The Rastafarians
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Jah Rastafari! Ever living, ever faithful, ever sure!
Hang around the rastafarians and you will sooner or later hear these words.
Rastafarian beliefs dictate this as one of the ways rastas give praise to their god incarnate, Haile Selasse.(see an interview with a rastaman).
To really understand what the rastafarians are all about, let's take a brief look at their history.
The movement began back in the 1930's in Kingston Jamaica under the inspiration and teachings of world renown Marcus Mosiah Garvey.
During a time of struggle, racism, "class-ism," and discrimination against blacks, Garvey went about the business of teaching and enlightening blacks that to improve their condition, they must establish their own "world" back in Africa
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 including "Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah," and "Elect of God and King of the Kings of Ethiopia.".
This was when the rastafarians who had been listening to Marcus Garvey for a while, became convinced that he, Ras Tafari Makonnen, was the one... the African Messiah who had come and liberate all Africans from their oppressors.
This belief led to the birth of the rastafarian movement.
Leader Leonard Howell took control and led the group to initiate six fundamentals principles of rastafarian beliefs...
(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.
These principles were eventually abandoned and the group left without a leader as Howell was arrested and thrown into prison. Meanwhile, Selassie made it clear to the movement that he was human and in no way divine. However, the rastafarians refused to abandon this 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 gave them about 500 acres of his personal property as home for those who wished to return and live in Africa.
About 2,000 rastafarians took advantage of the opportunity and moved to Ethiopia...
...but when Selassie was yanked from power in 1974, imprisoned, and later killed, things changed.
The Ethiopians and their government refused to accept and support them...and the once thriving 2000 plus settlers, dwindled to a measly 250 plus...
On April 21, 1966, Selassie visited Jamaica. Many claimed to have seen evidence of divinity on him and converted to rastafarianism."
That same day...after a prolonged period of drought, rain fell...which further convinced others to join the group. As a result, the rastafarians now celebrate April 21st as a sacred holiday.
While visiting, Selassie encouraged his followers to first liberate their own black brothers and sisters on the island, before they consider moving to Africa ...thus was born the slogan:"liberation before repatriation".
Selassie is now dead but the rastafarians believe that he is only gone into hiding to return again on the day of judgment.
In 1966, the famous Bob Marley converted to rasta fari, grew his dreads, adopted marijuana as a sacred sacrament, sang reggae music...and with his songs took rastafarianism to new heights.
As his music became more and more popular, Bob became somewhat of an ambassador for the group. His songs echoed allegiance to rastafarian roots and in many ways sang praises to the 2nd coming of the one and only, Jah Rasta fari(Selassie).
His messages of hope in the face of oppression, poverty, mental slavery, class struggle, and racism...rang loud and clear...as the rastafarian beliefs made headways into the hearts of many around the world.
Today, millions have joined the movement, and have pledged their allegiance to the rastafarian principles.
Rastafarian dreadlocks would eventually become a symbol of identity for everyone joining the movement.Many rastafarians also wear the popular rastafarian Tam to cover their "locks" and have adopted "clean" eating habits...meaning - no pork...and in some cases no meat at all, no alcohol, and no salt (ital)...among others... (check out the Rastafarian diet here)
Today, rastafarian beliefs continue to spread it "wings" around the world...If you like this article, you may also like Becoming A Rastafarian.
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Are You A Rastafarian? Share Your Story Here!
Why did you become a Rastafarian? What does it mean to you? What do you do from day to day? How and when do you worship?
What Other Visitors Have Said
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Rasta BlackFire
I am BlackFire. I like how Bob Marley say, "Mon nah become Rasta Mon born Rasta!" Then again he sing "Haile Sellassie is the chapel he's the only King ...
Rasta Austin's story
I became a Rastafarian because I truly believe that Haile selassie was not only devine but was the incarnation of jah.
Being a rasta to me means that ...
Bobraprt's Story
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Well...! Rastafari is Fari, I mean When me explain things me explained simply
even a sucking baby will overstand. Rastafari Emperor Haile I Selassie ...
New Rasta Steves' Story...
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Jah to all my new brothers and sisters in the religion I've been seeking for many many troubled and lonely years!.
I was raised in the catholic religion ...
Alex Rasta Story ( With dreadlock I can't find any job )
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I followed the Rastafarian religion for 5 years and so I have not cut my hair, but I live here in Puerto Rico.
It is very difficult to get a job with ...
RASTA RICO WASHINGTON
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I AM VERY INTERESTED IN BECOMING RASTA, I AM VERY MOVED BY THE CHANGES IN YOUR ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS, WORSHIP, DIET AND JUST THE WHOLE WAY OF LIFE THAT JAH ...
ZRastaDeafGal Story
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Yes. I became a Rastafarian in music and dreams. I had a dream of Hail Selassie in a taxi in NYC driving me home. He turned his head and said Jah Bless ...
Why I Became Rasta
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I'm 20 years old puerto rican female....and my mom introduced me to reggae music the day I was born, I love it for as long as I can remember.
As I got ...
Rasta Trevor's story
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I am 15 and for the past year and a half I have struggled with life, religion, school, and commitment, but six months ago I almost died from overdosing ...
Rastaman Nie's Conversion.
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Well I've been going back and forth about what religions make more sense and which ones to believe in. Through this journey I found that the Rastafarian ...
Anna and Sophia Rastaman
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I have recently woke up wearing red yellow and green with dreads and discovered my new way of life. Peace
Rasta Aarons story
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I am fifteen and recently converted to Rastafari after I had a dream about king Selassie and I found him to be the the re-encarnate of Jah.
I am a ...
Professsor Hugh Mcdonald, Grand Master World Martial Arts Champion
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I love Rasta People, I have been with some of the greatest.
I have been around Bob Marley before he knew about Rasta. I was there when he appeared ...
Hail Jah above Skies!
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My name is no importance . Instead of converting to Rasta , I and I have adapted its ways. Jah blessed I and I as his anointed servant & future king.
Spirituality ...
rasta titans story
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I became a rasta farian because of the way they behave, they live. they respect etc.and it means big to me as a person.just being there and compose my ...
Monica vision of Rastafari
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Hello!
For me the Rastafari way of life, there must be a man of heart. Man is so much like water or food ... something that has great meaning for me....
Why I bacame a Rasta
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The reason why I became a Rasta is because I felt I had been called to do so for so long. I grew up going to churches and singing their songs but it never ...
Rasta Zachs story
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I became a rasta because I had a horrible accident in a car accident. I got out of de car and there were no marks on me body.
Rasta Grants story
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I an I became Rasta through the music of Marley, Tosh, Lucky Dube, and mostly all of the other 70s roots,and the African blood running through I veins,...
I WANT TO BE A Rastafarian
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I want to be a Rastafarian because they take the true and also never do bad things and I think that is the way Jah want it,So that is why I want to give ...
Just became rastafarian
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Q: Hi I am new to the whole thing and wan't to know to how become a Rastafarian do I just say I am one??? I know I need to do the things that you said ...
I Want To Be A Rasta
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My name is Shalesha I was born in Jamaica I want to be a Rasta because it is were I am from.
I love the culture......
We are all One People!
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all my life I have been seeking to find real peace & true love & unity. in the rasta life I have come to a better understand of myself & the true Love ...
Rasta Francis Magro
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I was listening to Bob Marley and listening to all his songs and finally decide to look up his bio, when I did I saw that he was Rastafarian and didn't ...
Hon Natty Dread, Ras Albert Williams
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I and I sight up his majesty in 1974. I man was greatly influenced by the struggle o Dominica Black Power activist, Desmond Trotter and reggae superstar,...
Rasta Jose's story
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Im a youngsta still but I've been an atheist for almost 8 years nows. And I decided I want to live clean. And with the help of jah I seek this lifestyle ...
Rasta Ashley
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I don't have a story nor do I have any experience for I have just converted from athieism to Rastafari. I pray for Haile Selassie's blessing.
Rasta Gino's Story
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Listen all people, I have always respected the way of the Rastaman, and the positive outlook that Rasta's have for mankind.
I struggle with the full ...
Rasta Thomas story
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I became a Rasta first of all because i didnt want no white god. Rastafari means alot to me its the correct way of living. i worship everyday
Blackstarliner`s story
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Becoming a Rasta was a call,I didn`t just chose to be Rasta and on top of that...
WHY? Rastafari livity is a faithfull,loving and conscious livity....
