An introduction to Rastafarianism

Rastafarianism is a religious movement born in the black slums of Jamaica that drew on the teachings of Jamaican-born black nationalist Marcus Garvey and conditionally uses selective Old Testament Christian writings to support its teachings and practices. Born in 1887, Garvey’s influence on the descendants of poor black slaves in Jamaica reached its height in the 1920s, when his message of encouragement and calling on blacks to be proud of themselves won a fanatical following. Although historically Marcus Garvey was a political leader interested in economically equalizing the black race with the white, in oral tradition he has become a divinely anointed prophet.

With the coronation of Ras Tafari Makonnen on November 2, 1930 in Ethiopia, many believed that Garvey’s prediction of a crowned black king in Africa who would be a redeemer and liberator of the dispossessed black race had come true. Makonnen claimed for himself the titles of “Emperor Haile Selassie I, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Chosen of God, and King of Kings of Ethiopia.” Ethiopia holds great significance for Rastafarians who believe in a coming day of judgment when the just will be called home to Mount Zion (identified with Africa) to live forever in peace and harmony. Marcus Garvey, while not an admirer of Haile Selassie as he observed that slavery still existed in Ethiopia, remained revered by Rastafarian fanatics despite being a Roman Catholic by birth and never spoke out explicitly in support of the growing movement.

Without a centralized organization, any definitive text, official buildings, or a recognizable and permanent office of leader, religion is difficult to categorize. This results in a wide variety of beliefs and practices that fall under the general umbrella of Rastafarianism that often result from individual interpretations. However, there are some notable features which are described below.

Distinguishing it from other groups and religions that emphasize conformity to the powers that be, here it is the individual that is important. Individuals follow a path to the truth for themselves and reject the power of oppressive modern white society (“Babylon”) which seems to rebel against God, the “rightful Ruler of Earth” called “JAH”. JAH is within all individuals and all individuals are connected to God. This is reflected in the often used phrase “I and I” when referring to oneself.

One of the early leaders of the movement in Jamaica was Leonard Howell, who was arrested by the Jamaican government in 1933 for preaching “revolutionary doctrine”. Howell established the first Rastafari commune and six Rastafari principles that have changed little over the years: 1) hatred for the white race, 2) the total superiority of the black race, 3) revenge for the wickedness of the peoples. whites, 4) the denial, persecution and humiliation of the Jamaican government and legal bodies, 5) the preparation to return to Africa, and 6) the recognition of Emperor Haile Salassie as the supreme being and sole ruler of the black people.

Although he helped shape the ideas of the movement, his arrest is also believed to have had a major influence on the organizational structure of the movement. The prolonged police harassment Howell was subjected to is believed to be the main reason the Rastafarians have decided to remain leaderless.

In 1954, the situation became increasingly tense when the Jamaican government intervened and invaded the now Rastafarian mini-state called the Pinnacle that Howell ruled. Following this, many followers migrated from the original rural setting to Kingston’s ghettos and slums. Although the true Elders advocate nonviolence in their teachings, a frustrated and desperate few incited confrontation with the authorities, resulting in deadly shootouts with British troops in the late 1950s and early 1960s, drew negative worldwide attention to the movement.

From the mid-1970s to the present, the Rastafarian movement has experienced phenomenal growth, notably until the worldwide exposure and acceptance of reggae music. This is mainly attributed to Bob Marley, who as a musical artist was also a prophet of Rastafarianism whose lyrics often touch on themes relevant to Rastafarian doctrine. The reggae movement was initially attractive to black Caribbean youth, many of whom saw it as an extension of their adolescent rebellion from school and parental authority. With the migration of Caribbean families to England and the United States, the music spread and became popular, along with another Jamaican botanical export.

Some followers choose to classify the religion as Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity (distinguishing it from Catholic and Protestant Christianity) or even Judaism. In the latter case, the belief is held that blacks descend from the twelve tribes of Israel, and that black Jews have lived in Ethiopia for centuries, disconnected from the rest of Judaism. This and other ideas are the result of interpretation of Bible translations, which are also believed to be incomplete and have been distorted by white oppressors over time.

One of the most obvious symbols of Rastafarians is the dreadlocks on the head of a Rastafarian. They are said to represent the Lion of Judah and contrast with the straight, blond gaze of the white man and the establishment and in response to interpretations of passages from Leviticus 2 in the Bible.

Another important symbol of the Rastafarians are the colors, specifically red, gold and green. These were taken from the Garvey movement and form the background of the Ethiopian flag. Red represents the Triumphant Rasta Church but also the blood of Rasta martyrs. The green represents the beauty and vegetation of Ethiopia, the promised land, and the gold symbolizes the wealth of the homeland that will be recovered.

The true Rasta also only eats I-tal food. This is a special food that never touches chemicals, it is natural and not from cans. The food is cooked but served in the rawest form possible, without salts, preservatives or seasonings. Therefore, Rastafarians are vegetarians. The drink is anything herbal like tea and not unnatural like liquor, milk, coffee and soft drinks.

Marijuana or Ganja is commonly smoked ritually and as a medicine and is not officially recommended for recreational use. It is believed to aid understanding and meditation and is claimed to be the ‘sacred’ or ‘green’ herb mentioned in some Bible translations.

Today, worldwide Rastafari followers are believed to be in the region of 1,000,000, with official branches in many countries, including England, Canada, the Caribbean islands, and America. Some sources state that six out of ten Jamaicans are believed to be Rastafarians or sympathizers of Rastafarians, with more conservative estimates stating that between five and ten percent of Jamaicans are Rastafarians.