
Rastafarianism
Jamaica is the roots of Rastafarianism. The Rastafarian movement was inspired by the famous Jamaican Marcus Garvey. His teachings of black self empowerment and the return of black people to their homeland of Africa, eventually grew into the Rastafarian religion.
Rastafarianism is based on the belief that Prince Ras Tafari AKA Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia was the Messiah for the Black race. To them, he was the King of Kings, the conquering lion of the Tribe of Judah, and a direct decendant of King Solomon and Queen of Sheba. Rastafarians believed that Africa is the promise land and anywhere else is considered Babylonian lands of greed and enslavement.
Today the red, green, and gold colors of Rastafarianism and Ganja are much a part of the Island as they are of the religion. Even words such as "dreadlocks" and "Irie" which originated from the movement are now mainstream Jamaica.
Evolution of Rastafarianism
Marcus Garvey in his early teachings told his followers to look to the East (meaning Africa) for the coming of a Black King. So When Ras Tafari was crowned king of Etiopia, his followers saw this as the fulfillment of Garvey's phophecy. They then called themselves Rastafarians - after the name Ras Tafari, and a movement was born.
At this point all you had was a movement whose followers believed they have a King in Etiopia and that Africa was the promised land. But in Jamaica's heavy political environment any kind of movement usually take on a life of its own.
Many Rastafarians believed that Etiopia was the promise land and that their presence in Jamaica was a form of captivity. Others believed that the Island belong to Etiopia and refused to pay taxes to the British. Many of them were sentenced to years in jail and other were commited to asylums or "mad house" as they were called in the Island.
Rastas, as they called themselves, believed that they were captives in a foreign land and many began preparation for their return to Africa. Others began to plan for a kind of guerrilla warfare. After waiting for ships, that never showed, to take them back to the promise land of Africa, Rastafarians eventually resigned themselves to life in Jamaica and the "Babylon" system.
Rituals and beliefs
At the start of Rastafarian movement, there were no set beliefs, creeds, or riturals and they pretty much just made up their own as they went along.
Although Rastafarians used the Bible, they believed that most of the King James version has been deliberately distorted by white men when it was translated. So they only read selected passages that reinforce their beliefs and ideologies. For example, they grow their "dreadlocks" out of the fact that Samson, of the old testament, lost his strength and ability to fight when his locks were shaven.
When it comes to food, most Rastas follow a rather strict diet they called I-tal that consists of pure unpreserved foods without any kind of additives including salt. It forbids smoking tobaco, drinking alcohol, eating meats - especially pork, and sea scavengers like shrimp and lobster. Most Rastas grew their own vegetables where they exclude the use of all pesticides.
Core Principles
The basic principle of Rastafarianism is the self decipline to desire and need nothing more in life than the bare essentials in food, clothes, housing, and material possesions. They stick to a simple and pure life and avoid accumulation of material goods. There was an established working code against dishonesty, greed, and exploitation of any kind.
At the core of the movement is absolute belief in the divinity of Ras Tafari whose devine and imperial titles included King of Kings and Lion of Judah. Rastafarianism is a contemplative and meditative in nature and focuses on the inner being and the oneness between Jah and man -known in Ratasfarian lingo as I-and-I. Reaching this meditative state is aided by chanting, drum beating, and the smoking of the sacramental weed - ganja.
Rastafarians do not gather formally like other religions do. Instead they meet informally in small groups in what they called "Reasonings" or Nyahbinghi. These gathering usually center around the sharing and discussion of their ideaology as well as the large ceremonial pipe - the Chalice, containing the sacramental herb, Ganga. Rastas view this ritual similar to the Christian communion ceremony.
Ganja is considered "wisdom weed" as it was believed to be founded on the grave of King Solomon.
Vocabulary
If you listen to Rastas for any length of time you will notice the overuse of the word "I". In the Rastafarian lingo, I replaces me. But it didn't stop there. Rastas preface many words with "I" and in the process created their own vocabulary. Here are a few of these words and their meanings.
- I and I is an expression signifying the oneness of God and Jah with every man. In short, it means God is within every man.
- Ital is organic food prepare without any kind of salt or preservatives.
- I man refers to the inner man of each Rastafarian.
- Irie means a positive feeling or emotions or as rastas called it "good vibes"
- Idren refers to bredren or fellow rasta men.
- Sistren refers to Sister or fellow rasta women.
- Ites means the color red as in Ites, green, and gold the colors of the Rastafarians
- Dreadlocks refers to locks worn by Rastafarians and evolved out of the fear it struct in people in beginnings of the movements
- Babylon refers to man made institutions and governments in which Rastas have to live their life or any place other than Africa. Rastas often refer to policemen as Babylon
- Jah means God
- Downpression is used instead of oppression since oppression means keeping someone down
- Overstanding replaces understanding since one becomes more enlighten.
- Politricks is used instead of politics because Rastas view all politicians as trickster.
- Everliving replaces Everlasting because Rastas believe they will live forever but the work last implies the end.
Ganja in Jamaica
One of the myths about Jamaica is that ganja is everywhere and everybody smokes it. >> Learn the facts for yourself.