Rastafarianism is considered to be a movement but is also known as a religion. Rastafarianism started at the beginning of time, but was stolen and hidden by the Philistine, Babylonians and the Romans from the Israelites or Jews. Blacks or Africans are considered to be the true descendents from both Northern Israel and Southern Judah. The movement was preserved by the slaves from northeast side of Africa, who was considered to be one of the most rebellious slaves of all. These slaves where taken from Ethiopia and brought to the island that is known as Jamaica. After the slaves gain independence in Jamaica, many of them were left below the poverty line. Out of this hardship came compassion, Native born Jamaican Marcus Mosiah Garvey was the icon for blacks in Jamaica and around the world. Marcus Mosiah Garvey prophesize that a Great King shall be crowned in the east, which was, the "King of Kings, Lord of Lords, conquering Lion of the tribe of Judah," Emperor Haile Selassie, Jah Rastafari, the righteous King of Ethiopia. Part from Selassie and Marcus, Prince/ Priest Charles Edwards Emmanuel who was the founder of the Nyahbinghi makes up the holy divine trinity in the Rasta faith (Prophet, Priest and King). The main factors in the Rastafari faith are the Holy Trinity, Bobo Ashanti rituals and Rasta music. I. The Holy Trinity a) Haile Selassie Jah Rastafar I (King of the Jews), the righteous King of Ethiopia aka the "Lord of Lords, King of Kings, conquering lion of the tribe of Judah". Haile Selassie Means "Might of the Trinity". Jah Rastafar I stand for "God Head Creator", Jah means God in Hebrew, Ras means Head and Prince, and Tafari means creator. Selassie is considered to be "Jah in Flesh" in the Rasta Faith. Tafari is the name Selassie was titled after his coronation in Addis Ababa the capital of Ethiopia. Selassie lineage proceeded, King David, Solomon and Melchizedek which is the ancient King lineage of the Israelites or Jews. Ethiopia is considered Zion or the true Jerusalem after the exodus from Egypt. (In the Rastafarian faith, Blacks is considered to be the true Israelites and was bamboozled by the Babylonians in believing otherwise.) b) Marcus Mosiah Garvey (Prophet Moses) was a publisher, journalist, entrepreneur and a black nationalist who founded the UNIA-ACL. Garvey is considered to be one of the most dominant prophets in the Rasta Movement. He prophesize and constructed the Black Star Liner, which was a tool for blacks to repatriate back to Africa and build up their own foundation that was stagnated by slavery and civil war and he also prophesize the coming of the King in the east. c) Prince and Priest Charles Edwards Emanuel (Je-sus Christ in flesh) is considered to be the Great Shepard or the returned Messiah in the Rastafarian faith. Emmanuel was the founder of the Bobo Ashanti Rastafarians spiritual order (Nyahbinghi order). And gather several individuals who followed him and build Bobo Hill or Jerusalem School Room (The Kingdom of Jah). Bobohill is similar to Indian reservation except Bobo Hill is much more respected and is on one of the Biggest Mountains in Jamaica. (There are only four Bobohills which our located in Jamaica, Ethiopia, Ghana and Miami). II. Rituals a) Rastafarians are not allowed to shave any hair from no part of there body, especially the head and face, this goes for both males and females. The ritual was given by Moses to the Israelites, Leviticus 19:27 ye shall not round the corners of your heads; neither shall thou mar the corners of thy beard. Rastafarians wear their hair in long rooted locks (dreadlocks is the term none Rastafarians used but is considered an insult to a Rasta). b) Rastafarians holy ceremony is on Saturday which is known as the Sabbath day ( the day of rest to give full devotion to the Most High Jah Rastafar I) c) Rastafarians wear turbans and robes as their religious apparel. Rastafarians wear white turbans and robes on the Sabbath to signify pureness and cleanliness. The turbans and robes is a Prince Emmanuel rule of the Nyahbinghi and it was also a ritual the Israelites practice. d) The Bible was first manifested in the east written as a scroll, and the oldest version of the bible is in Ethiopia which is written in the ancient Ethiopia Language which is Amharic, this version of the Bible is call the Kebra Negast or "the glory of the kings". Rastafarians who don't speak Amharic read the King James Version and interrupted certain terms into Rastafarian terms (ex: Jesus Christ is refer to Je-sus Christ to refer to the Black Christ of Nazareth Prince Emmanuel, and God is refer to as Jah to refer to Haile Selassie, God in flesh). e) Rastafarians practice the eating regiment "I-Tal." Ital was taken from the word vital, the letter I is very significant in the Rasta faith, the letter I signify oneness between all Rastafarians and Jah. The Ital diet does not consist of meat, dairy products, fruit that grow from vines (especial grapes) or even salt. Rasta consumes all natural veggies, gains, legumes and herbs. Ital is also refers to Rasta medicine practice, which is strictly herbal (Western medicine is not advocated by the Rastafarians). f) Repatriation is one of the biggest tasks of the Rastafarian faith especially to those who don't live in Ethiopia. Ethiopia, Africa is similar to Muslims and Mecca. Ethiopia is the home of Rastafarians father, Haile Selassie and his children must return and fulfill his works ("Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Most High Jah forever." Psalm 23-9) III. Rastafarian Music a) Rastafarian Spiritual Music is known as Nyahbinghi which consist of three drums, two small ones and one big one. The small drums are called the "Kete" drums and the big drum is called the bass drum or "Thunder Drum". The Nyahbinghi Music is played during the Sabbath. The Nyahbinghi is a constant beat that mimics the heart beat at a very slow pace and can refer to the words "Do… Good". Nyahbinghi is considered to be the first music of the earth and is good for the heart, soul and mind. b) One of the mainstream influences that Rastafarianism has made is known as the music Reggae which means "poor or suffering people Music". Reggae was created from Jamaican Ska. Reggae music was used as a vehicle to teach Rasta principles, but not all Reggae artists are Rastafarians and teach Rasta beliefs. (Ex: "I'm a Lion from mount Zion" Bob Marley and "The King in the east shall set me free" Peter Tosh). Bob Marley was one of the most famous Rastafarian roots reggae artists that ever played during the 70's. Reggae music is now split into two forms of music which is "roots" and "dancehall". Dancehall Music is a mixture of roots reggae and hip hop. Dancehall is another form of music that teaches Rastas concepts (ex: "More fire pon Babylon" Capleton and "Rastafari is my strength and hope" Sizzla Kalonji. Conclusion Rastafarianism is good for the mind, body and soul. Spiritual mediation is a must for all religions and shall be more profoundly practice in all religions (Psalm 1:2 "my delight is in the Law of the Most High Jah; and in His Law I meditate day and night."). With out the body or the temple being in good condition, one cannot live a prosperous life to the best Jah intended. And lastly the soul is eternal and shall not be tainted by any temptation. Rastafarianism basic arithmetic is good over evil, life over death, and right over wrong. There is so much stigma and mockery towards Rastas, Jamaica, Africa and Black People in general, but 400 yrs and plus of "downpression" from the "white race" has paralysis the minds of most of us for generations, and Rastafarianism is our true identity, royalty, spirituality and the ancient monarchy of the "Black Race" and honor was first created in the east and Jah works must prevail. Holy Emmanuel I, Selassie I, Jah Rastafar I, Jah Bless! CanuckRasta One Love
There You Go, CanuckRasta One Love. Thank You for bringing Rastafarianism out and giving us a better understanding. What is your take on unification of all religion?
Thanks for the info - much appreciated. It does seem that from your description that part of Rastafarianism is less about seeking to go to a specific place (ie, repatriate in Ethiopia), and instead is a focus on seeking a sense of personal freedom. Does that make sense?
Yes, Brian that makes alot of sense. Repartriation isn't happening very quickly - with the Shashamene issues and then the reelection of the Ethiopian government. Something is planned for next year I believe, wonder how many contacts I'm losing. By the way, with regards to this article, I am gonna have to throw a disclaimer on it. Seems its a very conservative perspective on Rastafari, not sure if the majority of the movement would agree. Hopefully all faiths can come together. CR and RF are examples of how this can be done thru the internet. One Love CanuckRasta
Awesome; thanks for the info, CanuckRasta. I'm currently trying to gather info on Rastafari (not Rastafarianism--learned today that this can be an insulting term to Rastas, who decry 'isms and schisms') for my interfaith radio show tomorrow. I'll be playing reggae music and discussing Rasta as well as other black power, roots movements. Your input here is very helpful and appreciated. Thanks, bro.
Greetings I, You are very welcome, Pathless. Hope the radio show went well. Contact me if you need anything else. Fiyah bu'n dem ism-skism!! RasTafarI!!! Lij Marques Benjamin
