Rastafari

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Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia

Rasta, or the Rastafari movement, is a primarily Jamaican religion and philosophy that accepts Haile Selassie I, the former emperor of Ethiopia, as Jah (the Rasta name for God incarnate, from a shortened form of Jehovah found in Psalms 68:4 in the King James Version of the Bible), and part of the Holy Trinity as the messiah promised to return in the Bible. The name Rastafari comes from Ras (Duke or Chief) Tafari Makonnen, the pre-coronation name of Haile Selassie I. The movement emerged in Jamaica among working-class and peasant black people in the early 1930s, arising from an interpretation of Biblical prophecy partly based on Selassie's status as the only African monarch of a fully independent state, and his titles of King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and Conquering Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5). Other factors leading to its rise include the sacred use of cannabis, and various Afrocentric social and political aspirations, such as the teachings of Jamaican publicist and organiser Marcus Garvey (also often regarded as a prophet), whose political and cultural vision helped inspire a new world view. The movement is called Rastafarianism by some non-Rastas although some Rastas themselves regard that term as improper and offensive. Due to the loose organization of the Rastafari movement and occasional persecution of those belonging to it, precise statistics regarding the total number of adherents are difficult. The most common range cited is between 100,000 and 700,000 (though the higher figure certainly includes Rastafari sympathizers, not members) [1], most of which reside in Jamaica.

Doctrines

Rastafari developed among an oppressed people who felt society had nothing to offer them except more suffering. Rastas may regard themselves as if in conformance to certain visions of how Africans should live, reclaiming what they see as a culture stolen from them when their ancestors were brought on slave ships to Jamaica, birthplace of the movement.

The religion is difficult to categorize, because Rastafari is not a centralized organization. Individual Rastafari work out the truth for themselves, resulting in a wide variety of beliefs nevertheless also covered under the general umbrella of Rastafari.

Afrocentrism

Socially, Rastafari is a response to racist negation of black people as it was experienced, both in the world as a whole where Selassie was the only black leader recognised in international circles, and in Jamaica, where in the 1930s, black people were at the bottom of the social order, while white people and their Christian religion and system of government were at the top. Marcus Garvey's encouragement of black people to take pride in themselves and their African heritage inspired the Rastas to embrace all things African.

Living close to and as a part of nature is seen as African. This African approach to "naturality" is seen in the dreadlocks, ganja (marijuana), ital food, and in all aspects of Rasta life. They disdain the modern approach to life for being unnatural and excessively objective and rejecting subjectivity. The individual is given tremendous importance in Rastafari, and every Rasta has to figure out the truth for himself or herself.

Another important Afrocentric identification is with the colours green, gold, and red, from the Ethiopian flag. They are a symbol of the Rastafari movement, and of the loyalty Rastas feel toward Haile Selassie, Ethiopia, and Africa rather than for any other modern state where they happen to live. These colors are frequently seen on clothing and other decorations. Red stands for the blood of martyrs, green stands for the vegetation of Africa, while gold stands for the wealth and prosperity Africa has to offer.

Many Rastafari learn Amharic, which they consider to be the original language, because this is the language Haile Selassie I spoke, and in order to identify themselves as Ethiopian—though in practice, most Rastas continue to speak either English or their native languages. There are reggae songs written in Amharic.

Haile Selassie and the Bible

One belief that unites many Rastafari is that Ras (an Amharic title of nobility corresponding to Prince or Duke). Tafari Makonnen, who was crowned Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia on November 2nd, 1930, is the living God incarnate, called Jah, who is the black Messiah who will lead the world's peoples of African origin into a promised land of full emancipation and divine justice (although some mansions do not take this literally.) This is partly because of his titles King of Kings, Lord of Lords and Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah. These titles match those of the Messiah mentioned in Revelation. However, according to Ethiopian tradition, these titles were accorded to all Solomonic emperors beginning in 980 B.C.E. — well before Revelation was written around 97 C.E. Haile Selassie was, according to some traditions, the 225th in an unbroken line of Ethiopian monarchs descended from the Biblical King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Psalm 87:4-6 is also interpreted as predicting the coronation of Haile Selassie I.

In the 10th century B.C.E., The Solomonic Dynasty of Ethiopia was founded by Menelik I, the son of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, who had visited Solomon in Israel. 1 Kings 10:13 claims "And King Solomon gave unto the Queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants." On the basis of the Ethiopian national epic, the Kebra Negast, Rastas interpret this verse as meaning she conceived his child, and from this, conclude that African people are among the true children of Israel, or Jews. Beta Israel black Jews have lived in Ethiopia for centuries, disconnected from the rest of Judaism; their existence gave some credence and impetus to early Rastafarians, validating their belief that Ethiopia was Zion.

Some Rastafari choose to classify their religion as Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, Protestant Christianity, or Judaism. Of those, the ties to the Ethiopian Church are the most widespread, although this is controversial to many Ethiopian clergy. Rastafari believe that standard translations of the Bible incorporate changes created by the white power structure. Some also revere the Kebra Negast, but many of these Rastas would classify themselves as Ethiopian Orthodox in religion and Rastafarian in ideology. Some Rastafarians pay little attention to the Kebra Negast, and most consider it as having nowhere near the sanctity of the Bible.

For Rastafari, Selassie I remains their god and their king. They see Selassie as being worthy of worship, and as having stood with great dignity in front of the world's press and in front of representatives of many of the world's powerful nations at a time when he was the only black head of state in the world. From the beginning the Rastas decided that their personal loyalty lay with Africa's only black ruler, Selassie, and that they themselves were in effect as free citizens of Ethiopia, loyal to its Emperor and devoted to its flag.

Most Rastafari believe that Selassie is in some way a reincarnation of Jesus and that the Rastafari are the true Israelites.At the heart of Rastafari is the belief in being one's own 'kingman' or prince (hence they call themselves Rastafari). As Ras Midas sang "When I saw my Daddy with the pick axe and my Mommy with the broom, then I know Rastaman is in exile" (Ras Midas, Rastaman in Exile, 1980). Rastas say they have been conditioned into slavery, but convert this into a belief in their own divine potential, believing that as Selassie I dwells within them, they also are worthy kings and princes.

Rastas call Selassie Jah, or Jah Rastafari, and believe there is great power in all these names. They call themselves Rastafari (pronounced /rɑstɑ'fɑr.ɑɪ/) to express the personal relationship each Rasta has with Selassie I. Rastas like to use the ordinal with the name Haile Selassie I, with the dynastic Roman numeral one signifying "the First" deliberately pronounced as the letter I - again as a means of expressing a personal relationship with God. They also call him H.I.M. (pronounced him), for His Imperial Majesty.

When Haile Selassie I died in 1975, his death was not accepted by some Rastafarians who could not accept that God incarnate could die.Many believe that Selassie's death was a hoax, and that he will return to liberate his followers.A few Rastas today consider this a partial fulfillment of prophecy found in the apocalyptic 2 Esdras 7:28.Rastafari is a strongly syncretic Abrahamic religion that draws extensively from the Bible. Adherents look particularly to the New Testament Book of Revelation, as this (5:5) is where they find the prophecies about the divinity of Haile Selassie. Rastas believe that they, and the rest of the black race, are descendants of the ancient twelve tribes of Israel, cast into captivity outside Africa as a result of the slave trade.

Rastafari are criticised, particularly by Christian groups, for taking Biblical quotes out of context, for picking and choosing what they want from the Bible, and for bringing elements into Rastafari that do not appear in the Bible. They are also criticised for using an English language translation (particularly the King James Version) of the Bible, as many have no interest in Hebrew or Greek scholarship. However, a great interest in the Amharic Orthodox version, authorized by Haile Selassie I in the 1950s, has arisen among Rastas. Selassie himself wrote in the preface to this version that "unless [one] accepts with clear conscience the Bible and its great Message, he cannot hope for salvation," thus confirming and coinciding with what the Rastafari themselves had been preaching since the beginning of the movement (Words of Ras Tafari).

Repatriation and race

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The Royal Parchment Scroll of Black Supremacy

The Rastas say that Haile Selassie will call the Day of Judgement, when the righteous shall return home to Mount Zion, identified with Africa, to live forever in peace, love, and harmony. In the meantime the Rastas call to be repatriated to Africa. Repatriation, the desire to return to Africa after 400 years of slavery, is central to Rastafari doctrine.

Many early Rastas for a time believed in black supremacy. Widespread advocacy of this doctrine was shortlived, however; at least partly because of Selassie's explicit condemnation of racism in a speech before the United Nations. Most Rastas now espouse a belief that racial animosities must be set aside, with world peace and harmony being common themes. One of the three major modern sects, the Twelve Tribes of Israel, has specifically condemned all types of racism, and declared that the teachings of the Bible are the route to spiritual liberation for people of any racial or ethnic background. People of all races are to be found within the movement.

Church and The Holy Trinity

Rastas believe that their own body is the true church or temple of God, and so see no need to make temples or churches out of physical buildings.

One type of religious gathering or grounation is reminiscent of Jewish services, and may have influence from rituals of African-American slaves who had converted to Judaism — as some Jews in the southern United States owned slaves — and escaped to Jamaica.

Rasta doctrine concerning the Holy Trinity relates to the name Haile Selassie meaning Power of the Trinity in the Ge'ez language. Rastas believe that Haile Selassie is both God the Father and God the Son of the holy Trinity, while it is themselves, and potentially all human beings, who embody the Holy Spirit.Some see Melchizedek in addition to Jesus as having been former incarnations of Haile Selassie.

Early Core Beliefs

• Hatred for the white race.
• The complete superiority of the black race.
• Revenge on whites for their wickedness.
• The negation, persecution, and humiliation of the government and legal bodies of Jamaica.
• Preparation to go back to Africa, and
• Acknowledging Emperor Haile Selassie as the Supreme Being and only ruler of black people.

Yet these early black supremacy beliefs were for the most part replaced by a doctrine of racial equality within the first decades of the movement.

Rasta Culture

Diet and Ganja

As mentioned, many Rastas eat limited types of meat in accordance with the dietary Laws of the Old Testament; they do not eat seafood or pork. Others abstain from all meat and flesh whatsoever, and is a violation of the Nazarite oath. However, the prohibition against meat only applies to those who are currently fulfilling a Nazarite vow, for the duration of the vow. Many Rastafari maintain a vegan diet all of the time, with the exception of the use of honey.

Usage of alcohol is also generally deemed unhealthy to the Rastafarian way of life, partly because it is seen as a tool of Babylon to confound and suppress the masses, and partly because placing something that is pickled and fermented within oneself is felt to be much like turning the body (the Temple) into a "cemetery".

In consequence, a rich 'alternative' cuisine has developed in association with Rastafari tenets, eschewing most synthetic additives, and preferring healthier, natural vegetables and fruits such as coconut and mango and cannabis. This cuisine can be found throughout the Caribbean and in some restaurants throughout the western world. Some Rasta elders are known to be highly expert in exactly what vegetables are rich in potassium and all other elements required for maintenance of good health.

Cannabis

For many Rastas, smoking cannabis (known as ganja, herb, kali, or lamb's bread) is a spiritual act, often accompanied by Bible study; they consider it a sacrament that cleans the body and mind, exalts the consciousness, facilitates peacefulness, and brings them closer to Jah. Many believe that cannabis originated in Africa, and that it is a part of their African culture that they are reclaiming.

They are not surprised that it is illegal, seeing it as a powerful substance that opens people's minds to the truth — something the Babylon system, they reason, clearly does not want. They contrast their herb to liquor, which they feel makes people stupid, and is not a part of African culture. While there is a clear belief in the beneficial qualities of cannabis, it is not compulsory to use it, and there are Rastas who do not do so. It is also said that cannabis was the first plant to grow on King Solomon's grave.

They believe that the smoking of cannabis enjoys Biblical sanction and is an aid to meditation and religious observance.
Among Biblical verses Rastas believe justify the use of cannabis:

• Genesis 1:11 "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so."
• Genesis 3:18 "... thou shalt eat the herb of the field."
• Proverbs 15:17 "Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith."[2]
• Psalms 104:14 "He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man."

Politics and Persecution

Rastafari culture does not encourage mainstream political involvement. In fact, in the early stages of the movement most Rastas did not vote, out of principle. Rastafari claim to reject "-isms". They see a wide range of "isms and schisms" in modern society and want no part in them, for example communism and capitalism. They especially reject the word Rastafarianism, because they see themselves as having transcended "isms and schisms". This has created some conflict between Rastas and some members of the academic community studying the Rastafari phenomenon, who insist on calling this religious belief Rastafarianism, in spite of the disapproval this generates within the Rastafari movement. Nevertheless, the practice continues among some scholars, likely because it fits their academic standards of use. However, much as academics now refer to "Eskimos" as "Inuit" and "Lapps" as "Sami", study of Rasta using its own terms has occurred and may be gaining acceptance. Rasta thought on the matter is that academic analysis is unnecessary to "trod" the path.

Language and Music

Rastas believe that their original African languages were stolen from them when they were taken into captivity as part of the slave trade, and that English is an imposed colonial language. Their remedy for this situation has been the creation of a modified vocabulary and dialect, reflecting their desire to take forward language and to confront the society they call Babylon.

Ceremonies

There are two types of Rasta religious ceremonies. A reasoning is a simple event where the Rastas gather; smoke "ganja" (marijuana); and discuss ethical, social and religious issues. The person honoured by being allowed to light the herb says a short prayer beforehand, and it is always passed in a clockwise fashion. A grounation is a holy day, marked by much dancing, singing, feasting and the smoking of ganja, and can last for several days.

Important dates when grounations may take place are:

• January 7 - Ethiopian Christmas
• February 6 - Bob Marley's birthday
• April 21 - The anniversary of Emperor Haile Selassie I's visit to Jamaica. Also known as Grounation Day.
• July 23- The birthday of Emperor Haile Selassie I
• August 17- The birthday of Marcus Garvey
• November 2 - The coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie I

Dreadlocks

Rastaman with thick dreadlocks

The wearing of dreadlocks is very closely associated with the movement, though not universal among (or exclusive to) its adherents. Rastas believe dreadlocks to be supported by Leviticus 21:5 ("They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in the flesh.") and the Nazarite vow in Numbers 6:5 ("All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow."). The length of a Rasta's dreads is a measure of wisdom, maturity, and knowledge in that it can indicate not only the Rasta's age, but also his time as a Rasta.

Also, according to the Bible, Samson was a Nazarite who had "seven locks". Rastas point out that these "seven locks" could only have been dreadlocks, as it is unlikely to refer to seven strands of hair. Dreadlocks have also come to symbolize the Lion of Judah and rebellion against Babylon.

Many non-Rastafari of black African descent have also adopted dreads as an expression of pride in their ethnic identity, or simply as a hairstyle, and take a less purist approach to developing and grooming them, adding various substances such as beeswax in an attempt to assist the locking process. The wearing of dreads also has spread among people of other ethnicities whose hair is not naturally suited to the style, and who sometimes go to great lengths to form them. These artificially acquired dreads worn for stylish reasons are sometimes referred to as "bathroom locks," to distinguish them from the kind that are purely natural. Rasta purists also sometimes refer to such "dreadlocked" individuals as "wolfs in sheeps clothes," especially when they are seen as trouble-makers who might potentially discredit or infiltrate Rastafari.

History of the Rastafari movement

Ethiopianism

Before Garvey there were two major events that led to Rastafari: The history of resistance and the forming of an afrocentric worldview, Ethiopiansim.

Marcus Garvey

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Marcus Garvey (far right) in parade

Most Rastas see Marcus Garvey as a prophet, with his philosophy fundamentally shaping the movement, and with many of the early Rastas having started out as Garveyites. He is often seen as a second John the Baptist. One of the most famous prophecies attributed to him involving the coronation of Haile Selassie I was the 1927 pronouncement "Look to Africa, for there a king shall be crowned," though an associate of Garvey's, James Morris Webb, had made very similar public statements as early as 1921.[3][4] Marcus Garvey promoted Pan-Africanism: the belief that all black people of the world should join in brotherhood and work to decolonise the continent of Africa — then still controlled by the white colonialist powers. He promoted his cause of black pride throughout the twenties and thirties, and was particularly successful and influential among lower-class blacks in Jamaica and in rural communities. Although his ideas have been hugely influential in the development of Rastafari culture, Garvey never identified himself with the movement, and even wrote an article critical of Haile Selassie for leaving Ethiopia at the time of the Fascist occupation.[5] In addition, his Universal Negro Improvement Association disagreed with Leonard P. Howell over Howell's teaching that Haile Selassie was the Messiah.[6] Rastafari nonetheless may be seen as an extension of Garveyism.

Early years

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Cover of Time Magazine, November 3, 1930

Emperor Haile Selassie I, whom some of the Rastafarians call Jah, was crowned "King of Kings, Elect of God, and Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah" in Addis Ababa on November 2, 1930. Haile Selassie almost immediately gained a following as both God and King amongst poor Jamaicans, who came to be known as Rastafarians, and who looked to their Bibles, and saw what they believed to be the fulfilling of many prophecies from the book of Revelation. As Ethiopia was the only African country to escape colonialism, and Haile Selassie was the only black leader accepted among the kings and queens of Europe, the early Rastas viewed him with great reverence.

On October 4, 1963, Haile Selassie addressed the United Nations with his famous peace speech.

Visit of Selassie I to Jamaica

Haile Selassie I had already met with several Rasta elders in Addis Ababa in the 1950s, and had allowed Rastafari and other people of African descent to settle on his personal land in Shashamane.

Haile Selassie visited Jamaica on April 21 1966. Somewhere between one and two hundred thousand Rastafari from all over Jamaica descended on Kingston airport having heard that the man whom they considered to be God was coming to visit them. They waited at the airport smoking lots of cannabis and playing drums. When Haile Selassie arrived at the airport he delayed disembarking from the aeroplane for an hour until Mortimer Planner, a well-known Rasta, personally welcomed him. From then on, the visit was a success.

The great significance of this event in the development of the Rastafari religion should not be underestimated. Having been outcasts in society, they gained a temporary respectability for the first time. By making Rasta more acceptable, it opened the way for the commercialisation of reggae, leading in turn to the further global spread of Rastafari.

Because of Haile Selassie's visit, April 21 is celebrated as Grounation Day. It was during this visit that Selassie I famously told the Rastafari community leaders that they should not emigrate to Ethiopia until they had first liberated the people of Jamaica. This dictum came to be known as "liberation before repatriation."

Rastafari Today

By the end of the 20th century, women had become more important in the functioning of the Rastafari movement. In the early years, menstruating women were often subordinated to their husbands and excluded from religious and social ceremonies. To a large degree, women feel more freedom to express themselves now; thus they contribute greatly to the religion.

Rastafari is not a highly organized religion. In fact, some Rastas say that it is not a "religion" at all, but a "way of Life". Today, many Rastas are not just Black African, but are as diverse a crowd as White, Maori, Indonesian, etc. Most Rastas do not identify with any sect or denomination, and thus are encouraged by others in the faith to find inspiration by themselves, though there are three prominent mansions of Rastafari: the Nyahbinghi, the Bobo Ashanti and the Twelve Tribes of Israel. By claiming Jah as the returned Jesus, Rastafari is a new religious movement that has arisen from Christianity, much as Christianity arose from Judaism.

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Dread, The Rastafarians of Jamaica, by Joseph Owens ISBN 0-435-98650-3
• Experience, by Lincoln Thompson
• Soul Rebels: The Rastafari, by William F Lewis

External links

• Scholarly profile
• The religion from a Rastafari perspective
• Academic work
• Jamaican Observer article about Rasta and politics
• Marcus Garvey's prophecy of Haile Selassie I
• Garvey critical of Haile Selassie I

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