Master drummer and dancer Mailly Tagba, the leader of Gbozé, was born in the Ivory Coast of Africa in Guimeyo Soubre and his first language is Bete. He has been dancing and drumming since he was seven to nine years old. He started studying drum with his uncle Abel Guié, who is also in Gbozé. His grandmother Gagnie Elise taught him to sing and dance. Every time there was a celebration, his grandmother would sing and dance and Abel would drum. His grandmother encouraged him to learn these arts.
When Francis was 17 he went to Abidjan and enrolled in the Djolem drum and dance school. At the age of 21 he became the leader of the drummers at the school. In 1998 he became a Directoire Artistique in the Ivory Coast. He was in charge of two groups: Talehi and Gbozé.
He travelled around Africa and to Europe, Asia, and the United States. In 2001 he was invited to the African marketplace in Los Angeles. At the same time he performed with the UniverSoul Circus for three years and was with the Circus Hermanos Vasquez for three years.
Then he decided to try a new life by teaching drumming and dancing in Reno, NV. He has brought to Reno a unique energy and talent that most people don't have the opportunity to see. He shares this talent every Friday evening at the Shine Dance Center (600 S. Center St. in Reno) at 6:30 with a drum class followed by a dance class at 7:30.
He put together a group of enthusiastic performers who presented an amazing show called "Senin" on June 27, 2009. Included were Master Drummers and dancers from Africa. The energy they shared with us is a vital part of the African lifestyle. Dancing, singing and drumming has long been a daily accompaniment of work, life changes, and the African way of life.
Adama and Aboulaye Kone were born in Korhogo in the northern part of the Ivory Coast. The two brothers started dancing at a young age in their hometown and became celebrated as the best dancers for the Boloye mask dance from Korhogo.
From 1993 to 2001, Adama and Aboulaye joined the Djolem drum and dance school where they studied and specialized in traditional African dance. While in Djolem, the two brothers performed and toured through several countries in West Africa as well as internationally in Europe and in the United States. In 2001 they moved to the United States. From 2001 to 2005 they toured with UniverSoul Circus along with Gbozé drummers Francis and Solo, performing African dance, hip-hop, and magic acts. In 2005 the two performed with the Circus Hermanos Vasquez.
They continue to perform with the UniverSoul Circus from time to time. More recently the brothers have been performing on stage in the Little Legends show in Las Vegas, Nevada. In this show they impersonate popular artists such as Michael Jackson, Milli Vanilli and the Black-Eyed Peas. They also perform as dancers for artist T-Pain, an American hip-hop and R&B singer/ songwriter.
Now Adama and Aboulaye are star dancers with the Gbozé troupe and also join Francis in teaching African dance at the Shine Dance Center
If you would like information about having Gbozé perform at your function:
Contact us:
gbozedrummers@yahoo.com
775-393-0309
Master drummer (djembefola) Abel Guié was just 7 years old when he started drumming. After being in a band for two years, at age 16 he went from regular school to Djolem school to enhance his skills. After he graduated from Djolem he started his own group called Kian-Zo. The name of the group means "Be Brave - Keep Going." Kian-Zo toured Belgium and Europe from 1994 to 2000 and also recorded Kian-Zo with Etna Records.
In 1992 Abel became a soloist and accompanist for the national touring Pan-African Ballet of Ivory Coast, Ki-Yi M'Bock. Under the artistic direction of Boni Gnahore and the management of Were Were Liking, this is the second largest ballet of Ivory Coast.
In 1999 Abel became director of percussion for the Ivorian "mask" dance troupe Ablessi under the artistic direction of Djedje Djedje Gervais. This group performed in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C.
In 2001 Abel became the Artistic Director of Gbozé which was based in Grand-Bassam (Ivory Coast). He toured with this group to Tunisia.