Cape Town marimba players break world record for largest ensemble
The previous record was held by Guatemala, sitting at 505 players.
On Sunday, 3 August 2025, Western Cape schools officially made history with the largest marimba ensemble ever recorded with 1,276 young people drumming as one. Picture: Alan Winde/ Facebook.
CAPE TOWN - Cape Town Marimba players break world record for largest ensemble.
The event took place in Cape Town at the Grand West Arena on Saturday, where over 1,000 performers of all ages from all over the country performed musical items.
The previous record was held by Guatemala, sitting at 505 players.
The Cape Town event managed to smash the record with 1276 marimba players.
On Sunday, 3 August 2025, Western Cape schools officially made history with the largest marimba ensemble ever recorded with 1,276 young people drumming as one. Picture: Alan Winde/ Facebook.
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.