Marimba & Mbira Music From Southern Africa
Otto Gumaelius is a London based, Botswana raised, performing artist & teacher of southern African folk music on the marimba.
We are super thrilled to have won the Tropical Pressure Battle of The Bands competition this past weekend! We very much look forward to playing at the festival this July.
Here are a few pictures shot by the incredible Jam First Photography.
Here’s a little snippet from our show at The Rising in London last night, in celebration of Black History Month.
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
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.
Mugarandega, Mangwane Mpulele, Umbombela / Shosholoza, Hlonolofatsa, Makoti
Mamaliye, Dineo, Cha Chimurenga, Waka Waka, Gandanga, Manhanga Kutapira, Chemutengure, Mhururu
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
Like on Facebook here
Follow on Instagram here
Listen on Spotify here
Watch on YouTube here
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/
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.
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)
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
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram
Listen to us on Spotify
Watch us on YouTube
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.
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
Like on Facebook here
Follow on Instagram here
Listen on Spotify here
Watch on YouTube here
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.
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
Like on Facebook here
Follow on Instagram here
Listen on Spotify here
Watch on YouTube here
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.
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
Like on Facebook here
Follow on Instagram here
Listen on Spotify here
Watch on YouTube here
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!
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
Like on Facebook here
Follow on Instagram here
Listen on Spotify here
Watch on YouTube here
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.
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
Like on Facebook here
Follow on Instagram here
Listen on Spotify here
Watch on YouTube here
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!
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
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
Like on Facebook here
Follow on Instagram here
Listen on Spotify here
Watch on YouTube here
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.
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
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
Like on Facebook here
Follow on Instagram here
Listen on Spotify here
Watch on YouTube here
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!
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!
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
Like on Facebook here
Follow on Instagram here
Listen on Spotify here
Watch on YouTube here
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
Last night my band Otto and The Mutapa Calling had the immense pleasure of performing at our first ever Global Beats Club hosted at Hootananny in Brixton. We were co support with Bamako Overground, with Afrikan Boy headlining the night.
Here are a few pictures from our night at Hootananny.
Soundcheck done! Costumes on! Showtime!
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
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
Like on Facebook here
Follow on Instagram here
Listen on Spotify here
Watch on YouTube here
Last night I was invited to play a few songs on the mbira at this month’s edition of Exiled Writers Ink hosted at the Poetry Cafe in Covent Garden. It was a lovely evening of African poetry with contributors from Ethiopia, Congo and Zimbabwe to name but a few. I played one of my songs, Dineo, as well as two Shona folk songs from Zimbabwe - Zvichapera and Amai naBaba.
On Saturday 17th November, Otto & The Mutapa Calling officially launched their debut album, Mvura Ichanaya, at Grow Hackney in east London. 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.
The 9 track album is a starting point for the London based marimba band as they look forward to showing the world more on future recordings. Mvura Ichanaya is a perfect album for anyone looking to sample a diverse taste of southern African folk songs and rhythms. The album can be purchased from this website in physical or digital form here, or downloaded from major online stores such as iTunes, GooglePlay and Amazon.
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
Like on Facebook here
Follow on Instagram here
Listen on Spotify here
Watch on YouTube here
Since 2008, Music for Liberia has raised money for education in Liberia through concerts and events featuring world renowned classical, African and jazz musicians. Through donations, the charity and its partners have been able to fund crucial work in Liberia, including building libraries, supporting rural schools and providing accommodation for Ebola orphans.
This year’s Music For Liberia Charity Fundraiser concert was held on November 10th at St Gabriel’s Church in Pimlico. Here are a few pictures from our performance.
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
Like on Facebook here
Follow on Instagram here
Listen on Spotify here
Watch on YouTube here