Otto and The Mutapa Calling is a London-based marimba band playing energetic, joyful music from Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana, covering traditional folk songs, popular southern African covers, and original songs.

The band performs using southern African marimbas, accompanied by drumming and singing, with a splash of southern African dances. 

Performances by Otto and The Mutapa Calling are full of joy, energy and pulsating rhythms - and the band’s music celebrates the rich history, cultures and stories of the people of southern Africa.

Formed in 2017, the marimba band is led by Otto Gumaelius who started playing African music on the marimba in the late 1990s in Botswana.

The band is currently comprised of musicians from Botswana, Zimbabwe, and the UK, and is the only active professional southern African marimba band of its kind in the UK.

The marimba band performs regularly at weddings, private parties, corporate events, community festivities and more.

Band leader, Otto Gumaelius, and band drummer, Tomson Chauke, also lead regular southern African music workshops covering drumming, marimba, mbira, song and dance. They teach at community events, schools, festivals, corporate days, and more. Read more about our workshops here.

Recent festival performances include Tropical Pressure (winners of the Battle of the Bands 2025), Celebraaition, Elementary Festival, Yebo Fest, Boomtown Fair, 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.

Thank you for taking the time to browse our website. We look forward to playing for you at our next gig.

Use the contact tab to get in touch if you’d like to enquire about a booking.

In the mean time, you can stay in touch with us on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, or enjoy our music on YouTube and Spotify.