Otto And The Mutapa Calling
Otto & The Mutapa Calling is a colourful London-based marimba band playing energetic, joyful music from Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana - including traditional songs, original songs and popular southern African covers. The band's set-up includes soprano, tenor and baritone marimbas, with drumming and singing. 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.
The marimba band was officially formed in 2017 by band leader, Otto Gumaelius, who started playing African music on the marimba in the late 1990s in primary school in Botswana. The band is currently comprised of musicians from Botswana, Zimbabwe and the UK. Alongside private events and weddings, some recent performance highlights include Tropical Pressure, Boomtown Fair, Elementary Festival, Yebo Fest, Celebraaition, Peckham Festival, Lambeth Country Show, Lewisham People’s Day, Spring Classic Festival, Devizes Picnic In The Park, Just So Festival, Late Bloom Festival, Kallida Festival, Timber International Forest Festival, Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and One Love Festival. Band leader, Otto Gumaelius, has also led marimba and mbira workshops at festivals such as WOMAD and Tropical Pressure, alongside regular teaching and workshops at schools and private events.
For more information on the band including upcoming gigs, visit www.ottoandthemutapacalling.com.
You can also follow the band online on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Spotify.
“A huge thank you for your wonderful performance at the garden parties. We’ve already received such great feedback from attendees who really enjoyed your music and the tone it brough to the event”
Our Sound
Tropical Pressure Festival 2025
Erin Arts Centre, Isle of Man
“We just wanted to say a massive thank you for performing at our wedding on Saturday. You were amazing, our guests loved every second of it. Our day wouldn’t have been the same without you guys”
Wedding Entertainment at Lily Brooke Manor
Wedding Entertainment at Riverlands
“A huge thank you to you and your amazing band - you literally brought the wedding to life and exactly what we wanted... Having you and the band playing on our special day literally made it for us!”
Black History Month Show At Octopus Headquarters
Art Night London at Battersea Power Station
“Very many congratulations on a superb performance at the Llangollen music festival. I watched the performance twice and you really are all an exceptionally talented group of people. I’ve been a music fan for over 50 years and I really do rate you up there with the likes of Salif Keita and Oumou Sangare.”
One Love Festival
Wandsworth Arts Fringe Festival
“You guys were fantastic. You made John’s birthday special. All the guests were asking about you. It was amazing. Thank you so much”
Debut Album - Mvura Ichanaya
The marimba band’s debut album, Mvura Ichanaya, was initially released in the summer of 2018 under band leader Otto Gumaelius’ name. It is a collection of original arrangements of folk songs from southern Africa, alongside some of Otto’s own songs. The album is available for download or streaming on all major digital outlets, including Spotify, iTunes and Amazon.
“I wanted to say a HUGE HUGE thank you to you and your fellow band members for playing at our wedding. Our guests and us absolutely enjoyed it and it made our day just that extra special. ”
Image Gallery
“Otto and his team played a wonderful show for us at the architectural association for the annual summer party! He’s great with communication and always willing to help in any way he can. It’s great working with someone who takes his profession seriously and I would highly recommend him”
Get in touch TO BOOK THE BAND
“We were entertained by Miriam Makeba’s Pata Pata and the backing marimba and drums were absolutely brilliant”