The Rastafarians
Jah Rastafari! Ever living, ever faithful, ever sure! Hang around any of the rastafarians and you will sooner or later hear these words. But, what does it mean? it means that they are giving praise to their god incarnate, Haile Selasse...one of the pillars of the rastafarian religion see an interview with a rastaman. 
...a religion that has been around for about 70 years..Some other pillars are ganja, music, ital food, and dreadlocks. But, what are the rastafarians all about? What make them so interesting? let's see... In the Beginning... It was a time of struggle as racism, "class-ism," and discrimination against blacks was the order of the day. Marcus Garvey dedicated himself to the cause and went about the business of enlightening blacks and encouraging them that to improve on their condition, they must establish their own "world" back in Africa
A few years later, On November 2, 1930, Ras Tafari Makonnen was crowned emperor of Ethiopia and took on the name Haile Selassie (Might of the Trinity)...plus additional titles such as Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Elect of God and King of the Kings of Ethiopia.. The rastafarians who had been listening to Marcus Garvey's speeches for quite a while, saw this and were thoroughly convinced that Ras Tafari Makonnen was the one...the African Messiah that would come and liberate all Africans from their oppressors. ...as a result, the rastafarian movement was born. The first leader of the group was Leonard Howell. He took control and led the movement to initiate six basic principles for the movement. (1) hatred for the Whites (2) Superiority of the Black race (3) revenge on Whites for their wickedness (4) negation and humiliation of the government of Jamaica (5) preparation for repartriation to Africa (6) the acknowledgement of Emperor Haile Selassie as the Supreme being and the only ruler of Black people.
As the rastafarians moved forward, most of these principles abandoned. Today there is no definite leader perhaps due in part to Howell's arrest three years later for his allegiance to the Ethiopian Emperor. Haile Selassie, in the mean time, made it clear to the rastafarians that he was only a human being and was in no way divine. ...but the rastafarians refused to abandon their belief. Realizing that he was truly revered and that there was nothing he could do to change it, Selassie met with them in 1955 and later offered them them approximately 500 acres of his personal property in Ethiopia as home for those who wish to return and live in Africa. About 2,000 rastafarians took advantage of the opportunity and moved to Ethiopia... ...but when Selassie was eventually yank from power in 1974, imprisoned and later killed, everything went sour. Over time, with the lack of acceptance by the Ethiopian people and no support from the government, poverty set it and the rastafarian settlers dwindled in number from it's initial 2,000 plus...to a measly 250 plus... Today the rastafarian colors - red, green, and gold, is the same as the colors of the ethiopian flag.
On April 21, 1966, Selassie paid a visit to the island of Jamaica. His arrival brought about many new converts. Many claimed to have seen evidence of divinity on him and were convince that he was the "messiah." This was further reinforced when rain fell, the day he arrived on the island, after an extended period of drought...that by itself was enough to convert many. April 21 is now celebrated as a holiday among the rastafarians. ...While he was there on the island, Selassie encouraged his followers to first liberate their own black brothers and sisters on the island, before they consider moving to Africa...this gave birth to the slogan:"liberation before repatriation".
Haile Selassie is now dead but many within the rastafarians culture believe that he is still alive. To them he has simply gone into hiding and will return again on the day of judgment.
In 1966, the famous reggae singer Bob Marley converted to rastafarian, grew dreadlocks, adopted marijuana as a sacred sacrament, sang reggae music...and help took the rastafarian movement to new highs. As his music became more and more popular, Bob became somewhat of an ambassador for the rastafarians...his songs echoed allegiance to the rastafarian religion and in many ways sang praises to coming of Jah Rastafari(Selassie). Deep within the songs were messages of hope in the face of oppression, poverty, mental slavery, class struggle, and racism. The Rastafarians would go on to receive worldwide acclaim and significance. Today there are over a million Rastafarians around the globe.
Many rastafarians covered their "locks" with the popular rastafarian hat called the Tam Eating habits were also unique. The rastafarian diet focused on eating "clean and healthy" foods. This meant eating no pork...and some cases no meat at all, drinking no alcohol, and cooking the food without salt or "ital." Return from THE RASTAFARIANS to JAMAICAN TRADITIONS Homepage
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