Christafari - Background

Background

As a rebellious drug addicted youth, Mohr found an affinity for reggae music and became a marijuana grower and Rastafarian after a visit to Jamaica in 1986. He became well-versed in reggae music and learned Jamaican patois, the dialect prevalent in most reggae music. In 1989 the seventeen year old Mohr stopped using marijuana and committed his life to Christ at JH Ranch, a Christian camp. Two weeks later at another Christian youth camp Mohr wrote and performed his first gospel reggae song "Give Me Everything I Need" at a talent show. The bass-player that day said; "So you're no longer a Rastafarian, you're a Christafarian." The name stuck. Initially called the "Christafarians" Mark was backed by the "Steadfast" crew for his first few shows (September and October 1989). Eventually Mohr shortened the name to "Christafari", (pronounced Christ-a-far-eye) and pieced together his own band members. The Root of the name of this band is found in three languages; Greek, Latin and Amharic.

1. First and most importantly is the Greek language through which God chose to write the New Testament. In this Language the name Cristoforos (Christafaros) means "the Christ bearer" and Cristoforoi (Christafaroi) which is plural meaning "a group of people that collectively bear or represent Christ."
2. Representing the same definition with a closer spelling is the Latin word Christafari.
3. This name Christafari can also be found in the Ethiopian language Amharic. "Christ" being the Greek word meaning Messiah, the anointed one "Jesus Christ". "Tafari" is the Amharic word for Creator, Almighty, awesome, Father and one who needs to be worshipped. Christafari gets its name from John 1:1-3.
4. Lastly, in modern Greek, The name Christafari means "Soldiers for Christ" or "a salvation army."

In 1993 Mohr enrolled in Biola University and received his ordination in 1997.

Their first album, Reggae Worship, reached the Billboard Charts and created a buzz in the industry, garnering the attention of DC Talk's tobyMac who then signed the group to Gotee Records. Soulfire proved to be an early success for the fledgeling Gotee Records. Valley Of Decision spent 15 weeks in the top 10 of Billboard's "Top Reggae Albums" chart. The label began as a production company. Originally intending to produce Out of Eden's Lovin' the Day, they couldn't find a label to sign the act to, and so began distributing the band's material on their own.

WordSound&Power marked Christafari's departure from Gotee and the birth of Mohr's Lion of Zion Entertainment record label. The album was nominated in four categories in the 2000 Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards. Christafari then released DubSound&Power, the bands's first dub album and arguably the first Christian dub album ever recorded. After this the group released Palabra Sonido Y Poder (Word Sound & Power), the group's Spanish debut that featured the single "El Amor De Mi Vida" (No. 1 in 11 Latin American Countries). After this Christafari released Gravity (2003), Gravitational Dub (2004) and their first children's album Reggae Sunday School (2005). 2007 Marked the release of Christafari's To the Foundation and the birth of the Positive Music Agency. Christafari toured 180 shows in 20 countries in promotion of To the Foundation.

In early 2009 the group headed back into the studio to record their 20th anniversary album "No Compromise" with subsequent tours in Europe, Latin America and the USA. In late 2009 the band went back into their studio the "Zionic Sounds Dub Lab" to record their second Spanish album, "Reggae De Redencion." This project was released in the Summer of 2010. In late 2011 they released two dub albums; Majestic Heights in Dub and Dub Shots. They also released Gospel Reggae Praise, a compilation project.

In 2012, Christafari released "Reggae Worship: A Roots Revival", their first worship album in almost 20 years. This breakthrough album once again catapulted them onto the Billboard Charts. The CD debuted at #3 on the Billboard Reggae Chart, #10 on Billboard's Christian Albums Chart and #39 on the Independent Albums Chart.

Christafari has also started their own film company, "Rank and File", and filmed various music videos such as Christafari's "Try Jah Love", "Taking in the Son/Brilla Sobre Mi", Jennifer Howland's "Righteous Revolution", and three videos from Avion Blackman's Third World Girl album. In addition to running Christafari, Lion of Zion Entertainment, Rank and File and the Zionic Sounds Dub Lab, Mohr is also the founder of the Positive Music Agency, a booking agency for the top gospel reggae artists in the world. Over the past five years Christafari has had a busy tour schedule. The band currently does around 100 shows a year in about 20 countries.