music Academy.

Otto & The Mutapa Calling was honoured to be invited back to perform at the fundraiser this year. Here are a few pictures for our performance on the night, including some pictures below with the students we worked with from World Heart Beat Music Academy. They learnt and performed a folk song from Botswana called “Mangwane Mpulele”.

Below are some pictures of the band with the students from World Heart Beat Music Academy performing a folk song from Botswana.

-- ABOUT OTTO AND THE MUTAPA CALLING --

Otto & The Mutapa Calling is a lively London based marimba band playing energetic, joyful music from Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe, including folk songs, original songs and popular southern African covers. The band's set-up includes soprano, tenor and baritone marimbas, mbira, hosho, drumming and singing, with both traditional and contemporary dances. The marimba band’s sound is full of energy and pulsating rhythms - and their music shares the rich cultures, histories and stories of the people of southern Africa. Otto & The Mutapa Calling is a unique and colourful experience and is the only active professional marimba band of its kind in the United Kingdom.

www.ottogumaelius.com

-- SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS --

Like on Facebook here

Follow on Instagram here

Listen on Spotify here

Watch on YouTube here

Otto and The Mutapa Calling at Project Volunteer Botswana Fundraiser

Otto and The Mutapa Calling provided live marimba band entertainment at the Project Volunteer Botswana fundraiser in central London last night. Here are some pictures from the night.

-- ABOUT OTTO AND THE MUTAPA CALLING --

Otto & The Mutapa Calling is a lively London based marimba band playing energetic, joyful music from Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe, including folk songs, original songs and popular southern African covers. The band's set-up includes soprano, tenor and baritone marimbas, mbira, hosho, drumming and singing, with both traditional and contemporary dances. The marimba band’s sound is full of energy and pulsating rhythms - and their music shares the rich cultures, histories and stories of the people of southern Africa. Otto & The Mutapa Calling is a unique and colourful experience and is the only active professional marimba band of its kind in the United Kingdom.

www.ottogumaelius.com

-- SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS --

Like on Facebook here

Follow on Instagram here

Listen on Spotify here

Watch on YouTube here

Zimbabwean Mbira Music Workshop At WOMAD

I was delighted to share a piece of southern African cultural heritage at WOMAD this year.

WOMAD offers a wonderful programme of workshops which are free to all festival-goers. Festival goers have the opportunity to experience music, dance and culture with some of the fantastic artists that also perform at the festival. With over 80 adult, and 200 children’s workshops, there are activities for everyone who wants to have a go and try something new.

I led two Zimbabwean kalimba workshops on the Mbira Nyunga Nyunga, and taught two songs from Zimbabwe. Below are some pictures and videos from the day.

Otto And The Mutapa Caling at Timber Festival

Otto and The Mutapa Calling had the immense pleasure of sharing our music at Timer Festival in Leicestershire! Timber is a quirky weekend festival of celebration, reflection and debate held in the National Forest. Timber invites you to stand up and be counted as we rethink our relationship with trees and forests. The festival invites all to join new thinkers as they challenge one another to re-examine our relationship with the world. It is an opportunity to gather with artists, musicians and writers, as they respond and react to the forest in bold and exhilarating ways. Activists and makers will invite you to join them in a joyous celebration of nature whilst the rebels and the unexpected from the worlds of music, art, performance and well-being will play, provoke and inspire as we change the world. Visit www.timberfestival.org.uk for more info!

Here are some pictures and videos from the festival.

-- ABOUT OTTO AND THE MUTAPA CALLING --

Otto & The Mutapa Calling is a lively London based marimba band playing energetic, joyful music from Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe, including folk songs, original songs and popular southern African covers. The band's set-up includes soprano, tenor and baritone marimbas, mbira, hosho, drumming and singing, with both traditional and contemporary dances. The marimba band’s sound is full of energy and pulsating rhythms - and their music shares the rich cultures, histories and stories of the people of southern Africa. Otto & The Mutapa Calling is a unique and colourful experience and is the only active professional marimba band of its kind in the United Kingdom.

www.ottogumaelius.com

-- SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS --

Like on Facebook here

Follow on Instagram here

Listen on Spotify here

Watch on YouTube here

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod 2019

Every summer since 1947, Llangollen has staged one of the most inspirational cultural festivals in the world. Each year around 4,000 performers and as many as 50,000 visitors converge on this beautiful small Welsh town and its International Pavilion to sing and dance in a unique combination of competition, performance, and international peace and friendship.

Its competitions climax with the prestigious ‘Choir of the World’, which determines the best overall choir of the event. In 2005 Luciano Pavarotti added his name to the competition in recognition of his appreciation of the festival and its influence on his career.

My band, Otto and the Mutapa Calling was honoured to present two 45 minute sets of southern African folk music at the festival!

-- ABOUT OTTO AND THE MUTAPA CALLING --

Otto & The Mutapa Calling is a lively London based marimba band playing energetic, joyful music from Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe, including folk songs, original songs and popular southern African covers. The band's set-up includes soprano, tenor and baritone marimbas, mbira, hosho, drumming and singing, with both traditional and contemporary dances. The marimba band’s sound is full of energy and pulsating rhythms - and their music shares the rich cultures, histories and stories of the people of southern Africa. Otto & The Mutapa Calling is a unique and colourful experience and is the only active professional marimba band of its kind in the United Kingdom.

www.ottogumaelius.com

-- SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS --

Like on Facebook here

Follow on Instagram here

Listen on Spotify here

Watch on YouTube here

Otto And The Mutapa Calling at African Somerset Feast'ival

In the heart of quiet Somerset, Conrad Ocker, founder of African Somerset Feast’ival, has curated a beautiful fusion of Afro-Somerset culture which is beautifully represented by good food, drink and music enjoyed around the open fire!

Otto and The Mutapa Calling had the great honour of bringing live southern African marimba music to the festivities, and here are a few pictures from the gorgeous festival.

-- ABOUT OTTO AND THE MUTAPA CALLING --

Otto & The Mutapa Calling is a lively London based marimba band playing energetic, joyful music from Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe, including folk songs, original songs and popular southern African covers. The band's set-up includes soprano, tenor and baritone marimbas, mbira, hosho, drumming and singing, with both traditional and contemporary dances. The marimba band’s sound is full of energy and pulsating rhythms - and their music shares the rich cultures, histories and stories of the people of southern Africa. Otto & The Mutapa Calling is a unique and colourful experience and is the only active professional marimba band of its kind in the United Kingdom.

www.ottogumaelius.com

-- SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS --

Like on Facebook here

Follow on Instagram here

Listen on Spotify here

Watch on YouTube here

Otto and The Mutapa Calling Summer 2019 Tour Dates

If you’re wondering where you can catch my band Otto and The Mutapa Calling in action this summer, here is a list of festivals and events we’ll be featuring at! I’ve been invited to teach marimba and mbira workshops at some of them. Have a browse below and hopefully we’ll meet at some point in the summer for a dance and singalong!

Summer 2019 Tour Dates

May 6th 2019 - Magic Garden Pub - London

May 17th 2019 - Luna Home of Live Music - London

May 27th 2019 - Africa at Spitalfields - London

June 8th 2019 - African Somerset Feastival - Stoke-St-Gregory

July 5th 2019 - Llangollen Int. Musical Eisteddfod - Llangollen

July 6th 2019 - Timber Festival - Feanedock

July 13th & 14th 2019 - Tropical Pressure - Mount Pleasant Ecological Park (Marimba + Mbira Workshop with Otto)

July 19th 2019 - Luna Home of Live Music - London

July 20th 2019 - Kallida Festival - Sparkford

July 28th 2019 - WOMAD Festival - Malmesbury (Mbira Workshop with Otto)

Aug 3rd 2019 - Wilderness Festival - Charlbury (Mbira Workshop with Otto)

Aug 15th 2019 - Late Bloom Festival - London

-- ABOUT OTTO AND THE MUTAPA CALLING --

Otto and The Mutapa Calling is a lively London based marimba band playing energetic, joyful music from Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe, including folk songs, original songs and popular southern African covers. The band's set-up includes soprano, tenor and baritone marimbas, mbira, hosho, drumming and singing, with both traditional and contemporary dances. The marimba band’s sound is full of energy and pulsating rhythms - and their music shares the rich cultures, histories and stories of the people of southern Africa. Otto and The Mutapa Calling is a unique and colourful experience and is the only active professional marimba band of its kind in the United Kingdom.

www.ottogumaelius.com

-- SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS --

Like on Facebook here

Follow on Instagram here

Listen on Spotify here

Watch on YouTube here

Taste of Southern Africa Jam In The Park

When I founded my company Taste of Southern Africa, one of my driving forces was to try and find ways of celebrating the warmth of my African heritage with the UK and bring people together through the culture.

I decided earlier this year one of the ways I would do this would be through open jam sessions. I hosted the first one last Saturday in London Fields, and what a beautiful day it turned out to be! I am looking forward to running these monthly over the summer period.

Here are two short videos from early on in the afternoon.

Otto and The Mutapa Calling at Global Beats Club

We had a lovely time on Friday headlining the April edition of Global Beats Club which was held at Juju’s Bar & Stage off Bricklane. Here are a few pictures taken from the night.

-- ABOUT GLOBAL BEATS CLUB --

Global Beats Club is an inclusive night showcasing the best beats with a global twist, ranging from Tropical Bass to Afro Disco via Cumbia, Reggae, Dancehall & loads more! We host live acts and DJs bringing flavors from across the globe to the London dance-floors.

https://www.facebook.com/globalbeatsclub

-- ABOUT OTTO AND THE MUTAPA CALLING --

Otto & The Mutapa Calling is a lively London based marimba band playing energetic, joyful music from Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe, including folk songs, original songs and popular southern African covers. The band's set-up includes soprano, tenor and baritone marimbas, mbira, hosho, drumming and singing, with both traditional and contemporary dances. The marimba band’s sound is full of energy and pulsating rhythms - and their music shares the rich cultures, histories and stories of the people of southern Africa. Otto & The Mutapa Calling is a unique and colourful experience and is the only active professional marimba band of its kind in the United Kingdom.

www.ottogumaelius.com

-- SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS --

Like on Facebook here

Follow on Instagram here

Listen on Spotify here

Watch on YouTube here

Jeyanthan & Thanuka's Wedding

It’s not everyday you get a call from someone who went to primary school with your brother in Botswana over 20 years ago asking you if your band is available to perform at his wedding!

It was such an honour to be part of Jeyanthan and Thanuka’s wedding celebration! We wish them every happiness in their life together!

Otto and The Mutapa Calling at Luna - Home of Live Music

Here are a few pictures from our show at Luna in Leytonstone this past Friday! It was a great night with a great crowd as always!

-- ABOUT OTTO AND THE MUTAPA CALLING --

Otto & The Mutapa Calling is a lively London based marimba band playing energetic, joyful music from Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe, including folk songs, original songs and popular southern African covers. The band's set-up includes soprano, tenor and baritone marimbas, mbira, hosho, drumming and singing, with both traditional and contemporary dances. The marimba band’s sound is full of energy and pulsating rhythms - and their music shares the rich cultures, histories and stories of the people of southern Africa. Otto & The Mutapa Calling is a unique and colourful experience and is the only active professional marimba band of its kind in the United Kingdom.

www.ottogumaelius.com

-- SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS --

Like on Facebook here

Follow on Instagram here

Listen on Spotify here

Watch on YouTube here

Focus Africa Take Over at Pop Brixton

On Saturday my band and I were invited to perform at Focus Africa’s Pop Brixton take over - a lovely day of African live music, workshops and DJs. I was invited to teach an mbira workshop, which ended up including a bit of a marimba and singing workshop too. My band, Otto & The Mutapa Calling, gave a performance as well.

Here are a few pictures and videos from the mbira workshop I gave on the day.

The workshop group playing the Zimbabwean kalimba (mbira nyunga nyunga) and singing along to a traditional Shona song from Zimbabwe called Chemutengure.

Kalimba (Zimbabwean Mbira Nyunga Nyunga) Workshop

Kalimba (Zimbabwean Mbira Nyunga Nyunga) Workshop

Kalimba (Zimbabwean Mbira Nyunga Nyunga) Workshop