Biba Púčiková
Samba is more than music. It's my life.
For more than 23 years, I have dedicated my life to drums, rhythm, and music that brings people together.
For over a decade, I have been travelling regularly to Brazil, learning directly from some of the country's leading samba musicians and bringing authentic Brazilian rhythms back to Slovakia.
My journey began when I was seventeen, playing West African drums in my hometown of Nitra. At the time, I had no idea that those first rhythms would lead me to stages, festivals and communities across Europe, Africa and Brazil. Over the years, my path naturally evolved towards Brazilian samba. I fell in love with its energy, its sense of community, its traditions and its incredible rhythmic diversity. Samba became my passion and today it is an inseparable part of my life.
From my first drums to my own samba school
I gained my first experience with samba in Campana Batucada, where I played for many years. It was a period that gave me invaluable experience, hundreds of performances and, most importantly, taught me that samba is never just about drums – it is about people.
After moving to Bratislava, I continued my musical journey with Batala Austria before joining Maribondo, where I helped develop the group both musically and organizationally. What started as a small group of enthusiasts gradually grew into a respected samba band known well beyond Slovakia.
After many years, it was time to follow my own path. I wanted to create a project that truly reflected my own vision of Brazilian music, education and community. Every stage of my journey has shaped me and helped me grow. That is how TOCUMBÉ was born - a project where I can fully develop my own vision of Brazilian music, education and community.
TOCUMBÉ
TOCUMBÉ is more than a band.
It is a community of people united by their love for Brazilian music. A place where learning, performing, travelling, tradition, shared values and friendships come together. It is the result of more than two decades of experience, thousands of hours of playing, and a lifelong commitment to learning.
And this is only the beginning.
From African rhythms to Brazilian samba
My musical journey began with the rhythms of West Africa. For many years I played with the Nitra-based percussion group Afro Campana, where, in addition to performing, I also organized African dance workshops. My passion for African music and dance has never faded. Today I am also a member of JAMADAN, a band dedicated to West African music and traditional rhythms. To better understand their origins and cultural context, I travelled to Ghana, where I studied directly with local musicians. It was African music that led me to a deeper understanding of the roots of Brazilian samba.
Learning from the best - Music and especially samba cannot truly be learned from the internet.
That is why I return to Brazil regularly, studying directly with the musicians who live and breathe samba every single day. Over the years I have taken part in countless workshops, rehearsals and musical gatherings with renowned mestres and musicians from Rio de Janeiro and Salvador da Bahia. I have had the privilege of playing with legendary blocos such as Monobloco, Batuquebatu and Estratégia, attending rehearsals of iconic escolas de samba including Mangueira, Portela, Salgueiro, Imperatriz Leopoldinense and Estácio de Sá, and learning from outstanding musicians such as Mestre Gordo, Mestre Memeu, Adriana Portela, Mario Pam, Marivaldo Paim, Mestre Chuvisko, Mestre Lolo, Mestre Nilo, Gabriel Lopes, Gabriel Policarpo, and many others.
Every trip to Brazil reminds me that samba is not a destination - it is a lifelong journey.
Music without borders
Thanks to drumming, I have travelled to dozens of countries across four continents. From Ghana, Brazil, Colombia, Canada and Japan to countries throughout Europe and the Middle East, every journey has broadened my perspective. Each experience has taught me that rhythm is a universal language, understood by people everywhere, and that every encounter with musicians from different cultures offers a new way of listening, learning and growing.
I teach what I live
Alongside performing, teaching has become an essential part of my journey. I lead regular Brazilian percussion classes in Bratislava, organise workshops both in Slovakia and abroad, and strive to share not only the technical aspects of playing, but above all the joy and energy of drumming. I truly believe that anyone can learn to play. Age and previous experience do not matter - only curiosity, openness and the willingness to discover rhythm.
Roda de Samba
A few years ago, together with friends from Brazil, Portugal and Japan, we started organising a regular Roda de Samba in Bratislava. What began as a small gathering of samba enthusiasts has gradually grown into an international community of people united by their love for samba. Every Saturday we come together to play, sing and continue building a place where samba can naturally thrive in Slovakia.
