African drums beat as the Truckee River flowed quietly. One set of drums was louder than the others.

 “One, two, three,” drum teacher Mailly “Francis” Tagba, 34, counted as he led his class in playing the drums at the River School in Reno, Nev.

One student, who was struggling to keep the beat, reminded him she missed the last class. “One, two, three,” he said again as he showed her the beat.

 It was 6:40 p.m.  The 6:30 drum class began late as students trickled into the building past the outdoor kitchen.

Tagba said he normally has 20 to 25 students, but only six were present on Wednesday, July 15.

His legs wrapped around his drum, Tagba beat the tempo strong and hard as two Asian women, one Caucasian man, two Caucasian women and an African American teenager followed his lead tentatively.

He has performed for the king of Africa's Ivory Coast, as a professional across Africa, Europe, Asia and North America and with the circus. Now he teaches Reno locals to play the African drums.

He said he wanted “to teach drums in Reno so all cultures can mix all rhythms together and be happy” without restraints such as borders and immigration.

He also said he wanted people in Reno “to understand African culture because there was not much African culture in Reno.”

Tagba said playing the drums “is spiritual - stress goes away.”  It is “natural.” When you are sick or depressed, it will bring “laughing and happiness.”

Tagba leads the drum and dance group Gboze.

He named his group Gboze after his grandfather who was king of seven villages on the Ivory Coast of Africa. Gboze means “something you will always remember in your life.”

“If you take drums [with me], you will always remember how I do my stuff,” Tagba said.

Members of the Gboze' Drumming Group at an impromptu session on the campus of UNR.








He began playing the drums with his grandmother in Africa. He said when he was a child, his grandmother Jaynie Elize was the best singer around. She sang at celebrations as his uncle Abel Guie played the drums.  Tagba would sing, play the drums and dance with his uncle and grandmother.  They would perform at all of the king's celebrations, such as weddings, birthdays and funerals.

His grandmother encouraged him to go to Djolem, a drum and dance school, in Africa. He also studied with Guie, who is also in the group Gboze.

His mother and father still live in Africa, but he said he “does not hear from anybody [in Africa].” That is why he gave the name Gboze to this group. He said it helps him always remember his grandfather and grandmother.

His grandmother passed away on Feb. 15, 2009.  In August, he will go to Africa for her funeral celebration. Tagba said he was not able to attend the funeral celebration for his grandfather.

He said, “My grandmother was always happy.  Drumming makes me happy.  I do this all my life and then became a professional.  This is my second time in the U.S.   I came in 1997 to the University of Georgia in Atlanta.  In 2001, I came to the African Marketplace in Los Angeles.  I began drumming with Universal Circus.  Then I drummed with the Vasquez Circus for three years,” he said.

Keiko Aoki, Tagba’s girlfriend who is Japanese, plays the Japanese drums (taiko).

Aoki said she is just learning to play the African drums and has been playing drums with Tagba for three or four months. She said playing Japanese and African drums is similar because both communicate.

They “express feelings,” she said. “They both show your expressions; they show personalities.”

Diane Wong, Tagba’s student, said she plays both African and Japanese drums.

Gboze joined Tsuru No Kai, a group who play taiko, on the outdoor stage at the River School on July 18.  They were also joined by African dancers from San Francisco.  Attendees could bring their drums so they could participate in the drum circle after the performance.

He offers drum classes at the River School, located at 7777 White Fir St., on Wednesdays and Fridays from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The first visit is free and each additional lesson is $20.

Gboze will perform at the University of Nevada JCSU Theater 219 on Saturday, June 27.  Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the performance will begin at 7:00 p.m.  Tickets can be purchased at 775-379-5220. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $12.50 for students.  Children five and under can attend free.

Future performances of the group can be found on their Web site http://www.gboze.com/.