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{{short description|Maltese musical band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = ManaTapu
| image           = ManaTapu.jpg
| caption         = ManaTapu performing at the Malta Street Art Festival in Valletta in July 2015
| origin          = [[Malta]], [[Europe]]
| genre           = [[World Music]]
| years_active    = 2012–present
| associated_acts = [[Humanifesto]], Freedom Fighters, Pon di Corner
| website         = {{URL|manatapu.com.mt}}
| current_members = * Dario Vella C
* Pupachile
* Tete (aka Camacho Criminal)
* Ryan Abela
* James Saliba
* Luca Gurrieri
| past_members    = * Francesco Darmanin
* Andrew McGrath
* Aaron Dimech
* Jogy Bok
}}
'''ManaTapu''' is a music group from [[Malta]] formed in 2012. The band consists at this date of Dario Vella C (vocals, lead guitar), Ryan Abela (drums), Pupa Chile (MC, vocals), Tete a.k.a. Camacho Criminal (MC, vocals), James Saliba (bass guitar), Luca Gurrieri (Saxophone), Liksu (trumpet, keyboard).
Initially rooted in [[reggae]] and [[ska]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150524/arts-entertainment/the-maltese-road-to-zion.569673|title=The Maltese road to Zion|first=Allied Newspapers|last=Ltd|work=timesofmalta.com|accessdate=28 April 2017}}</ref> ManaTapu "also draws inspiration from a host of other sounds and genres that run the gamut from funk to blues", [[rock music]] to folk, [[popular music]] to polka, and even, [[hip-hop]] to [[punk rock]].<ref name="mikebugeja.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.mikebugeja.com/single-post/2015/07/21/10-THINGS-YOU-DIDNT-KNOW-ABOUT-MANATAPU|title=MikeBugeja.com – all about the music scene in Malta|work=mikebugeja.com|accessdate=28 April 2017}}</ref> Collectively, the band speaks about 5 languages. With lyrics which range from English, to Maltese, to Spanish and French, the band cites its multicultural influences as a core element of the ManaTapu sound.
Known to <ref name="independent.com.mt">{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-04-22/music/mana-tapu-take-on-the-world-1438547968/ |title=Mana Tapu take on the World - The Malta Independent |website=Independent.com.mt |date=2013-04-22 |accessdate=2017-06-07}}</ref> "generate massive audience reaction when they play live",<ref name="mikebugeja.com"/> ManaTapu are "one of the most sought-after live acts on the island" of Malta. This live energy was captured in their music video for song [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9N_GZBF32k music video for song ''Kanta r Rima''], filmed during the band's <ref>{{cite web|url=http://trackagescheme.com/trackageartists/manatapu/|title=ManaTapu – Trackage Scheme – Music Events in Malta – Bands & DJs – Event Tickets – Music School – Audio & Lighting Equipment Rental|work=trackagescheme.com|accessdate=28 April 2017}}</ref> "headlining show at the 2014 Sliema Street Art Festival".
==Band name==
The group's name is inspired by, and composed of two separate words, [[Mana (Oceanian mythology)|Mana]] and [[Tapu (Polynesian culture)|Tapu]], which are found in [[Māori culture|Māori tradition and culture]]. 'Mana' is a word found in [[Austronesian languages]] translating to "power, effectiveness, prestige" <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maori.org.nz/tikanga/default.php?pid=sp98&parent=95 |title=Tikanga: Mana - What Is It? @ |website=Maori.org.nz |date= |accessdate=2017-06-07}}</ref> often with supernatural and magical connotations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.newzealand.com/en/story-ideas/tapu-sacred-maori-code/ |title=Tapu - sacred Māori code - Tourism New Zealand Media |website=Media.newzealand.com |date=2016-03-07 |accessdate=2017-06-07}}</ref> 'Tapu' is closely linked to the Māori concept of mana (respect / authority) and many view tapu as the mana derived from the gods. As the New Zealand Ministry of Justice puts it:
<blockquote>
Mana and tapu are concepts which have both been attributed single-worded definitions by contemporary writers. As concepts, especially Maori concepts they can not easily be translated into a single English definition. Both mana and tapu take on a whole range of related meanings depending on their association and the context in which they are being used.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://justice.govt.nz/publications/global-publications/h/he-hinatore-ki-te-ao-maori-a-glimpse-into-the-maori-world/part-1-traditional-maori-concepts/mana-and-tapu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522222543/http://www.justice.govt.nz/publications/global-publications/h/he-hinatore-ki-te-ao-maori-a-glimpse-into-the-maori-world/part-1-traditional-maori-concepts/mana-and-tapu |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 May 2010 |title=Mana and Tapu |publisher=Ministry of Justice, New Zealand  |accessdate=26 January 2015}}</ref>
</blockquote>
==History==
Prior to ManaTapu's formation, founding members Dario Vella C, and Francesco Darmanin had played in a band called ''I'n'I''. It was in the summer months of 2010, at a reggae bar in St-Julians called "Juuls", that Dario and Francesco would meet Jogy and Pupa Chile, and begin playing music together under the 'ManaTapu' name.<ref name="independent.com.mt"/>  The foursome met Tete in Summer 2011, at a jam session at bar / venue ''Ta Fra Ben'', in a Maltese town called [[Buġibba]]. In October 2012, the band would meet Andrew McGrath, ex drummer for Montreal punk rock group [[Humanifesto]], and ask him to join the group.<ref name="independent.com.mt"/> This was only ten days prior to the band's final show at the 'Rookies' Battle of the Bands in [[Buġibba]], which <ref name="mikebugeja.com"/> was the first of two battles that ManaTapu would win in a period of 6 months.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manatapu.com.mt/our-story/|title=Our Story – ManaTapu – ManaTapu's Official Website|work=manatapu.com.mt|accessdate=28 April 2017}}</ref>
Francesco decided to leave the band in 2016 so Aaron replaced him until James Saliba took over in April 2019, also the drummer Andrew McGrath have been replaced by Ryan Abela in 2018. After the first Europe Tour 2019 that took place in june - july 2019 in Italy, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, the members of the band decided to parting ways with Jogy Bo, due to personal issues.
The band is now ready for new adventure & new music, "what began as fun acoustic jams on Malta’s beaches in the summer of 2012 gradually turned into ManaTapu."
==Discography==
*''Timpana'' (2013)
*''TuaTara'' (2018)
==See also==
* [[Music of Malta]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.manatapu.com.mt ManaTapu Official website]
* [http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150524/arts-entertainment/the-maltese-road-to-zion.569673 Review of ''Timpana'' EP]
[[Category:Maltese musical groups]]