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Christafari is a Christian Reggae band formed in 1990 that is centered around the personality of Mark "Tansoback" Mohr, a born-again Christian who professes that he was once a Rastafarian. He claims to have embraced that faith mostly because it sactioned the use of marijuana. While living his Rastafarian lifestyle, he became well-versed in reggae music and Jamaican Patois, the language that much reggae is composed in. Later, Mohr decided to turn away from the use of marijuana and his Rastafarian beliefs by commiting his life to Christianity at a Church summer camp.
Music
Christafari's music is characterized by a distictly evangelical message, meaning that its focus is broad, ranging from praise and thanksgiving, to criticism of Christians and non-Christians, to lamenting the troubles of the modern world. Christafari also address Rastafarian doctrine directly, as in the song Why You A-go Look? on the "Word, Sound, and Power" album, a song directly challenging the Rasta veneration of Haile Selassie of Ethiopia.
Christafari have been criticised by both Christians and Rastafarians. Christians find it offensive that Mohr wears dreadlocks and sings in a style typically associated with sex and drugs, while Rastafarians are offended at the use of reggae to spread Christian anti-Rasta messages.
Christians have also criticised Mohr over the name of the group and the use of the word "Jah" in songs to refer to the Judeo-Christian God. The band has previously defended the use of the word with the argument that "Jah" is a shortening for "Yahweh" (also spelled "Jahweh") used in the Bible in some places. However, as of the release of "Gravity", they have discontinued this practice, partly because of the constant need to explain it. The name "Christafari", according to the band's website, is not a portmanteau of "Christian" and "Rastafari", but is actually derived from Greek words translating as "Those who have seen Christ".
Members
Christafari has played with over 60 musicians over its 14 year career. Thus it is difficult to construct a complete list of current and former members. Mark Mohr is the founder and provides Dancehall-style vocals. Another main member was Erik "Earth Man" Sundin who left after the "Valley of Decision" album to form his own Christian Reggae band "Temple Yard". Other members are Vanessa Mohr, Mark's wife, Marky "Rage" Sandiford, Ken "Mr. Mention" Yarnes, Bill "Painta-man" Kasper, Johnny "Spragga Boom" Guerrero.
Discography
The Following are Christafari's main releases:
"Soulfire" (1995)
"Valley of Decision" (1996)
"Word, Sound, and Power" (1999)
"Gravity" (2003)
Others are Dub albums and Collections.
"" released in 1999, but a collection of earlier recordings.
"Dub, Sound, and Power" released in 2000; a collection of Dub versions of songs, mostly from Word Sound and Power.
"Palabra, Sonido, Y Poder" versions of their songs overdubbed in Spanish. Also released in 2000.
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