” It all started on the golden beaches of Malta in the Mediterranean sea… The strum of guitars by the beach, singing, laughter and dancing over the fizzle of breaking waves and the crackle of a campfire… …the heart of the Mana Tapu sound! The group’s international line-up of musicians hailing from Malta, England, Italy, Spain, France, and as far as Chile, lends a uniquely diverse flavour to their music, which swings from reggae, to ska, to funk, to folk, to rock and back again. And with their reputation for putting on some of the most lively and infectiously FUN concerts on the island, chances are you’ll be singing and dancing along before you even know it! “
ManaTapu is...
…from all over:
50% Malta, Spain, England, Italy, France / Chile !
…lyrically diverse:
Lyrics in English, Maltese, Spanish and French.
…stylistically diverse:
Styles range from reggae, rock, blues, funk, folk, hip-hop, punk
…awesome live!
The band delivers some of the most engaging live performances on the island, engaging large audiences to sing and dance with us.
…the child of Malta’s multicultural scene!
We are a direct result of a new, dynamic, cultural landscape. ManaTapu is as much a part of the new modern Malta, as the new modern Malta is a part of ManaTapu.
…proud to be Maltese!
No matter where we’re all from, Malta is home.
The meaning of MANA TAPU ?
Mana
Mana is a supernatural force in a person, place or object.
Mana goes hand in hand with tapu, one affecting the other.
The more prestigious the event, person or object, the more it is surrounded by tapu and mana.
Mana is the enduring, indestructible power of the atua and is inherited at birth, the more senior the descent, the greater the mana.
The authority of Mana and Tapu is inherited and delegated through the senior line from the atua as their human agent to act on revealed will.
Since authority is a spiritual gift delegated by the atua, man remains the agent, never the source of Mana.
Mana gives a person the authority to lead, organise and regulate communal expeditions and activities, to make decisions regarding social and political matters.
A person or tribe’s Mana can increase from successful ventures or decrease through the lack of success.
Almost every activity has a link with the maintenance and enhancement of Mana and Tapu.
Animate and inanimate objects can also have Mana as they also derive from the atua and because of their own association with people imbued with Mana or because they are used in significant events.
Tapu
A person, place or thing is dedicated to an atua and is thus removed from the sphere of the profane and put into the sphere of the sacred.
It is untouchable, no longer to be put to common use.
Tapu was used as a way to control how people behaved towards each other and the environment, placing restrictions upon society to ensure that society flourished.
The extensions of tapu are the restrictions resulting from contact with something that is intrinsically tapu.
A person is imbued with Mana and Tapu by reason of his or her birth.
People are Tapu and it is each person’s responsibility to preserve their own tapu and respect the Tapu of others and of places.
Under certain situations people become more Tapu, including women giving birth, warriors travelling to battle, men carving (and their materials) and people when they die.
WHAT MANATAPU HAS BEEN UP TO…
MAJOR MILESTONES:
- Dec ‘12 → winners! @ ‘Rookies Battle of the Bands’
- Feb ‘13 → record first single ‘Babylon Aside’
- Mar ‘13 → winners! @ ‘Hard Rock Rising’ competition
- Apr ‘13 → travel to Ibiza to record debut EP
- Jun ‘13 → live show at Earth Garden festival
- Aug ‘13 → live show at Bubble festival
- Jun ‘14 → album release
- Jun ‘14 → headlining Sliema Street Art Festival
- Jun ‘14 → live show at Earth Garden
- Aug ‘14 → live show at Beer Fest
- Jun ‘15 → headlining Malta Street Art Festival
- Jun ‘15 → live show at Earth Garden
- Aug ‘15 → live show at The Farsons Beer Festival
- Aug ‘15 → live show at Gozo Muzika Fest
- Dec ‘16 → NYE Concert @ Freedom Fighters
- Jun ‘17 → live show at Earth Garden
- Aug ‘17 → headlining at The Farsons Beer Festival
- Sept ‘17 → live show at The Bubble Fest
- Oct ‘17 → live show at KSU Campus Fest
- May ‘18 → ManaTapu local show and Album Release “TuaTara”
Blog Timeline
Band Members
Dario Vella Catano
Vocals, Lead Guitar
Song Writer & Mastermind
Guitarist and heartbeat of the songwriting at ManaTapu.
Dario Vella absorbs life and transforms it into music.
This is the profound message of the Mana and the Tapu.
When everyone is hibernating in the winter Dario Vella writes music.
Pupachile
MC, Vocals
Born in France to Chilean parents, PupaChile got attracted by Hip-Hop and Reggae music during his childhood while he was living in Yaounde (Cameroun). He experienced the African continent for 4 years. However, his inspiration came first from his family, his 2 parents singing and playing guitars, organizing Chilean events in the hometown city.
In 2010, he arrived in Malta curious to discover new horizons, met Jogy Bo, start jamming at Ta Fra Ben and joined the band ManaTapu. In 2014, he met the future MC’s of Pon Di Corner and together create an International Reggae & Hip-Hop collective to express themselves through their music.
Camacho Criminal aka 'TeTe'
MC, Vocals
Born in the south of Spain, tete started to be interested in the Reggae music very early. At the faculty in Mazagon, he participated in different reggae raves and reggae party where he was singer of a fusion band and Mc in various sound system nights.
In 2008, he recorded few personals songs. He left Spain in 2012, landed in Malta where he met & integrated Manatapu band. He's back in Spain at this moment, getting ready to record the second album of ManaTapu which will see the light spring-summer 2018
James Saliba
Bass Guitar
James Saliba (Born in 1980) When he was 15 years he got to listen to music and taking it seriously and started to play guitar when he was 17 years of age. Then at the age of 21 started he fell in love with the bass guitar and been going on ever since.
Been involved in bands/projects in different genres (Alternative, Funk/Soul, Metal) such as: For Strings Inn, Eversity, Desi Campbell’s Brown Sugar and The Counterbalance Project among many other projects. Now a member of ManaTapu. Joined in April of 2017.
Ryan Abela
Drums, Percussion
Ryan Abela (October 1983) was born and lives in Marsaxlokk, Malta. At fourteen he was a punk rocker and became active in the local music scene. Since then he played in punk/ska/metal/hip-hop bands until very recently he joined ManaTapu (end 2017).
He travelled most of Europe, South East Asia, Oceana and lately South America.
He’s a jack of all trades and master of some, and his greatest passion is the outdoors.