Rastafari Movement

The Rastafari Movement, or Rasta, is a religion and philosophy that accepts the late (and last) Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie I as Jah (the Rasta name for God incarnate). Jah is an abbreviated form of Jehovah, found in Psalms 68:4.

The term Rastafarianism used by people both inside and outside of the movement is seen by many Rastafari as being offensive and derogatory.

The name Rastafari comes from the pre-coronation name of Haile Selassie I. Prior to acceding to the Throne as the Emperor of Ethiopia he was Ras (Duke or Chief) Tafari Makonnen. Following his elevation, he was known as the King Of Kings, Lord of Lords and Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5) and was, at the time, the only African monarch of a fully independent state. Coincidentally, the word "Rasta" in several Indo-Iranian languages means "way" or "path", a point which many Rastafari have observed.

These factors were interpreted by some of the working class and peasant black people of Jamaica as being the Biblical forecast of the Messiah returning and so, in the early 1930s the Rastafari Movement started its journey into popular acclaim and observance.

To what extent this was due to other factors cannot be fully determined, but the sacred use of marijuana, the teachings of people such as Marcus Garvey, and the personal Afro-centric political and social aspirations of many in a depressed community definitely contributed.

In more recent times, the growth of the Rastafari Movement to a global strength of over a million can be in part attributed to the popularity of reggae music and, in particular, to Bob Marley – a Jamaican born mixed race Rastafari who achieved cult status before his untimely death and whose memory has grown in stature since.

Some 10% of Jamaicans now class themselves as Rastafari, and within the Rasta communities many follow the diet laid down in the Old Testament books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, which many interpret as corresponding to modern day vegetarianism/veganism.

The Rastafari follow a religion which is difficult to categorise or summarise. Each Rasta finds their own way of living and worshipping, non-conformity being central to the whole concept of the Movement. There is no central Rastafari organisation (such as the Synod in the Church of England, or the Vatican in the Roman Catholic Church) to orchestrate beliefs, ideas, direction and thought. The Rastafari Movement is, therefore, an umbrella of diverse concepts which have a common theme: the worship of Jah.

Some Rastafari do not see their Movement as being a distinct religion, classifying themselves as being Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, even Jewish – although a common line of thought is that they are Ethiopian Orthodox with a Rastafari ideology.

Those that follow the Jewish line of thought conceive that they are, in fact, the direct descendents of the Children of Israel, related to the Beta Israel (black) Jews of Ethiopia, which they claim is the true location of Zion.

Also core to Rasta thoughts is the relationship between the Rastafari and Africa, and the relationship between Africa and black people in the eyes of Rastas. Marcus Garvey inspired the Rasta to embrace all things African and to take pride in their heritage, Africa being the start of humanity. He also encouraged them to clear their minds with the use of the ganja herb. This African consciousness is reflected in the dreadlocks, and the diet most Rastas follow.

Colours are also important to Rastafari – with red, gold, green (coincidentally? the colours used on the Ethiopian flag) and black being the colours of "Pan African Unity" according to Garvey. To some, learning and using the Amharic language of Haile Selassie I is important, to the extent that some of the lyrics to Rasta music, reggae, is written in this tongue.

The relationship between each Rasta and Haile Selassie I is a personal one. He is regarded as their personal Jah or Jah Rastafari.; They stress the I to signify him being "the first" ; and they refer to Him bearing in mind that the letters also stand for His Imperial Majesty.

Those who criticise and marginalise Rastafari as followers of a flawed religion point out that Haile Selassie I was, when crowned in 1930, supposedly the 225th in an unbroken line of Ethiopian monarchs directly descended from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba (circa 980 BC) and that the titles King of Kings, Lord of Lords and Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah date back to that time – over 1,000 years before the writing of the book of Revelation around 97AD.

The common ground between almost all Rastafari is that they believe Haile Selassie I to be a reincarnation of the Messiah (or Jesus Christ), and that they are the true Israelites of Biblical history. Haile Selassie I is their God and king and is worthy of their worship, and elevated himself to supreme position by standing before the world with solemnity and dignity when he was the only black leader of a nation on earth.

Many believe that Haile Selassie will, one day, call the Day of Judgement when the righteous shall return home to Mount Zion (Africa) and live in peace, harmony and love. There is an almost universal call from Rastas to be repatriated to Africa after 400 years in slavery. Early Rastafari thought of Black Supremacy but these thoughts were quickly expunged following a speech to the UN in 1963 by Haile Selassie I condemning any form of racialism, the words of which were later used by Bob Marley as the basis of his song War.

Rastafari believe that their own body is the church or temple of God and see no need to construct buildings for the purpose of worship. Gatherings of Rastafari – called "grounations" are reminiscent of some Jewish services. They are also known as bynghi, which refers to a now extinct order of black militants in East Africa. Grounations are noted for their dancing, singing, feasting and the smoking of ganja. They can last for several days.

Simple gatherings of Rastafari are referred to as Reasonings, where Rastas meet to discuss ethical, religious and social issues whilst smoking ganja. The person lighting the ganja traditionally says a prayer and the "spliff" is passed clockwise around those gathered, excepting in times of war, when it is passed anti-clockwise.

As the Rastafari Movement is unstructured there are no set days of communal celebration, but the following dates are ones when they are likely to organise grounations or bynghis.

• 7th January Ethiopian (Orthodox/Julian) Christmas
• 6th February Bob Marley’s Birthday
• 21st April Grounation Day: the Visit of Haile Selassie I to Jamaica
• 23rd July Birthday of Haile Selassie I
• 17th August Birthday of Marcus Garvey
• 2nd November Coronation of Haile Sellassie I

Integral to the Rastafari belief are those associated with many other religions. These include what one can eat. The diet of a Rasta is likely to fall into one of three categories:

• Limited
• Vegetarian
• Vegan

The Limited diet follows that of the Old Testament, abstaining from pork (pig meat and its derivatives) and shelled sea food. Others abstain from meat and flesh altogether on the basis that it is to touch death and violates the Nazarite oath, although some only abstain for the duration they are observing the Nazarite vow. Many Rastafari observe a vegan diet, with the exception that they will consume honey. Most Rastafari abstain from drinking alcohol.

The vegan diet of many Rastafari (which is also reflected in the diet of many people in the Caribbean) can be extremely colourful and healthy, embracing many locally grown, fresh vegetables and fruits.

To many, the Rastafari are inextricably linked to the use of the ganja herb, dreadlocks and reggae music. Musically, the Caribbean in general has a rich musical heritage which followed the huge influx of Afro-Caribbean immigrants at the peak of the slave trade. With them they brought traditional African rhythms. The influence of Christianity, in particular, brought western religious music. Gospel music came from these roots and the United States.

In the United Kingdom (which was the first Western country to experience immigration from the Caribbean) the influence of the "West Indians" and their music was in the form of the Calypso – and one particular episode which dates back to 1950. The sport of cricket produced a sensational series between England and the West Indies and inspired a very popular record of the time – a calypso which celebrated "…two little friends of mine, [Sonny] Ramadhin and [Alf] Valentine".

Calypso, blue beat, ska and then reggae became increasingly available in the UK as West Indian immigrants sought avenue to explore their cultural history. Those who worked in the record industry will know that companies such as Melodisc and, later, the fledgling Island Records pioneered the import and release of many records which could only have had marginal sales at the time.

A sign of what was to come was the huge 1967 hit "Israelites" by the Jamaican Desmond Dekker, who repeated the process with "007 (Shanty Town)" and "It Mek".

Other hits in the reggae style became popular in the UK, but the first close link between the music and Rastas was "Bongo Man" by Little Roy (1969), which failed to repeat its Jamaican success in the UK. Other Rasta-inspired or related music followed from Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh, among others.

Then Bob Marley came onto the global stage.

Through the 1970s, '80s and '90s reggae and Rastafari were almost inseparable, each inspiring the other. Now, in the third millennium, artists such as Damian Marley are blending hip-hop with reggae to re-invigorate old Rasta issues such as responsible parenthood and social, religious and racial injustice.

The use of the herb ganja by Rastafari has been, and continues to be, a major problem with the authorities in many countries who have made its use illegal.

Smoking ganja, known also as cannabis, herb, kali or lamb’s bread, is to many Rastafari a spiritual act, often undertaken whilst reading or studying the Bible. It is a sacrament that cleans the body, mind and spirit, enhances consciousness, creates a sense of peacefulness and takes the Rasta closer to Jah. To many, using ganja is part of their reclaiming of African culture.

Many Rastafari contrast their use of ganja with the use of alcohol. One makes you alert and clear, the other makes you befuddled and confused.

Without opening a completely new debate on the issue, there are clear indications that the use of ganja can have beneficial effects. Although not compulsory (and many Rasta do not use it), Rastafari often point out that dreadlocked sadhus (ascetic Indian mystics) have smoked ganja for centuries. Social historians, noting the large scale migration of Indian Hindus to the Caribbean in the 19th and 20th centuries (although originally to Trinidad and Tobago as "coolees", and not to Jamaica) believe that it may have well have enhanced the link between ganja and Rastafari beliefs.

Rastafari point out that there are many references in the Bible to support their claim that ganja is a traditional medicine, and an aid to meditation, citing Genesis 1:11, Genesis 3:18, Proverbs 15:17, Psalms 104:14 and Mark 4:20 amongst others.

Rastafari (and scholars from many religions) have studied the etymology of the word "cannabis" and are of the opinion that it may well be one of the herbs which God commands Moses to include in his preparation of sacred anointing perfume (Exodus 30.23). There are other Biblical references in Isiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Song of Songs, and it can be noted that the herb was the first to grow on the grave of King Solomon.

The wearing of dreadlocks is associated with the Rastafari, but is certainly not unique to them, and in modern times has become something of a fashion style, particularly amongst young black people of all persuasions. There are also historical and topical instances of the wearing of dreadlocks in many other religions, often by sects or specific groups of believers.

Rastas often quote either Leviticus 21:5 or Numbers 6:5 as the basis for the hairstyle and the growing of beards, although the differential between non-Rasta black hairstyles (short and tightly curled) and the white man’s hair (usually shortish and straighter) cannot be overlooked.

The length of a Rastafari’s dreadlocks also indicates, especially to other Rastas, their time as a Rasta, their age and by implication, their depth of belief, wisdom and maturity.

Dreadlocks also symbolise the mane of a lion (The Lion of Judah) and strength, as Samson was described as having "seven locks".

Such is the influence of the hairstyle, many Rastafari refer to each other as "Dreads" and there are many references to "Dreads", "Dread" and "Locks" in reggae music. Ironically, the most famous British born reggae artist, Judge Dread, was primarily known for (and banned by broadcasters as a result of) his explicit sexual lyrics rather than any religious or racial content.

Despite the desire to right many social wrongs and lead a good life, the Rastafari have, on the whole, never been politically motivated – although people like Marcus Garvey have been an exception to this trait.

When Ras Sam Brown formed the Suffering People’s Party for the 1962 elections to try and promote the needs and wants of the Rastafari community it was regarded as a very brave and courageous act, but he was rewarded with less than 100 votes, as the Rastafari tend to boycott all elections.

When Haile Selassie visited Jamaica in 1966 (21st April) he presented a walking stick to Michael Manley. Manley used the stick, which he did not require, when leading the People’s National Party into the 1972 election, which they won, making him Prime Minister for the first time. It was an attempt to motivate and encourage the Rastafari to support him through its symbolic association with Jah.

One significant political move came on 22nd April 1978 when Peter Tosh, lambasted the dignitaries and politicians attending the One Love Peace Concert with demands for the legalising of ganja amongst other things. His speech, carried out whilst smoking a "spliff" (which was an illegal act in Jamaica), enraged many. Some five months or so later, Tosh was badly beaten up, a beating widely believed to have been carried out on the highest political instructions.

The One Love Peace Concert was famous for another reason, as Bob Marley invited the Prime Minister, Michael Manley, and Opposition Leader, Edward Seaga onto the stage - where all three were famously photographed holding hands in a sign of peace, after what had been a very violent general election campaign.

Outside of Jamaica, Rastafari are generally socially accepted within mainstream communities. In the UK they appear to have good working relationships with the authorities and police, whilst in New Zealand Nandor Tanczos is a Green Party spokesman in Parliament.

If Haile Selassie I is the Jah, then the political motivator and the Prophet, metaphorically at his right hand was Marcus Garvey, although Garvey never openly supported the Rastafari Movement. He even criticised Haile Selassie I for leaving Ethiopia (at the time generally called Abyssinia) at the time of the Italian Fascist invasion. He also argued that Leonard Howell’s view that Haile Selassie was the new Messiah was incorrect. If Garvey was not Rastafari, then what could be termed "Garveyism" became an integral part of Rastafari culture.

The early days of the Rastafari were fraught with problems for the Movement and its followers. The British, the Jamaican colonial masters, actively discouraged the worship of the leader of another country, and imprisoned Howell for refusing to swear an oath of loyalty to King George V. On his release, Howell formed a community called Pinnacle, which was destroyed by the authorities in 1954. Rastafari relationships with the police were strained and there were regular confrontations, with Rastas being beaten, and occasionally killed. One particularly humiliating punishment was to cut their dreadlocks on "health" grounds or to take photographs for police, prison or security files.

Rastafari have also developed their own language or, to be correct, have modified the English language to reflect their lifestyle, beliefs and thoughts – making it individual to them and at times incomprehensible to those not familiar with the dialect.

Today, Rastafari may not have any connections with either Ethiopia or Jamaica. Such has been the growth in the Movement that a Rastafari may be white, Maori, a converted Indonesian from Islam, or a Russian reggae lover. In Russia, such has been the growth of the Rastafari Movement that a new word, "Rastaman," has entered into the local vocabulary.

If you're looking for a way to commemorate this event, you might be interested in this article: Commemorations with Cross Stitch

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