Christafari - Word Sound and Power
by Pat Ferris

About five years ago, I was visiting Nashville, Tennessee where I met one of the most interesting bands to date. 

Christafari, a Christian reggae band, was then based in the heart of the bible belt, but also in country music capital of the world. Seeing anybody in Nashville with long dreadlocks is as out of place as a fish out of water, but the band had a charismatic following of listeners drawn not only by the music, but by their message.

Now relocated back to the Los Angeles area, Christafari boasts eight albums and several international tours with more anticipated this summer.

Not really understanding the meaning of "Rastafarian", I had an education from Christafari founder and songwriter Mark Mohr, aka Tansoback. As well as being the founder and heartbeat of the band, Mohr is also an ordained Pastor, bringing the message of God to thousands through the channel of music.

Christafari was the only reggae band to play at the 1997 Presidential Inaugural Ball, and although the members have changed over the last 11 years of their existence, their message has remained the same and the band stands stronger than ever. 

I had a phone interview with Tansoback and he enlightened me on the differences between the Christian church and Rastafarianism, and how he's integrating reggae music to spread the Gospel.

<HotBands> Tell me about Christafari. When did you start playing? How did it all begin? Do you remember when you first started with music?

<Christafari> With me, it was a fascination of music...not a talent. I never had a musical instrument.  I played on pots and pans. I always wanted to be in a band since junior high. I used to invent band names with my friends, etc... but in high school, I wanted to start a band that did reggae music.

<HotBands> Why reggae? Was Bob Marley an inspiration to you, or what?

<Christafari> Of course! Bob Marley was beginners reggae. Growing up, our next door neighbor was Jamaican.  I went to Jamaica when I was 15 on vacation...it had a huge impact on my life.  It developed from Bob to Peter Tosh, Patobanton, Steel Pulse...all big influences for me.

<HotBands> At what point in your life did you decide to turn over a new leaf? 

<Christafari> I was doing lots of drugs as a kid. I started drinking at age 9 and smoking pot by age 10, doing cocaine with one of my friends in boy scouts and so on. When I found reggae, I thought that I found the perfect blend of the religion of my parents and the drug of my choice (pot). Rastafarian is based upon Judeo Christian [beliefs].

<HotBands> Do you smoke still?

<Christafari> No I don't. I haven't since 1989...just before I graduated high school. I went to a Christian camp and my life changed. 

<HotBands> In your words, explain it.

<Christafari> I was searching for years to fill a void in my life. The drugs that were getting me high actually made me feel lower. The only thing that filled my life was the Holy Spirit. 

<HotBands> Where did you grow up?

<Christafari> I grew up in Rolling Hills Estates, California; a suburb of LA. 

<HotBands> I met you in Nashville...how did that happen?

<Christafari> I lived there for five years. After we signed to Gotee Records, the band felt it would be best to be close to the label and management company. The big Christian hub is in Nashville, but not for reggae! We were like a salt water fish in a fresh water bowl!

<HotBands> So your whole band is from California?

<Christafari> My band at that time was, but we've undergone some restructuring so we have members now all over. I tried having everybody living in one place, but it's easier to have members fly out for shows. We only do larger events... a good show with a lot of people. If we go out for a big event, you book smaller shows in the area to help get us through town.

<HotBands> I think you guys are awesome! I try not to focus on politics and religion...just the music. A lot of times, Christian bands...especially heavy metal Christian bands, sound completely out of place, but with your music, if I didn't listen closely to the lyrics, I would never know that you were a Christian band! You sound like a reggae band, but use words like "God" to replace "Jah" in songs. 

<Christafari> Reggae started in the Christian church and evolved into Rastafarianism.

<HotBands> What's the difference?

<Christafari> Most of the artists that are popular started off singing Church songs, but the Church didn't accept them, so they instead embraced Rastafarianism. Rastafaris believe that Jesus Christ has already returned as person...Emperor Haile Salassaie who was born in the late 1800s and crowned emperor of Ethiopia in the 1920s. They believe a lot of the same things that Christians believe, but they just think that he has already returned as a person, and that Ethiopia is Zion (the promised land) and that Rastafaris should repatriate back to the motherland of Africa. Marijuana is a holy sacrament (similar to communion) and they use to meditate or elevate their spirits.

<HotBands> Are there lots of Rastafarians in Jamaica? Did it start there?

<Christafari> Yeah...but only about 3-5% and it isn't an organized religion. The interesting thing is that the man they worship was a devout Christian who denied being the messiah.

<HotBands> So how he did get the gig?

<Christafari> Because there was a prophecy from a man named Marcus Garvey and he basically quoted from a Psalm that Ethiopia's redemption was near. The movement began in 1930 in New York and in the 1960s the Jamaican government helped a delegation of Rastafarians set out on a mission to Africa. Ethiopia was the first country that Christianity blossomed in. Many looked at that as a prophecy, and when he was crowned, he was given the title of "King of Kings, Lord of Lords" and the Ethiopian motto "The Lion of Judea has Prevailed" When people saw this, they thought this was revelation being fulfilled and what they didn't know was that it was the same title the emperors before him had. But you got to understand that they were raised in the church that dates back to the slave days...that black was sin and white was pure. They were looking for the black messiah. When he went to Jamaica in the late 1960s everybody was worshiping him and he was overwhelmed...when he went back to Ethiopia he sent his archbishop back to Jamaica and set up the Ethiopian Orthodox church so they would worship Christ instead. Ras means "prince" and "Tafari" is Halie Salassie's pre-emperor name.

<HotBands> How many CDs do you have out at this time?

<Christafari> Reggae Worship, Soul Fire, Valley Of Decision, Words Sound and Power and released Dub Sound and Power which is a psychedelic trippy instrumental version of the previous album. Then we re-release Reggae Worship with some added tracks and released our Spanish album which is the Spanish version of WSP Called Palabra Sonido Y Poder", and most recently, we released a compilation with us and other Christian artists called "Dancehall Baptism"

<HotBands> Have you played in Jamaica? Were you received well?

<Christafari> As a whole band, we haven't played there, but we've played with other bands, had back-up sit in hired guns, but never the whole band. 

<HotBands> What was your favorite tour? Did you have any place in particularly liked?

<Christafari> Reggae on the River in Humboldt in 1997 and Sunsplash tour of 46 cities during the summer of 1995. We also did a great Caribbean tour in 1999. Aruba was probably the best. It was a great show, but the thing that sticks out the most was playing in the prison the next day. When you're ministering to people and playing music, you want to reach their soul, and there is no soul that is more open than one that is broken and at the bottom of the pit. Just to instill hope in those people was really an impact to me.

<HotBands> That's awesome! What are your intentions for 2001? 

<Christafari> This summer, we're touring again. Starting in April, we'll be doing a Central American Tour of Belize, and Honduras and we'll be doing lots of festivals this summer...both Christian and reggae festivals with lots of shows in between. We have more shows booked this summer than we have in the last 12 years of Christafari. All the tour info is on our website. I started a record label in 1999 called Lion of Zion Entertainment and am releasing other Christian artists.

<HotBands> What would you suggest..........

<Christafari> Seek excellence. Don't be conformed to the industry. Be true to your vision and not somebody else's. If you look at the greatest musicians of all time, the ones that revolutionized the music of that century...and broke the mold, those were the pioneers. If you're not doing something new, there's no purpose in doing it because it's been done. Study the industry...take the time to learn how to work within it, but don't let it change you.

Thanks for the interview!

For more information on Christafari, CLICK HERE