Slowjamastan: The World’s Newest ‘Nation’ You’ve Never Heard Of

More than 25,000 citizens have already sworn allegiance to the fake dictator of the Republic of Slowjamastan, where crocs and ‘reply to all’ emails are banned. Slowjamastan Ministry of Propaganda via BBC Between the date farms of the Coachella Valley in the US state of California and the border with Mexico, a sun-baked, khaki-colored strip of desert stretches as far as the eye can see. This arid no man’s land is dotted with low-lying bushes with thin branches. The air vibrates with the constant buzzing of insects. And, shining in the distance, there is a submarine. Welcome to the Republic of Slowjamastan, the youngest micronation in the world! With a territory little larger than six football fields (4.5 hectares), this arid, sun-scorched land is usually ignored by passing drivers, without deserving a second glance. But, just enter it and the real world disappears. See the videos that are trending on g1 In this new “country”, a constitutional provision prohibits the use of Crocs. Collective emails (in “reply to all”) are prohibited by law. Exceeding the speed limit is allowed, but only if you’re racing home with tacos. And the national animal symbol is the raccoon, which occupies a prominent place on the country’s flag. At the center of it all is Randy Williams, also known as the “Sultan of Slowjamastan.” When he’s not caring for coyotes, desert iguanas and the approximately 25,000 “citizens” of this sand-covered dictatorship, he is the programming director for radio stations Z90 and Magic 92.5 in San Diego, California. On the airwaves, he is known as “R Dub”. Williams has also hosted, since 1994, the radio program Sunday Night Slow Jams, which is now rebroadcast on more than 250 stations around the world. Slowjamastan has its own immigration agents and border posts. Ministry of Propaganda of Slowjamastan via BBC Passionate about travel, Williams spent years on a journey to visit every country recognized by the United Nations. At the beginning of 2020, there was only one last stop left. But the world went into lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Stuck inside like everyone else, Williams grew restless. He had a lot of time on his hands and nowhere to go, but his mind continued to move with the speed of a jet plane. That’s when the idea came up: “If I can’t visit another country, why not create one?” How to become a fake dictator “As a child, I used to do creative things, like writing, drawing, photography or doing school projects. This seemed to be the ultimate project,” says the Sultan, during a visit to the Slowjamastan consulate in San Diego (his office at the radio station). There, he maintains a collection of propaganda materials from real dictatorships around the world. “I was able to channel all my creative energy into that,” he says. Initially, he called his best friend, Mark Corona, and explained what he had in mind. Corona simply laughed in response. “All I could think about was that episode of Family Guy when Peter created his own country, Petoria,” says Corona. “I was rolling my eyes, like, ‘OK, man. Where is this country going to meet? At your house?'” But Williams persisted and looked for a plot of land with a list of what was needed. The land would need to be more than two acres, accessible by a paved road, and within driving distance of his home in San Diego. Until a single plot of land emerged: a piece of rock and bush, covered by sand and without any construction, was for sale for US$19,500 (around R$100,000). “It was love at first sight,” recalls Williams. And he purchased the land in 2021. Slowjamastan is proud to have its own police force, five trucks and ambulances. Slowjamastan Ministry of Propaganda via BBC Williams convinced Corona to carry a presidential-looking table from Phoenix, Arizona, to Southern California, almost 500 km away. They unloaded it in the middle of the desert terrain and began to mark out the territory. They installed signs on California State Highway 78 proclaiming the new nation: “Republic of Slowjamastan”—the name Williams first jokingly threw around, but it stuck. It didn’t take long for the signs to catch the attention of local authorities. They were considered too close to the highway. Williams discreetly repositioned them to respect the country’s norms, while proudly proclaiming his new micronation. “People walked by wondering what the hell was going on,” says Corona. “They [provavelmente] But the sign on the side of the road was just the beginning. First came the makeshift border post. Then came the flags and passports. Before long, the Republic of Slowjamastan took on the appearance of a real country. Slowjamastan Propaganda via BBC Williams proclaimed himself sultan and began to dress as such, with dark glasses, impeccable uniforms and detailed ornaments. He acknowledges that his clothes recall the theatrical military style of former Libyan president Muammar Gaddafi (1942-2011). of the English language and forced “r”. Five years have passed and Slowjamastan now issues passports to travelers interested in becoming unofficial citizens, in addition to printing local money and promoting flag-raising ceremonies. The land is divided into States, such as Dubland, Bucksylvania and the Kingdom of Hotdamnastan. Place) (“Slowjamastan: I think it will be an amazing place”, in free translation) talks about the country “that puts a smile on your face”, where “you are never alone” – “the ideal place to raise your children” – to the tune of Elton John’s song Rocket Man. For people who want to formalize their involvement with the micronation, there are titles available “Let’s say you live in North Carolina and want to strengthen your LinkedIn”, explains Williams. You become a member of Parliament.” Around 25,000 ‘citizens’ from 120 countries are part of Slowjamastan. Many of them come to visit the micronation passing through the ‘immigration counter’. Slowjamastan Ministry of Propaganda via BBC Positions in the dictatorial republic have a cost. Ambassadors, for example, pay US$10 to 25 (about R$52 to 129) per month. But citizenship is open and free for everyone, and can be acquired through a simple online form, connecting people to the full experience. Currently, the micronation has 25 thousand registered “citizens”, from 120 countries. It may seem small, but it is more than some recognized independent nations, such as the Vatican (about 1 thousand inhabitants) and the archipelagos of Palau (17 thousand) and Tuvalu (11 thousand), in the Pacific Ocean. through posts on social media. But part of the community comes to see the micronation in person. The Sultan says that the slowjamastanis (that’s what the country’s citizens are called) acquire their citizenship for different reasons. It is necessary to tell how everyone is divided”, explains the Sultan. “Every time you open Facebook, people are losing friends and family for political reasons.” “Everything has become very bad. Slowjamastan is an escape from all that. We prohibit all discussion of politics except our own.” The Republic of Slowjamastan has been attracting Americans increasingly frustrated with US politics. Slowjamastan Ministry of Propaganda via BBC At a time when more and more Americans are frustrated with the country’s politics and looking for other passports, William says that the United States is the country of origin for about 50% of Slowjamastan’s citizens. The Sultan considers the nation’s growth to be a global phenomenon and not a political one. For him, a recent wave of new Bangladeshi citizens is proof that Slowjamastan’s appeal “knows no borders.” Stephanie Heddon first heard about Slowjamastan when a contestant on the TV show Jeopardy! mentioned the country in one of her episodes. She then sought out Williams at the Travel and Adventure Show in Long Beach, California. “Everything about the country makes me happy. And I think the thousands and thousands of Slowjamastani citizens agree with me.” “This is a very difficult time for all of us [nos Estados Unidos]but here’s something fun.” From the desert to the global stage It is estimated that there are hundreds of micronations scattered around the world. Some of them are located in the middle of international waters, others in quiet urban suburbs. Next year, Slowjamastan will host MicroCon 2027, a conference of these micronations. Delegates from more than 43 self-proclaimed states will meet to discuss everything from geopolitical sovereignty to the creation of coats of arms. Micronations such as the Bomber Republic and Dragon Island will be present at the event. In the words of the conference website: “This is where cosplay meets diplomacy.” “Randy Williams International Airport — coming soon (or almost).” Still, the country doesn’t currently have a place for visitors to spend the night. So MicroCon 2027 will take place on the top floor of a skyscraper in San Diego. For Williams, the micronation has always been about travel,” says the Sultan. “Immediately, I created the connection.” He hopes to build Slowjamastan with this same feeling: a place that, although unconventional, can engage people from all over the world who will eventually be able to visit him. his initial proposal, to create connections with people of all cultures and nationalities. “Slowjamastan doesn’t belong to me,” he declared, pausing, then correcting. But the country actually belongs to everyone. It has different meanings for each person.”

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