Rastafari

Rastafari
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Name	Rastafari
Caption	Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia
Main locations	Jamaica; Ethiopia; United Kingdom; United States; Brazil; Canada; Israel; Spain; Italy; Japan
Founder	Locked within early 20th-century movements; key figures include Marcus Garvey; Leonard Howell
Founded date	1930s
Founded place	Jamaica
Scriptures	Kebra Nagast; Bible
Languages	English; Amharic; Jamaican Patois
Website	none

Rastafari Rastafari is a religious, cultural, and social movement originating in Jamaica in the 1930s that centers veneration of Emperor Haile Selassie I and themes of African identity, repatriation, and resistance to oppression. It synthesizes interpretations of the Bible with Ethiopianist texts such as the Kebra Nagast and draws on figures from Pan-Africanism and Black liberation movements including Marcus Garvey, UNIA-ACL, and activists in Kingston, Jamaica. The movement developed diverse mansions, communities, and diasporic expressions across the Caribbean, North America, Europe, and Africa.

Origins and Historical Development

Early influences included freedmen communities and Ethiopianist currents tied to the abolition era, the Back-to-Africa movement, and leaders such as Marcus Garvey whose prophecy-like pronouncements inspired followers in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. Foundational organizers such as Leonard Howell, Joseph Hibbert, Archibald Dunkley, and Robert Hinds established early settlements and declared the coronation of Haile Selassie I in 1930 as a pivotal fulfillment of prophecies. Colonial-era policing and legislation in British Jamaica—including responses to gatherings at places like Siliguri—shaped early persecution and migration patterns. The growth of mansions such as the Twelve Tribes and the Nyahbinghi movement reflected theological debates; notable organizers and intellectuals including Mortimer Planno, H. Edwin Lindo, and Clement "Coxsone" Dodd influenced cultural production and community formation. Post-war diasporic diffusion occurred through channels involving Windrush migrations, Pan-African Congresses, and exchanges with Ethiopian institutions including the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and diplomatic missions.

Beliefs and Theology

Doctrinal cores combine readings of the Bible—especially Book of Psalms, Book of Isaiah, and Book of Revelation—with Ethiopianist literature like the Kebra Nagast. Central theological claims include recognition of Haile Selassie I as an object of veneration tied to Solomonic lineage traced to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Eschatological themes draw on prophetic figures such as John the Baptist and Ezekiel and utilise scriptural motifs from the Exodus narrative and the Babylon concept to critique imperial powers like British Empire and European colonialism. Interpretations of law and ritual often reference Ethiopian patrimony and scriptures used in Addis Ababa liturgical contexts, while theological diversity spans from strongly millenarian groups to communities emphasizing social ethics associated with leaders like Marcus Garvey and thinkers such as Stokely Carmichael and Frantz Fanon. Concepts of identity invoke Ethiopia as Zion and engage with Ethiopian institutions including the Solomonic dynasty and imperial symbols.

Practices and Rituals

Common practices include communal gatherings such as Nyahbinghi drumming sessions featuring leaders like Count Ossie, ritual smoking of sacramental herbs with references to traditional cannabis use reflecting sacramental practices similar to sacramental traditions in other religions, and communal reasoning sessions in homes and community spaces. Dietary codes known as ital are informed by advocates including Prince Emmanuel Charles Edwards and align with health practices discussed by figures like Mikey Dread and Ras Michael. Dreadlocks and hair practices recall Biblical Nazarite motifs and interactions with Afro-Caribbean social leaders such as Hugh Rodney (Ras Taffy) and musicians who popularized the style, including Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer. Pilgrimages to Ethiopia and visits to sites in Addis Ababa and Shashamane reflect repatriation aspirations promoted by emissaries and organizations including Ethiopian World Federation and activists like Basil Wilkes. Ritual calendars may observe dates tied to Haile Selassie I's life, Ethiopian holidays, and anniversaries of events involving figures like Marcus Garvey.

Symbols and Cultural Expressions

Iconography draws on the colors red, gold, and green associated with Ethiopia and the Solomonic dynasty, the Lion of Judah emblem from imperial heraldry, and imagery of figures such as Haile Selassie I and Marcus Garvey. Musical and literary expressions feature reggae pioneers and performers including Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Burning Spear, Culture, The Abyssinians, Tarrus Riley, Capleton, and Sizzla who incorporated Rastafari themes into global popular music. Visual arts and fashion connect with designers, photographers, and painters who worked in communities like Trench Town and exhibitions in cities such as London, New York City, and Kingston; prominent cultural figures include Lee "Scratch" Perry, Duke Reid, and Chris Blackwell. Literary contributions come from poets and writers including Claude McKay, Aimé Césaire, Marlon James, Marlene NourbeSe Philip, and scholars such as Barry Chevannes, Horace Campbell, and Gale L. Owen-Crocker who studied material culture and symbolism. Film and documentary portrayals have featured directors and producers working in festivals in Cannes and Toronto.

Social Organization and Leadership

Social structures range from informal communal households to organized mansions and institutions such as the Twelve Tribes, House of Nyahbinghi, Bobo Ashanti, and organizations linked to diasporic networks like Ethiopian World Federation and community groups in urban centers including Kingston, Lagos, London, and Brooklyn. Leadership is often charismatic and communal, involving elders, spiritual counselors, and prominent cultural leaders such as Mortimer Planno, Haile Selassie I's imperial officials, and community activists. Interactions with state institutions—ranging from police forces in colonial Jamaica to diplomatic relations with the Government of Ethiopia—shaped legal recognition, land settlement initiatives like Shashamane grants, and advocacy undertaken by figures such as Michael Manley and representatives at United Nations fora. Scholarship by researchers including Horace Campbell, Barbara Levy, and Claudia Jones documents organizational dynamics, gender roles, and economic practices within communities.

Influence on Music, Politics, and Global Culture

Rastafari significantly influenced the development of reggae, dub, ska, and dancehall through musicians, producers, and sound system operators including Bob Marley, Lee "Scratch" Perry, King Tubby, Coxsone Dodd, Toots Hibbert, and The Skatalites, propelling themes of liberation into international politics and cultural movements. Political engagement intersected with leaders and movements such as Marcus Garvey, Michael Manley, Black Power movement, Civil Rights Movement, and intellectuals like Stokely Carmichael and C. L. R. James. The movement informed diasporic identity politics in locations from Kingston to London and New York City and impacted cultural industries through festivals, records, and fashion houses collaborating with artists such as Vivienne Westwood and exhibitions in museums like the British Museum and institutions in Carnegie Hall. Academic and popular discourse by scholars including Murray Campbell, Gordon Rohlehr, and Ethan Jones examined Rastafari’s global diffusion, while NGOs and cultural organizations promoted awareness through conferences in Kingston, Addis Ababa, London, and New York City.

Category:Religions