'Impossible to feel sad when you hear them': Watch 1,276 SA marimba players break world record
A total of 1,276 marimba players from South Africa and Zimbabwe lit up the GrandWest Grand Arena in Cape Town on Saturday, August 2, 2025, as they set a new world record.
The aim was to have the largest group of marimba players assembled and playing together in one place. The previous world record was 550 players, at a Guatemala event, EWN reported.
The feat has reportedly been verified by Guinness World Records.
The ensemble brought together talented musicians aged between eight and 62, and represented over 70 schools from South Africa, and two from Zimbabwe.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
Arboretum Primary School pupils join marimba players to set new Guinness World Record
Celebrating South Africa's musical talent as the Siyadlala Marimba Band join a record-breaking ensemble. Image: Arboretum Primary School/ Facebook Setting a new Guinness World Record, the Siyadlala Marimba Band from Arboretum Primary School in Richards Bay joined over 1,100 marimba players on Saturday at the Grand Arena, GrandWest in Cape Town for the Largest Marimba Ensemble. The world record attempt was a partnership between NPO Marimba Jam, which brought together all the players, and GrandWest, which covered all the costs. The event had international oversight, with an adjudicator flying in from London. For the official record, the players performed a 10-minute medley of 'Waka Waka' and 'Jerusalema'. Musicians aged 8 to 62, representing all South African provinces, and two schools from Zimbabwe, comprised the talented ensemble. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The Guinness World Record certificate. Image: Arboretum Primary School/ Facebook Each participant received an official Guinness World Records medallion. Marimbas por Guate (Guatemala) held the record for the largest marimba ensemble, with 505 participants, achieved on December 11, 2021, at Finca el Pilar, San Juan Sacatepéquez, Guatemala. Corné Wagener is the coach, organiser, CEO, and director of the Siyadlala Marimba Band, where she trains, teaches, and accompanies the band. Kiara Ramklass, founder of Marimba Jam, initiated the event, which led to the inclusion of Siyadlala Marimba Band. Marimba Jam founder Kiara Ramklass and Siyadlala Marimba Band coach Corné Wagener with the Guinness World Record certificate. Image: Arboretum Primary School/ Facebook 'I just think it's an absolutely amazing accolade for South Africa,' Wagener said. She said 75 different bands came from all over. Along with Wagener were her husband, Henk, and 21 pupils from Arboretum Primary School. Wagener said Ramklass had to send them the music via video. 'She (Ramklass) made a recording where they all played the song and had different people record the separate parts. That was sent out because that was one of the stipulations to qualify for the record: everyone has to play the same thing at the same time,' Wagener explained. 'We had to practise and then play with the videos to make sure that we all do the same thing.' Wagener further explained that there was a guy ahead. He had white gloves on, so you could see from a distance what he was showing. Wagener said GrandWest Arena is huge, and they had to play together. Unity in music: A remarkable gathering of marimba players from across South Africa and Zimbabwe. Image: Ian Landsberg/ Independent Newspapers 'For the left side to play at the same time as the right side was a huge challenge. I think that was even a bigger challenge than actually learning the music because they eventually had to put different drummers and spread them throughout the hall. And so they kept time, then it started to become easier to keep to the beat,' Wagener said. 'The record was set at 1,177 players,' Wagener said. Looking back, Wagener said, they had travelled from far and arrived late the previous evening. They were exhausted, stood for two-and-a-half hours to practise, had a 15-minute break, and then stood again for the record event. They were exhausted. 'As we finished the last note, they fired those streamers and confetti guns, and they fell from the sky, on us,' Wagener said. 'I don't think in my life I've ever experienced such an exhilarating feeling. It was just incredible. It was tears and joy. I don't think even winning the lotto comes close to that feeling.' Wagener said that made one forget they were tired; their feet and arms were sore after playing. Ramklass was overjoyed with the outcome. She said: 'South African marimbas are tuned in C major – it's almost impossible to feel sad when you hear them. They create this magical, happy energy. That's what we shared with the world on Saturday. The event is more than just breaking a record; it's about showing what's possible when we come together across socio-economic divides – private schools, township schools, rural schools – all on one stage. It's a loud, joyful message of Ubuntu,' Ramklaas said. A historic moment: Over 1,100 marimba players unite to break the Guinness World Record in Cape Town. Image: Ian Landsberg/ Independent Newspapers
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
'Impossible to feel sad when you hear them': Watch 1,276 SA marimba players break world record
A group of Marimba players strutted their stuff attempting to set a new Guinness World Record in Cape Town. A total of 1,276 marimba players from South Africa and Zimbabwe lit up the GrandWest Grand Arena in Cape Town on Saturday, August 2, 2025, as they set a new world record. The aim was to have the largest group of marimba players assembled and playing together in one place. The previous world record was 550 players, at a Guatemala event, EWN reported. The feat has reportedly been verified by Guinness World Records. The ensemble brought together talented musicians aged between eight and 62, and represented over 70 schools from South Africa, and two from Zimbabwe.
Eyewitness News
a day ago
- Eyewitness News
Cape Town marimba players break world record for largest ensemble
READ: CT marimba players hope to break world record for largest ensemble The Marimba Jam group, which headed the event, attempted to break another record in 2018, but that win wasn't recognised due to resource constraints. CEO of Marimba Jam, Kiara Ramklass, said they hoped this event would highlight the importance of music education in schools. 'For many of the kids playing the marimba, this is their way of expressing themselves, a creative outlet at school, and we hope that more young people will be inspired to take up music at school because of all the amazing benefits it has,' said Ramklass. Ramklass said they wanted to make their win official this time around. 'We thought a Guinness World Record would be a way for us to take that same energy to a national level and bring together the whole of South Africa in unity to achieve a marimba world record, celebrating our motto, finding harmony in community,' Ramklass added.
