Jersey students experience live African music

Otto Gumaelius (centre) set up the band and said he enjoyed playing to Jersey students

Jersey students were able to enjoy live African music as musicians shared their culture and heritage with them.

Otto and the Mutapa Calling visited Mont a l'Abbe School on Friday to perform for the neurodiverse children at the school.

They are a marimba band and they visited the island to perform at the Jersey Arts Centre.

Children at Mont a l'Abbe were also shown how to play some of the instruments the band used.

Ronaldo was one of the students who watched the performance

Ronaldo, 17, said "it was a really good performance" and "it is important to listen to new things".

"When people are annoyed, frustrated, or stressed, stuff like - when they listen to music like this I think they will start dancing to it and be happy people."

Mont à l'Abbé School students enjoyed the performance by Otto and the Mutapa Calling

Otto Gumaelius founded the band and wanted to share his culture with the wider community in Jersey.

He said "the visit was very heartwarming" and "we're thrilled to come along and give them a little taste of our culture".

"Our music connects people, people get up and dance like the kids did and for our wellbeing and mental health – it's a spirit lifter," Mr Gumaelius added.

The marimbas used by the band are cultural instruments from Zimbabwe but are played across southern Africa.