Tribqu celebrates the deep, diasporic power of dub

In Lloyd Bradley’s seminal Bass Culture: When Reggae Was King, he wrote that reggae wasn’t just a musical revolution—it was a form of cultural resistance, a “sound of Black Britain.”

Today, that legacy reverberates far beyond London, echoing across the Pacific. As Tribqu marks its sixth year in Naarm, West African in heritage founder Zachariah Amos Kouyate AKA Zjoso summons a generation of diasporic bass custodians: Dominica’s Paul St. Hilaire, better known as Tikiman, and British-Nigerian Richard Akingbehin, founder of Kynant Records, and co-founder of Refuge Worldwide Radio.

The elusive Tikiman, best known for his work with duo Moritz von Oswald and Mark Ernestus (of Basic Channel / Rhythm & Sound), is an influential figure in the dub techno sphere. With poignant lyrics like, “Don’t throw away your walking stick, Pass it on to another, when you cross the river” in Bright One and “Mister, mister, where are you going I'm heading for a faraway land. What are you having in the bag in your hand? Help us to understand,” in Bedroom in My Bag, the dub poet’s voice has grown to be one of the most recognisable elements, where rare appearances are cherished— especially a live performance tour of this nature.

His lyrics, his echo-heavy cadence, his refusal to overexpose himself—all align with the dub tradition, too. As the roots-and-culture saying goes, "the version speaks louder."

Richard, who authored one of the few interviews with Tikiman for Resident Advisor, reflects on their unique bond:

“We have a strong musical and personal connection, as well as a shared experience of being Black in a predominantly White dub techno scene. I would also say there are practical reasons why we make a good team. Tiki makes the music while I organise the label and touring; or, for the live shows, he does the vocals and I DJ.”

The collaboration represents more than just a live set. It’s an intersection of cultures, lived experiences, and sonic connection.

“These kinds of independent, community-focused radio stations are equivalent to sound systems in the way they bring together spiritually aligned people to be part of something bigger,” Richard says, drawing parallels between sound system culture and his work with Refuge Worldwide.

Tribqu’s ethos also aligns naturally with Richard’s vision. Incepted from Zjoso’s desire to play and share sounds that weren’t getting a look-in elsewhere in Naarm’s club spaces, it has since grown into a vital platform for Black diasporic and deep club sounds—collaborating with artists like Zepherin Saint, Sandy B, Marcellus Pittman, and DJ Spinna and building a party community rooted in soul, intention, and low-end pressure.

“The philosophy was simple: I wanted to create spaces where I could hear the kind of music I love and be able to discover and share that music with others,” says Zjoso.

“Working and collaborating with these legends has shown me how dedicated and passionate you have to be at your craft if you want to make it. It's also taught me to consider more of a long-term approach towards my music career.”

“To reach a high level of success in your field takes time for some. A lot of these guys you’ve mentioned above have been in the game for a long time. It's a reminder to keep on grinding. It’s shown me the value of authenticity and the importance of working with the right people,” he adds.

When asked what makes Tribqu the right fit for this tour, Richard recalls, “Zach and I met at the beginning of this year and spent a lunch talking about very relatable experiences in our lives, less so about music. I really value those kinds of interactions within the music scene, when you meet someone and instantly realise that you have a connection which transcends anything professional. I also really respect his DJing and what he has created with Tribqu, so I am super grateful he invited Tiki and me to play at the 6th birthday.”

The anniversary will also see a special apparel launch, designed by Josh Weller —a long-sleeved shirt with a nod to Basic Channel and Rhythm & Sound, featuring a roll call of every artist who has ever played at Tribqu printed on the back. “It’s a timeless tribute to the people and music that made it all happen,” says Zjoso.

It’s a kind of collector’s item that will age gracefully in the years to come, when Tribqu expands into a beloved music label and a growing global presence. But before all that, there’s still the root to hold onto.

“Sound system culture brings our community together and gives us space to express who we are on the dance floor, and have fun with it. The Tribqu Tribe nights have been a beautiful reflection of that. People coming together through sound, energy and shared experience,” Zjoso said.

Richard is equally passionate about preserving the Caribbean and soundsystem culture, being a foundational influence for house and techno, often overlooked beyond Detroit, Chicago, and New York. “I make this point at every chance I get. Especially as house and techno music keeps getting harder and faster, it’s really important to champion the deeper, dubwise style and to always be vocal about where this influence comes from. The house and techno scenes barely manage to give Detroit, New York and Chicago their due props, so the even deeper roots in dub are at risk of being forgotten if we don’t keep talking about this,” he reflected.

“Even if you listen back to the early releases [on Kynant], which were more on a deep techno tip, I can still hear my influences in dub and UK electronic music on all of them,” he continued. “Some more clearly than others.”

And while Zjoso acknowledges the deep spiritual resonance of bass, it’s also a political and physical force: “From dub, house to afrobeat and techno, physically bass connects global Black musical lineages across generations and geographies. Spiritually, bass enables us to connect the mind, body and soul.”

At its best, a bass-heavy club night becomes a kind of ceremony, and Zjoso understands this instinctively, perhaps because of his ongoing journey of carving out spaces where it’s safe to feel that connection.

“Building community in a place that isn’t my ancestral home can often be challenging, but I’ve been grateful enough to connect to my Guinean heritage after visiting for the first time in 2022. That brought a totally new wave of inspiration and perspective to my musical curation.”

In a cultural moment where decolonising the dancefloor can often feel like a rhetoric, Tribqu continues to ground its work in sound and spirit, locally rooted and globally connected.

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Catch Tikiman and Richard in Naarm/Melbourne and on Gadigal Land/Sydney at the following:

• June 6 – Tribqu 6th Anniversary @ Sub Club, with support from Zjoso, Darcy Justice, Kate Miller, Naarm/Melbourne (Sold Out)
• June 7 – RISING Festival, Naarm/ Melbourne (Ticket link)
• June 8 – Moonshoe x Moral Laxa @ Poor Toms with support from Natalie Lawrence, Cousin, Hosca, Benj @ Eora/Sydney (Ticket link)

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Farah Azizan is a freelance writer & DJ based in Naarm/Melbourne. Find her on Instagram.