Abdissa "Mamba" Assefa (b. 1973) is the most sought after percussionist and drummer of his generation in the fields of jazz and popular music. Among his key instruments are African and Afro-Cuban percussion. His deeper connection with percussion ignited after Assefa graduated from the Oulunkylä Pop & Jazz Conservatory in 1991 when he traveled to Gambia, where he became even more inspired by ethnic music, the djembe drum, and polyrhythms.

Assefa's key bands include Sami Saari & Cosmosonics, Giant Robot, Bomfunk MC's, Nuspirit Helsinki, Rinneradio, Fat Beat Sound System, Timo Lassy Band, Jarmo Saari Republic, and The Shubie Brothers. Assefa also represented Finland at the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest as part of the group Edea.

Throughout his over 30-year career, Assefa has played on over 1500 tracks on approximately 300 albums. He is also one of the founders of Ambience Studios in Herttoniemi, Helsinki. In addition to his busy performing career, Assefa works as a recording engineer, mixer, and producer.