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Lavosti has won the hearts of many as a popular artiste, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, but according to his wife, Ashley Main, he also wins at the home front.

Jasmine Atieno @sparkleMine 

Covid-19 has taken a great toll on many aspects of our everyday lives, be it economic, mental or even emotional.

The entertainment industry, especially, has suffered a great deal. It has been time for many to figure out other ways of surviving through the hard times. 

Popular reggae icon Ruzira Lavosti, and his American wife, Ashley Main decided it was time to move from Nairobi to their new home in Msambweni.

Adopting in the new environment has not been easy with challenges including power and water supply, but together and with love as the foundation, they are overcoming them, a day at a time. 

He had acquired the piece of land a while back and it was in his plans to move his family there eventually—the pandemic just sped the process. 

“The shift has been hard, especially changes from tap water to spring water, from electricity to solar.

Also, weather conditions — the heat here is another thing. But when it comes to children and school, we have been homeschooling, so we didn’t have to look for a school for them.

Being here has been fulfilling, connecting with nature and the beautiful beaches is enjoyable,” Ashley says.

Ashley, a permaculture designer, is now happy to apply her skills at their land.

Man of the people

The couple had met in 2011 in Arusha, at a school where Ashley was working as a photographer while Lavosti, whose real name is Stephen Makula was also doing his music.

The two moved on pretty fast after a short period of friendship, and when the musician went back to Nairobi, Ashley realised that there wasn’t much in Arusha for her as well; her passions were not being fulfilled.

She wanted to study permaculture and thought it was time to give it a go. Unknown to her, love was drawing her to Nairobi and to her destiny. 

“I was on my way to India to study permaculture (how to design home based landscapes, ecosystem restoration projects, resilient community design projects and so much more), when I found myself in Nairobi, unable to get a visa in time for the course.

Lavosti asked me to stay with him instead, so that’s what I did. A few months later, I was pregnant with our daughter. We didn’t get legally married until 2016,” she shares. 

While he has spent most of his life in Nairobi as the main hub for his musical career, Lavosti’s childhood was actually made at the coast.

He attended Ronald Ngala Primary school in Mombasa where he sat his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and later joined Baptist High school for his secondary education and completed in 2005. 

His mum, Miriam Makula, is involved in church work at Mombasa Pentecostal Church.

His father Fredrick Makula, of Rwandese descent passed away last year. He has one sister Jenna, who works and lives with her family in Uganda.

What Mama Jaja (as most people call Ashley) loves the most about her husband is his energy. This is also his strongest trait.

“He’s relaxed, and has a way of making everyone feel comfortable and special, while always being himself.

As a father, I love that he puts our children first and has a playful way of relating to them.

He makes them laugh too. It’s beautiful just to watch him relate to people. I think he genuinely loves people,” she intimates.  

She could not wish for a better partner and father of their two children; Jamila aged seven and Kebra aged five.

And while they have made so many memories, their most treasured remain birthing of their children, which Lavosti took part in as a midwife. 

“Lavosti taught me a lot about birth. Jamila was born into his hands at a hospital birthing centre, and he named her immediately.

Kebra was born two years later at home in Nairobi, with only our family present. It was magical and empowering for all of us.

Jamila came in the room after his brother was born and gasped, “A baby!” We’ve also had the honour of being present at two other home births.

Out of interest, birth work is Lavosti’s second calling in life, after music,” she intimates. 

Navigating the ups and downs

Just as all beautiful roses have thorns too, their beautiful union, has had its shares of ups and downs.

From residency issues as Ashley is American to parenting disagreements and being away from each other for long periods.

His music career also makes him busy, there have also been people who were unhappy about their relationship, but through all the challenges, she loves their family and sees them growing old together. 

“The challenges are there, others more private. I think it’s only our love for each other and our children that keeps us strong.

But love is much a choice as it is a feeling, and we choose to keep loving each other and forgiving each other.

I see him as someone who deserves the blessing of raising the children he brought into the world. So we just learn and evolve together as a family.

Our children teach us how to love unconditionally. And at the end of the day, we’re both working towards a shared vision of our family’s future,” she shares. 

When he is not doing music, he is either reasoning with people on an intellectual and spiritual level about the things that matter to him or out enjoying some nature time.

He is also a big animal lover. Away from that, most of his time is spent with his children. And this has played a great role in safeguarding their union.