Rastafarian

Investigating the Rasta movement

This essay is investigating the Rasta movements. The main points that will be focused on are Marcus Garvey, Haile Selassie, original and modern beliefs, beliefs about race, customs/ dreadlocks /food/ colours/ language/ cannabis, holy days, rites of passage, women, Rasta music, Bob Marley. Marcus Garvey philosophy of Rastafari helped him to become a well-known person within Rastafarianism. He was born in Jamaica on the seventeenth of August 1887. He taught about black self-empowerment this is considered as being the sources behind the founding of the religion. Marcus Garvey was never a believer of Rastafari although he is thought to be one of the religions prophets, because of his ideas, he believed all black people should return to Africa, he also was involved in the universal Negro Improvement Association which he founded in 1914. He became an inspiration to all black people because of his idea of separating the races. Garvey was a powerful speaker this helped to gain him many supporters.
Haile Selassie was thought of as a God because of Marcus Garvey’s prophecy although he never considered himself or he didn’t worship Rastafari, people also regarded him as emperor of Ethiopia. The idea is supported by the Rastafarian idea that God is black this is a claim backed by a ‘biblical text’. Many Rastafarians believe Haile Selassie is related to King Solomon and the Queen Sheba. This shows Haile Selassie is related to Solomon’s father King David and therefore to Jesus. Rastafarians consider Ethiopia as their homeland and think they will eventually return. In the past Africans were sold to white people as slaves, this is why they found themselves in Jamaica which is regarded as hell. Although they do many don’t want to live in Africa and are happy to live outside it.
Original and modern beliefs of Rastafarians are explored in the 1977 book The Rastafarians, The dreadlocks of Jamaica by Leonard Barret who puts forward what he believes are the six basic concepts of Rastafari. He acquired the list by attending public meeting. An example of a few of his beliefs is: Haile Selassie I is the living God and in the near future blacks will rule the world. Although Leonard Barretts list is considered to be right it’s thirty years old, and some of the concepts listed may not be considered as important to modern Rastafarians. This is significantly true since the recent development of white Rastafarians, due to this recent development some of Leonard Howells views come into conflict with it. Some of these statements are about racial matters, hatred of whites, superiority of blacks, revenge on whites for their wickedness, the negation, persecution and humiliation of the government and legal bodies of Jamaica, repatration, Haile Selassie will lead blacks to Africa, acknowledging Emperor Haile Selassie as God, and the ruler of black people.
In 1973 Joseph Owens published a more modern approach to Rastafari beliefs. The main concepts in contemporary Rastafari are: The humanity of God and divinity of man, God is found within every man, God in history, salvation on earth, the supremacy of life, respect for nature, the power of speech, evil is corporate, judgement is near, the priesthood of Rastafarians. To modern Rastafarians the most relevant theory is belief in the divinity of Haile Selassie I.
The Rastafarian’s belief about race is that they consider themselves the genuine Israelites. The treatment of the blacks by the whites as slaves led to the move from Ethiopia to Jamaica, but they think they will move back to Ethiopia. Due to their rigid adherence to the Old Testament laws, they believe this is the reason they are the authentic Israelites.
Some Rastafarians take the code literally unlike others who adopt some of the rules listed and chose to ignore others. Here are a few examples of the concepts Rastafarians adopt: no sharp implements to be used to damage man, vegetarianism, only to worship Haile Selassie, and to love all mankind.
The concept that the white person is inferior to the black person comes strongly from Marcus Garvey’s theories which were produced in the early stages of the Rastafarian movements. Although this theory for some Rasta’s is still an important concept of Rastafarians beliefs but for others it has not been adopted so literally.
Recently there has been an increase in white Rastafarians so the belief is not regarded as important. Leonard Barret claims that Rastafarians who still adopt this belief are not anti-white, but whites are considered as tormentors by many Rastafarians, although not all white people are considered to be evil.
Many Rastafarians believe in the future blacks shall rule the world and early members might have even have stated that whites would eventually become extinct. This period will result in blacks being respected. Although modern Rastafarians promote the multi-racial appeal of Rastafari.
Rastafarians worship does not occur in a certain religious building because they don’t have one specifically for worshipping. Rastafarians normally meet up weekly and this takes place usually in a believer’s home or in a community centre. In these sessions varieties of activities occur such as chants, prayers and singing, and for certain issues to be talked about. Marijuana is sometimes smoked to experience spiritual states. The music listened to in these meetings is called Nyabingi, and also some can include large feasts.
Marijuana is considered as a herb of religious significance, Leonard Barrett claims marijuana was first used by Rastafarians because of the way they were treated by whites. It became a device to enable freedom. Rastafarians usually describe the drug as the wisdom weed or the holy herb. The use of marijuana is justified by the biblical texts which states: “thou shalt eat the herb of the field” and “eat every herb of the land”.
Rastafarians are usually recognised by their dreadlocks, which are believed to be spiritual as stated in the bible “they shall not make baldness upon their head”. This proves dreadlocks are accepted and tolerated.
Rastafarians have laws to which foods are acceptable. Here are a few examples of their food laws; do not eat pork, nor eat fish that is more than twelve inches long, do not drink alcohol but consume plentiful amounts of fruit and fruit juice.
Holy days are event of significance to the Rastafarians, which are celebrated in many different ways. Groundation day is celebrated on the 21st of April, and it is the date Haile Selassie I, visited Jamaica in 1966. This was the only time he came to Jamaica, to mark the occasion singing and praying takes place. Ethiopia celebrates New Year’s Day on a different date to most other countries, the celebrations therefore happen on the 11th September. This date has some value to Rastafarians as they believe Ethiopia is their home land which they will eventually return to. The history of Ethiopia is expressed through biblical passages and prays. The crowning of Emperor Haile Selassie I on the 2nd of November is recognised by biblical passages being read by the high priest and the singing of songs to show the importance of Haile Selassie as messiah. Ethiopian Christmas is celebrated on the 7th of January. Christianity has existed in Ethiopia since 330AD, and belief is that blacks are the Jews of the bible, to mark this event a huge feast is set up, while the feast is taking place readings are given. Ethiopian constitution day which is on the 16th July, this date remembers the importance of Ethiopia’s first constitution by Haile Selassie in 1931. This resulted in a number of deputies being appointed although Emperor Haile Selassie I had the ultimate authority and his decision could not be over ruled. The history of Ethiopia is remembered as these events resulted in the creation of the Rastafari religion. Nyabingi session is held to remember the importance of Ethiopia. The birthday of emperor Haile Selassie on the 23rd of July is recognised because of the importance of his birth in 1892. Another birthday which is important is Marcus Garvey’s on the 17th of august, he was a Jamaican politician born in 1887. The important role Marcus Garvey played in the development of black rights, is the reason his birthday is remembered which results in events such as poetry recitals and African dance.
Rites of passage consist of birth, marriage and death and each is a significant period in ones life. Birth is important as when someone is born into the rastafari movement they are blessed by elders in the community, the nyabingi session contain drumming, chanting and prayer.
Marriage in rastafari is not a formal structure if a rastafari man and woman share a home they are considered as husband and wife, there are no formal ceremonies, the rule does not apply if the pair are related in some sort of way. If marriage does take place it is a social occasion not a religious event.
Death in rastafari results in no funeral ceremony to show the end of life. Rastafarians think that reincarnation follows death and that life is never ending.
The role of women in rastafari is different to the male role, they have certain rules they must follow. Early Rastafarians will most likely stick to these rules precisely unlike modern Rastafarians were women tend to have more freedom. Here are the rules for Rastafarian women: women are known as queens, the main role of women is to look after their kings, women are regarded as subordinate to men, women are regarded as housekeepers and child bearers, women must not commit infidelity, women are not called rastafari except through their husbands, women cannot be leaders, men are the spiritual head of the family, women must not cook for their husbands when menstruating, women must not wear makeup, dress in promiscuous clothing, or use chemicals in their hair, women must not use birth control, as it is regarded as a European tactic to suppress the development of the African population. This builds on the testament prophecy that “the seeds of Israel shall be numberless”, women must also abstain from abortion which is regarded as murder, and women must cover their hair to pray. In keeping with the biblical teaching in 1 Corinthians 11:5: “and any woman who prays or proclaims gods message in public worship with nothing on her head disgraces her husband”.
The traditional music of the Rastafarian religion is nyabingi which is used in reasoning sessions and include chanting and drumming to achieve high states of spirituality. They make people feel part of the Rastafarian community. Nyabingi music contains nineteenth century gospel music and African drumming.
The music of early Rastafarians was generally nineteenth century gospel music which was not specifically related to their religion. Early Rastafarians used music made by Sankey and Moody who were two nineteenth century American evangelists who travelled the world. The Rastafarians took the tunes and adapted them to suit the words they use and express the importance of Africa.
Music was sung by African slaves to keep them motivated whilst working. The Rastafarians adopted this style of music which is referred to as burra music. Rastafarians strongly welcomed slaves to their religion.
The spread and development of Rastafarian music began in the 1950’s. Count ossie was an influential musician to the rastafarians, he noticed drumming increased the spiritual sensations people experience. Count Ossie music led to the spread of the Rastafarian message.
Reggae music in the last 30 years has usually been associated with the Rastafarian race partically after the success of Bob Marley’s music. Bob Marley is responsible for helping spread awareness of the religion by his appearance and his lyrics. Many believe bob Marley is the sole reason to the spread of rastafari to western countries. His lyrics explained the political and social ideas of the Rastafarian culture. He often criticised the inequality the black community were subjected to. His lyrics state the Rastafarian teaching of the suppression of blacks by whites.
Robert Nesta Marley commonly known as bob Marley has become an important factor of reggae and of rastafari. His music had a great impact on the religion as a whole.
Bob Marley was conceived by a white middle class father and a clack mother in Jamaica which led to his birth in 1945. He moved from his home at 14 to achieve a music career in Kingston. Until this moment he had not experienced rastafari.
Bob Marley created the successful reggae group ‘wailers’. His marriage to Rita Anderson in 1964 who was a follower of the Rastafarian religion which greatly increased his interest in the religion and this can be seen in his music.
The wailer’s first album resulted in worldwide success although due to their tour demands they left the group and were replaced by three female singers and this led to the change of the group’s name to I-threes.
He was famous outside of Jamaica and in his home country he was seen as a prophet. Unfortunately due to cancer he died aged 36. His album exodus which was written in 1977 acknowledged the struggle of black people with those of Israelites.
To conclude this essay has illustrated the main points of the Rasta movement, of which the findings are of the main figures of the Rasta movement, their beliefs and their traditions.