Christafari
HISTORY
Since its inception, Christafari has been a trailblazer, pioneering a new genre of Gospel Reggae in the U.S. and throughout the world. With their blend of traditional roots, mixed with contemporary dancehall reggae, they proclaim a positive message of hope to this generation.
Christafari was founded in 1989 by songwriter, producer, and lead vocalist, Mark Mohr. Raised in a Christian family, Mark strayed from his Godly upbringing and, during his teens, became involved in hard drugs and alcohol. As an answer to many prayers, the Lord delivered Mark from his addictions at a Christian camp at the age of 17. After serious prayer, God impressed on his heart to start the first Christian reggae band in America.
"The best advice I was ever given was to go to Bible College so I could be theologically and doctrinally sound," says Mark. He studied at Biola University in Los Angeles, majoring in Christian Education. During his years at Biola, the group began to take shape as Mark wrote songs for Christafari’s first and second albums. Now an ordained Pastor, Mark has spent over thirteen years ministering and performing, bringing a unique brand of gospel reggae to nearly every state and some twenty countries around the world.
THE NAME
Pronounced CHRIST-AH-FAR-EYE, in Greek, the original language of the New Testament, Christafari is the name given to "a group of people who collectively represent Christ."
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
Springbreak 2002 found Christafari at the Fun in the Son Festival in Jamaica, performing with TobyMac, Chevelle Franklyn, Stitchie, Grace Thrillers, and many others. Christafari also performed at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, partnering in ministry with InTheBible.com, Snowboarders for Christ, and YWAM. The group spent New Years' Eve 2001 in London, England, sharing the stage with multi-platinum artist Kirk Franklin before an overflow audience of 15,000, bringing in the new year with praise to the most high--Christafari style.
Christafari's serious touring experience began in the Summer of 1995 as a featured act on the Reggae Sunsplash Tour, North America's premier reggae tour, traversing 46 cities and performing before more than a quarter of a million people. They have played many of the country's most prestigious venues like the Greek Theater and Irvine Meadows, sharing the bill with such top names in the reggae industry as Aswad, Bunny Wailer, Lucky Dube, Big Mountain, Burning Spear, Pato Banton, Dennis Brown, Freddie McGregor, The Wailing Souls, Sister Carol, and Buju Banton.
"They were a great bunch of guys to have on the road. They were very professional, very cooperative, and very appreciative of the fact that we had them on the road. I've nothing but praises for Christafari in terms of their professionalism and the kind of people they are...I would definitely consider them for another Sunsplash tour."
--Reggae Sunsplash Tour Producer Wayne Sinclair
Additional performance highlights have included touring with DC Talk & Geoff Moore, Extreme Experience with Evander Holyfield, the Chicago Reggae Festival, the 1997 Presidential Inaugural Ball, Reggae on the River (the "World’s Greatest Reggae Festival"), the Bob Marley Festival Tour, the National Indigenous Olympic Games, the St. Kitts Music Festival with Kool & The Gang and Maxi Priest, the Nashville Music Awards, festivals such as Creation East & West, Kingdom Bound, Cornerstone, and Sprit West Coast, and even the main amphitheater of the Olympic Village during the 1996 Olympic Games.
Over the years, Christafari has been a Gospel and Reggae Music ambassador to the world, visiting some 20 nations on 4 continents including Aruba, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Curacao, Grand Cayman, England, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts & Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Uganda.
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