More than 1,000 marimba players from South Africa and around the world will converge on Cape Town for the inaugural Marimba World Championships on August 15 and 16, transforming the city into a global stage for African percussion.
Hosted at St Cyprian's School, the two-day event will feature more than 100 bands and performers of all ages, combining world-class competition with live performances and a celebration of music, culture and community.
The championships are organised by Marimba Jam, the Guinness World Records title holder for the Largest Marimba Ensemble. Founded by Kiara Ramklass, the organisation has spent more than a decade introducing marimba music to schools across South Africa.
Two days of marimba, music and celebration
Performances will unfold across two competition streams before culminating in a Finale Showcase on August 16, where the top 15 bands will take to the stage. Four finalists will compete for the inaugural world championship title.
Audiences can also look forward to a special performance by Biko's Manna, the Johannesburg-based sibling trio that reached the quarter-finals of America's Got Talent.
While the event crowns the world's best marimba performers, organisers say its broader purpose is to celebrate "Harmony in Diversity" by bringing together musicians from different backgrounds through the shared language of African music.
For visitors, it offers a rare opportunity to experience the uplifting sound of hundreds of marimbas filling Cape Town over one vibrant winter weekend.
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