Jah Republic

Jah Republic is the name of the band and it should be overstood literally. All the band members are professional musicians and for them Reggae and Rastafari Movement are the way of their lives. Rastafari is spreading over the world like a tidal wave, mystically & naturally, and the day has come for the Movement to be recognized in Russia. Rastafarian teachings turned out to be spiritually close to the Russian Soul especially at the moment when the society tends to follow Western (Babylonian) fashion. And now our Back-to-the-Roots Ideology has its Reggae voice too.

The band leader, Jahcobo Mantecchi, was born and grew up not far from Kingston, Jamaica, a blend of Russian, Ukrainian, Jamaican & Italian roots. His way to Russia was quite winding: he has spent some time in Ethiopia, Holland and Brazil before he brought back to Russia his native Jamaican musical tradition which found much positive response down here.

The first album "Philosophy" (1999) gave the solid foundation for the beginning. The songs like "Philosophy of Legalization", "Philosophy of Poetry", "Philosophy of Life" told Russian listener about simple but deep statements of the Movement. Next recording - "To Buy, To Sell, To Share - All Prohibited!" (2001) made the band really popular in Russia.

First song tells us that "Money was invented as a deceit". The second song is about a man who wanted to go to Africa but he can't, and he pray to Jah: "Gimme the wings!" and Jah did make it so... all the songs teach us that Jah will provide His people, that we must be good to each other, that treasures of the Spirit are more value then any filthy lucre.

This revolutionary insight Jahcobo had inherited from his Ukrainian grandfather, separatist and Petlurian officer, who left for the sunny Jamaica to escape political persecution in the Soviet Ukraine. Jahcobo in his turn brought back to Russia a part of Jamaica.
He gathered a band where all its members
are inspired by the ideas of Rastafari and
by Reggae riddims, so unusual in Russia
but so close to Russians intuitively.

Jahcobo released two books of poetry,
he is also cofounder of
"Guild of Unacknowledged Poets".

I like to chase a joyful rhyme
When herb is good, at higher time...  

First song tells us that "Money was invented as a deceit". The second song is about a man who wanted to go to Africa but he can't, and he pray to Jah: "Gimme the wings!" and Jah did make it so... all the songs teach us that Jah will provide His people, that we must be good to each other, that treasures of the Spirit are more value then any filthy lucre.