ASILI DUB

ASILI DUB is a fusion band from Nairobi, Kenya.

The band’s sound is a fine blend of African, Taarab and Indian inspired guitar and keyboard melodies, with a high dose of deep Drum and Bass rhythms, and a topping of uplifting bluesy lyrics.

Founding members, Kombo and Jahm first met in 2013 at a peace festival in Mogadishu, Somalia. Upon their return back to Nairobi, they began working with DJ / Producer Dread Steppa to create Asili Dub which later became the heaviest rooted hybrid live act in East Africa.

ASILI DUB has gone through different band line-ups through the years. Artists like Idd Aziz, Alai K, Izo Anyanga, Vishaka, Morris Kivisi, Sofia Chaichee, and Ras Malak were once part of the band.

In 2017, A.D. consciously took a spiritual path and pursued an analog approach to express its new sound and deeper purpose. The band began working with Ras Lyon Hart (lead Vox), Walter Mwangombe (keys) and Morris Kivisi (drums) and introduced their new band line-up by performing at DOA DOA International Music Festival in Kampala, Nyege Nyege Festival in Jinja, and later in the year at ADA Records Showcase in Nairobi.

In 2018, A.D. alongside other Independent Kenyan Reggae Bands was fortunate enough to work with Kenya’s legendary Sound Engineer guru Asad Rajput and Visual Tech maestro Robins Kiama in producing INI Live Sessions - an online showcase of what was brewing from within the live Reggae music scene in Nairobi during that time and period. A.D. was honoured to headline Zanzibar Reggae Festival. Later in the year, A.D. went in the studio and released their debut single “Tell Me This”, which was recorded by Asad Rajput and mixed & mastered by Jabbar Din.

In 2019, A.D. was invited to perform at the Alliance Francaise de Nairobi Showcase. A.D. alongside other Independent Kenyan Reggae Bands worked together with the Hutchery Live team to produce a series of live concerts around the city, themed “Irie Nairobi”. Later in the year, A.D. started a series of back to back concerts around Nairobi with Afro Simba (Swahili Ska / Mijikenda Fusion), themed “Roots & Culture Nights”.


In 2020, A.D. was forced to take a very long hiatus which was triggered by the covid-19 pandemic. Band members went back to their homelands and was not seen back with the band in Nairobi until mid of 2025. The band reconnected and ended the year by performing 3 back to back monthly shows with Afro Simba and vinyl selectors collective Nairobi Hi-Fi at Shelter, Westlands.

A.D. band’s current line up comprises: Jahm (bass, vox), Kombo (lead guitars, vox), Walter (keys, vox) and Cholo (drums. vox).