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 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

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