MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Eight children of the Kids’ Kingdom School in Mossel Bay succeeded in their efforts to better a marimba-playing world record.
The aim was to have more than 1 000 people on a stage, playing marimbas simultaneously.

The group, led by their music teacher, Zelia le Roux, achieved this feat at the Grand West Arena in Cape Town on Saturday 2 August. 

Le Roux told Mossel Bay Advertiser that altogether 1 177 students had participated in the performance.

The group played a combination of “Waka Waka” by Shakira and Freshly Ground, and “Jerusalema” by Master KG and Nomcebo Zikode.

“The atmosphere at the Grand West Arena was absolutely electrifying. It was an unimaginable feeling to be part of history, and the excitement was contagious,” says Le Roux.

The record had previously been held since 2021 by a group from Guatemala.

Le Roux, who studied piano and violin at the University of Stellenbosch, previously told the Advertiser that her journey with marimba was one that was deeply personal. “I am self-taught, and from the moment I was introduced to the instrument, it became my absolute passion,” she said.

Each participating Kids’ Kingdom learner received an official Guinness World Record medallion in recognition of their achievement.

Given the opportunity, Le Roux and the learners would love to be part of another attempt at bettering a world record. 

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