Twelve Tribes of Israel (Rastafari)

Twelve Tribes of Israel (Rastafari)
Name	Twelve Tribes of Israel (Rastafari)
Founded	1968
Founder	Vernon Carrington
Headquarters	Jamaica
Type	Religious movement
Region served	International

Twelve Tribes of Israel (Rastafari) is a Rastafari mansion founded in 1968 in Jamaica by Vernon Carrington, also known as Prophet Gad. The group emphasizes scriptural study, repatriation, and a decentralized communal structure, and it has spread to the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Brazil, Ethiopia, and other countries. Its leaders and followers engage with broader Rastafari discourse alongside interactions with figures and institutions such as Haile Selassie I, the Bob Marley legacy, and diasporic cultural movements.

History and Origins

Vernon Carrington (Prophet Gad) established the movement in 1968 after participation in Jamaican spiritual circles associated with figures like Marcus Garvey, Leonard Howell, and gatherings influenced by the 1930s development of Rastafari around Haile Selassie I; contemporaries and influences include leaders from the Nyahbinghi Order, Bobo Ashanti, and the Ethiopian World Federation. Early growth occurred in Kingston, Jamaica and in rural parishes such as St. Mary Parish, Jamaica and St. Ann Parish, Jamaica, with missionary extensions to the United Kingdom during the Windrush era and to the United States amid Caribbean migration, intersecting with communities tied to Notting Hill Carnival, Salisbury, Brooklyn, and Toronto. The Twelve Tribes evolved during the late 20th century alongside cultural milestones exemplified by the international rise of Bob Marley, the recording industry hubs of Studio One and Tuff Gong, and transnational Pan-African networks involving institutions such as the United Nations and activist leaders like Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X.

Beliefs and Theology

Theologically, the movement centers scriptural interpretation grounded in the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia as a messianic figure; its exegesis refers to traditions connected with Kebra Nagast, the writings of Marcus Garvey, and the teachings of early Rastafari proponents such as Leonard Howell and Joseph Hibbert. Members organize themselves according to the Twelve Tribes motif derived from biblical figures including Judah (son of Jacob), Benjamin (son of Jacob), and Levi. The Twelve Tribes emphasizes prophecy, personal prophecy akin to prophetic roles in the Book of Isaiah, Book of Jeremiah, and Book of Ezekiel, while engaging with Christian denominational discourse involving Pentecostalism, Seventh-day Adventist Church, and Anglicanism traditions through comparative scripture study. Doctrinally the mansion is noted for acceptance of broader Rastafari diversity, theological affinities with Pan-Africanism, dialogues with Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, and reference to geopolitical events such as the Italian invasion of Ethiopia and the coronation of Haile Selassie I.

Organization and Community Life

Organizationally the movement is decentralized, with local congregations or "houses" functioning in urban centers like Kingston, London, New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, and Rio de Janeiro; these houses coordinate with regional elders and prophetic figures inspired by Carrington, such as recorded elders who interacted with personalities like Rastafari I-shetu and community organizers linked to movements surrounding Marcus Garvey anniversaries. Community life includes communal study sessions of texts including the King James Bible, the Kebra Nagast, and writings by Rastafari intellectuals interacting with influences from Frantz Fanon, W. E. B. Du Bois, and C. L. R. James. The Twelve Tribes conducts outreach connected to cultural institutions like Caribbean Carnival, social projects in neighborhoods associated with Bob Marley Museum, and events linked to academic centers studying African diaspora religion such as SOAS University of London and Columbia University.

Cultural Practices and Symbols

Cultural practices incorporate dreadlocks, ital dietary principles, and musical expression that intersect with reggae, dub, and roots genres associated with artists such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Augustus Pablo, Lee "Scratch" Perry, and Black Uhuru; performances occur at venues like Trench Town and festivals including Reggae Sunsplash and Glastonbury Festival where Rastafari culture met broader audiences. Symbols include the Lion of Judah linked to Haile Selassie I, the use of the Ethiopian flag colors popularized in diaspora contexts connected to Marcus Garvey iconography, and scriptural motifs derived from the Book of Genesis and Psalms. Health and diet practices draw on ital principles, herbal knowledge sometimes associated with traditional African healing as practiced in regions like Ethiopia and West Africa, and interactions with legal and cultural debates around cannabis involving jurisdictions such as Jamaica, United Kingdom, and United States Congress discussions.

Influence and Relations with Other Rastafari Mansions

Twelve Tribes engages with other mansions including Nyahbinghi Order, Bobo Ashanti, and smaller groups across the Caribbean, North America, Europe, and Africa, maintaining both cooperative and distinct theological relations with communities shaped by leaders like Prince Emmanuel Charles Edwards and elders tracing lineage to Leonard Howell. Cultural collaborations appear in music with artists from labels such as Island Records, Coxsone Dodd's Studio One, and producers like Gussie Clarke, reflecting cross-mansion participation in recording sessions and festivals. The mansion participates in Pan-Rastafari dialogues at conferences and events connected to academic institutions including University of the West Indies and cultural exchanges with Ethiopian institutions like the Addis Ababa University.

Controversies and Criticism

The movement has faced internal and external critiques concerning leadership, doctrinal interpretation, and social issues similar to debates in other Rastafari mansions and religious movements involving public figures such as Bob Marley and institutions like the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Critics have addressed interactions with legal systems in countries like Jamaica and United States courts over issues such as religious freedom, cannabis laws, and communal governance, with public commentary appearing in media outlets and scholarship from researchers at University of the West Indies, SOAS University of London, and Harvard University. Scholarly debates engage with postcolonial theorists including Edward Said and historians of the African diaspora such as Kevin Yelvington and Laurence A. Thompson concerning authenticity, cultural appropriation, and the politics of repatriation to Ethiopia.

Category:Rastafari