Republic of Slowjamastan

The Republic of Slowjamastan is located on an empty, {{convert|11.07|acre|adj=on}} plot of desert land in Imperial County, Southern California.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/man-creates-own-micronation-in-southern-california-slowjamastan/|last=Radin|first=Danielle|date=July 5, 2023|title=Man creates own 'micronation' in Southern California: Slowjamastan|work=CBS News|access-date=July 17, 2023}} It follows California State Route 78, and is located between Ocotillo Wells in San Diego County and Westmorland, {{convert|14|miles}} southwest of the Salton Sea, about {{convert|100|miles|-1}} from San Diego, and {{convert|36.8|miles|km}} north of the US–Mexico border.{{cite web|url=https://www.slowjamastan.org/name-a-state/|title=Name a State - The Republic of Slowjamastan|date=November 13, 2021 |publisher=Slowjamastan}}{{cite news|url=https://www.wpri.com/news/national/welcome-to-slowjamastan-a-micronation-hidden-in-california/|last=Dawson|first=Danielle|date=June 11, 2023|title=Welcome to Slowjamastan, a 'micronation' hidden in California|work=WPRI|access-date=July 17, 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/slowjamastan-micronation-california-randy-williams-92dd8shnk|last=Southern|first=Keiran|date=June 16, 2023|title=Inside Slowjamastan, where a DJ sultan declared independence from US|work=The Times|url-access=subscription|access-date=July 17, 2023}} Although Slowjamastan has no structures, on the plot of land is a large border sign by the highway, a border control post and an open desk in Dublândia—the purported capital of Slowjamastan—that serves as the sultan's office. There are plans for expanding the territory.{{cite news|url=https://wgnradio.com/john-landecker/dictator-of-the-republic-of-slowjamastan-sultan-randy-r-dub-williams/|last=Landecker|first=John|author-link=John Landecker|date=June 21, 2023|title=Meet the benevolent dictator of the Republic of Slowjamastan: Sultan Randy 'R Dub!' Williams|work=WGN Radio|access-date=July 17, 2023|time=02:40–03:03}} As of February 2025, it is not inhabited.

File:His Excellency Randy "R Dub!" Williams - Sultan of The Republic of Slowjamastan.jpg, the founder and self-proclaimed Sultan of Slowjamastan]]

Slowjamastan was declared independent on December 1, 2021, by slow jam DJ Randy Williams, also known by his stage name R Dub!, who presents the Sunday Night Slow Jams radio show. Williams, who had visited all United Nations member states except for Turkmenistan, became inspired to create a micronation after visiting the Republic of Molossia—a micronation located in Dayton, Nevada—in August 2021.{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/08/travel/slowjamastan-micronation|last=Collett|first=Richard|date=June 21, 2023|title=He ran out of countries to visit, so he created his own|work=CNN|access-date=July 17, 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://desertsun.com/story/news/2022/02/03/nation-born-slowjamastan-rises-desert-sort/6657185001/|last=Cutchin|first=James B.|date=February 3, 2022|title=New micronation 'Slowjamastan' rises from the desert … sort of|work=The Desert Sun|access-date=July 17, 2023}} When Williams returned to his residence in San Diego, he immediately began working on plans for his own micronation and in October 2021 purchased the land.

A micronation is a political entity that claims independence and mimics acts of sovereignty as if it were a sovereign state, but lacks any legal recognition. Micronations are classified separately from states with limited recognition or quasi-states, as they lack the legal basis in international law for their existence.{{cite book|last1=Hobbs|first1=Harry|last2=Williams|first2=George|year=2021|author1-link=Harry Hobbs|author2-link=George Williams (lawyer)|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/micronations-and-the-search-for-sovereignty/B0414A3A322695D9EE71E4CDDFDA06DE|title=Micronations and the Search for Sovereignty|series=Cambridge Studies in Constitutional Law|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-009-15013-2|url-access=subscription|access-date=July 17, 2023|archive-date=May 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527012428/https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/micronations-and-the-search-for-sovereignty/B0414A3A322695D9EE71E4CDDFDA06DE|url-status=live|pages=76–78}} However, Williams bases Slowjamastan's legitimacy on meeting the criteria of the Montevideo Convention.

Plans envisioned by Williams for tourist attractions in Slowjamastan include a bowling alley, interactive armadillo farm, hot dog emporium, restaurant and a lazy river, pending the configuration of a working water system in the desert.{{cite news|url=https://www.insider.com/san-diego-man-crowns-himself-sultan-of-micronation-slowjamastan-2023-6|last=Teh|first=Cheryl|date=June 12, 2023|title=A San Diego man got sick of living in a regular country so he founded a nation of his own called Slowjamastan and crowned himself its sultan|work=Insider|access-date=July 17, 2023}} Upon declaring independence, Williams sent postcards to nearby residents and businesses. While local business owners declared the idea of Slowjamastan as bizarre and eccentric, they were open to the project possibly bringing tourists and increased attention to the area.

Slowjamastan was represented at MicroCon 2022 held in Las Vegas,{{Cite web |date=2022-10-21 |title=Welcome to Slowjamastan |url=https://www.altaonline.com/dispatches/a41548443/slowjamastan-micronation-justin-chapman/ |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=Alta Online |language=en-US}} MicroCon 2023 held in Joliet, Illinois{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jul/23/slowjamastan-micronation-california-desert|last=Ulrich|first=Amanda|date=23 July 2023|title=Welcome to Slowjamastan! The desert micronation with no Crocs and no taxes|work=The Guardian|access-date=3 October 2023}} and at MicroCon EU 2023 held in Ypres, Belgium.{{Cite web |title=Registered Delegations for Ypres MircoCon |url=https://microcon2023.com/microcon-ypres/registered-delegations-for-ypres-mircocon/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=MicroCon 2023 Chicago & Ypres |language=en-US}}

In 2024, Williams represented Slowjamastan as a guest at the 2024 NATO summit in Washington, D.C. in the United States.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-16 |title=Matt About Town: Slow jams and no Crocs — The lore behind the world’s newest ‘nation,’ Slowjamastan! |url=https://wtop.com/gallery/matt-about-town/matt-about-town-string-cheese-slow-jams-and-no-crocs-lore-behind-the-worlds-newest-nation-slowjamastan/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=WTOP News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Nova |first=Redazione Agenzia |date=2024-07-11 |title=Born: the sultan of Slowjamastan arrives at the top, the dictatorship founded in California by DJ Randy Williams |url=https://www.agenzianova.com/en/news/nato-al-vertice-arriva-il-sultano-dello-slowjamastan-la-dittatura-fondata-in-california-dal-dj-randy-williams/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Agenzia Nova |language=en}}

Slowjamastan is run by Williams, who ostensibly rules as the sultan of the micronation. He asserts that Slowjamastan is both a dictatorship and "occasional democracy" as he allows input from citizens. Slowjamastan also has a virtual parliament. The laws of Slowjamastan are based on the "everyday annoyances" experienced by Williams while growing up in the United States. Some prohibitions include Crocs, mumble rap, people who put their feet up on the dashboard, and eating string cheese by biting directly into it. Slowjamastan prints banknotes of its own currency called the duble and issues passports with quotations on them from hip hop artists.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0fvjlnf|first1=Sarah|last1=Brett|first2=Chris|last2=Buckler|author1-link=Sarah Brett|date=June 16, 2023|title=Welcome to Slowjamastan: US DJ's new Micronation|work=Good Morning Ulster|publisher=BBC Radio Ulster|access-date=July 17, 2023|time=03:56–04:35}} People can apply for citizenship and cabinet positions online via Slowjamastan's website. As of July 2024, the number of citizens was more than 19,000.{{Cite web |title=7/26/24 Blog: The Last Two Weeks Have Been the Longest Year |url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2024-07-26-72624-blog-the-last-two-weeks-have-been-the-longest-year/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=iHeart |language=en}} Citizens of Slowjamastan are known as Slowjamastanis.{{cite news|url=https://elu24.postimees.ee/7923370/videod-seikleja-rajas-oma-riigi-enamiku-ajast-oleme-diktatuur|last=Hein|first=Inna-Katrin|date=December 21, 2023|title=Seikleja rajas oma riigi: enamiku ajast oleme diktatuur|language=Estonian|work=Elu24|access-date=April 21, 2025}}{{cite press release|url=https://benztown.com/press/r-dub-and-slowjamastan-go-viral/|date=June 14, 2023|title=R Dub! and Slowjamastan Go Viral!|work=Benztown|access-date=April 21, 2025|quote=[Quoting Randy Williams:] We welcome everyone, and we specifically don’t use any labels except one: We are all simply "Slowjamastani!"}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|group=T}}

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|slowjamastan.org}}
• [https://micronations.wiki/wiki/Republic_of_Slowjamastan Republic of Slowjamastan] at MicroWiki

{{Micronations}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Slojamastan}}

Category:2021 establishments in California

Category:Micronations in the United States

Category:States and territories established in 2021