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US-based Christian Reggaeband Christafari recently made an
announcement on their website which could stir up both the Christian
and the Rastafarian community until a great extend. Their new album
“Gravity” marks a shift in their approach and target audience, as
they explain in their section of Frequently Asked Questions on their
website.
The
most significant change is that Christafari will no longer be using
the Name “JAH” when they sing about the Most
High.
On
the Christafari website, founder Mark Mohr gives two reasons for
this decision. The first one is that Christafari will no longer be
targeting their music primarily to a Rastafarian and Reggae loving
audience. Mohr claims that the Name of Jah is mentioned only once in
the Bible and that he wants to “focus my ministry approach on the
numerous other names for God that are found far more frequently and
would make our message even more clear to the listener”. Whether
this analogy means that Christafari simply wants to reach a wider
and bigger audience or that there were other reasons too remains
unclear.
The
second reason is presented as the most important one and probably
is. On the same page, Mohr explains why he used the Name of Jah in
previous releases: “You see, we have always used Jah as a
culturally sensitive way to reach Rastas, (and still will
individually), yet so many young gospel reggae artists are using our
same ministry approach in trying to reach a completely different
audience--the Christian church.” Mark Mohr is worried that the
frequent usage of the Name of Jah in Gospel music will lead into a
situation in which it becomes unclear Who actually is meant when the
Name is expressed. He sees Christafari’s leading role in the
Christian Reggae and World as a reason to set an example to his
fellow artists and writes: “When I started Christafari and Lion
of Zion ent., my primary goal was to see the Rasta church become
Christian, yet one of the regrettable fruits of my labour, (due to
uneducated imitation by other artists) is the Christian church
becoming more Rasta. This was never my
intention.”
Christafari’s decision will undoubtedly cause a lot of
debate in the Rastafarian and Christian community. The message of
their website raised some questions and the Dubroom asked them to
Mark Mohr of Christafari:
DUBROOM: “Does this mean you are also going to
change the name Christafari and the usage of Rastafarian cultural
expressions such as the flag et cetera as they are installed with
the same reasoning in mind as the usage of the Name of
Jah?”
CHRISTAFARI: “Absolutely not. The name
Christafari means three things in three different languages, of
which the primary is the Greek definition for "Christ Bearers."
Whether you look at our name in English, Amharic or even Spanish, it
is very clear WHO we represent. That is all that I am trying to
do—urge artists to clarify. The days too short for enigmatic music
that merely entertains and speaks of an ambiguous God that could be
interpreted a host of different ways.”
DUBROOM: “Can you specify "universalists" and
can you give an impression of the concept of "God" in universalist
circles?”
CHRISTAFARI: “I go into
full detail on this in the 13th day of Gravity (that will be posted
at lionofzion.com only on June 1st). A portion of my commentary
reads:
"In 2001, after the tragic fall of the twin
towers in NY City America turned to God, and weekday church
attendance reached a pinnacle as scared and confused citizens
flooded into churches. In the midst of adversity we had truly become
one nation under God."
"But then I remember on the 14th of September,
I was sitting at home flipping through the channels on TV, and I
came across a church service (it was on almost every station). It
was a memorial service for 9/11 in Washington DC and in this
cathedral, each of the major religions was represented by their own
spiritual leader, each behind his own pulpit and each one was
speaking of and praying to an ambiguous God—a God that many believe
is the same Lord that just goes by different names depending on
which nation you are from."
"It is my opinion that there was only one clear
religion being preached that day and it was blatant universalism—the
whole many names one god theory. You know, the all rivers flow into
the same sea principle? This concept, even in the simplest of forms
doesn’t agree with the foundational doctrines of Christianity,
Catholicism, Judaism, or even Islam. For according to each of their
texts there is only one God— It can’t be both this religion and that
belief are right (for they are inherently contradictory). It has to
be either this one, or that one is the only way. So while I was
encouraged to see such a tremendous unity during this tumultuous
time, I was disgusted by the blurring of lines and revelatory
compromise that was taking place."
Inspired by this, I wrote the
chorus "Christ is the Only Way..." If it had been 4 years ago, I
probably would have penned, "Jah is the only way," but given the
present apocalyptic setting, and the overwhelming tolerance in the
world for all religions except "Narrow Minded Christianity," I
refused to veil my references of Christ any
longer.
Let’s
face it, in this secular society, using the name Jah can often be
the easy way out. It is not as offensive as the name Jesus and much
less censored. Do you honestly think that a band like POD would have
gotten as much respect in the mainstream if they said Christ in
place of Jah? Probably not. This name is the stumbling block for all
mankind, yet it is the fruit of all true
salvation.”
DUBROOM: “Is the following summary correct:
"We're not gonna sing the name of Jah anymore because the fruit of
such a thing is the 'Rastafarization' of
Christianity”?”
CHRISTAFARI: “Yes, it is correct, depending on
your interpretation. I will use the name when singing my past songs
on stage and when personally ministering to a Rasta. I have not used
this name in my recent recordings as an attempt to set a positive
example for the plethora of young aspiring artists that I teach at
music seminars in places like Trinidad and Tobago or Barbados, who
think the best way to start off every song is by singing Jah, Jah,
Jah, Jah... Now keep in mind, these guys are not dreads, nor do they
know the Rasta culture intimately. They are not using this term to
reach the Rastas, but to stroke the sheep. If they ever do talk
about Selassie or Rastas, it is in a disrespectful manner that may
make Christians laugh, but is at the expense of the ones that I am
trying to save. Seen?
DUBROOM:
“Can you specify this "Rastafarization" (for lack of a better word)?
How does it reveal itself and how can it be recognized?”
I
would liken it to a secular urban R&B artist doing a token black
gospel song when their lifestyle does not follow the message that
they are singing. They simply sing the song in that style to add
more diversity to their repertoire, not because of a conviction of
the heart. I wear my dreads, sport ites gold and green, and use the
name Jah so that I can become all things to all men—to reach the
Rastas. This is not a fashion style or a ploy to sell more records.
Yet there are some that view it as such. They try and sound just
like artists like Capleton (minus a few words and there) and take
this sound to the local foursquare gospel church! Whereas my
intention is to go straight to the Bobo Shanti commune (and I
have).
I just think that there is a lot of unnecessary
cross-pollenation going on that is simply causing more confusion.
You must understand that your typical protestant church and your
regular Rasta Nyabinghi are two completely separate audiences and
each require their own unique approach when it comes to ministering
the Lord's Word.”
DUBROOM: “Thank you for the
interview.”
CHRISTAFARI: “I will also post these questions
and answers in the Christafari forum because I feel that they will
answer a lot of questions.” | 
