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Rastafari Movement/Rasta/ Rastafari

Rastafari Movement/Rasta/ Rastafari. Background. About 1 million followers worldwide A “messianic religio -political movement” No formal organization; constituted by variation Some see Rastafari more as a way of life than a religion. Terminology.

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Rastafari Movement/Rasta/ Rastafari

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  1. Rastafari Movement/Rasta/Rastafari

  2. Background • About 1 million followers worldwide • A “messianic religio-political movement” • No formal organization; constituted by variation • Some see Rastafari more as a way of life than a religion

  3. Terminology • Followers = Rastas, Rastafarians, Rastafaris, or RasTafarians • Dislike the term “Rastafarianism” because they view “isms” as characteristic of oppressive, divisive, and corrupt White society • Prefer Rastafari, Rasta, or the Rastafari Movement

  4. Socio-Historical Context • Developed in the slums of Kingston, Jamaica in the 1920s and 30s • Environment = poverty, depression, racism and class discrimination • Rasta message = Black pride, freedom from oppression, and the hope of return to the African homeland

  5. Unifying Beliefs • Belief in the divinity and/or messiahship of Ethiopian Emperor HaileSelassieI • The influence of Jamaican culture • Resistance to oppression • Pride in African heritage • Rastafarian lifestyle = ritual use of marijuana, avoidance of alcohol, the wearing of one's hair in dreadlocks, and vegetarianism

  6. Religious Beliefs • Rastafarians believe in the Judeo-Christian God, who they call Jah • Core beliefs are based on Judaism and Christianity, with an emphasis on Old Testament laws/prophecies and the Book of Revelation • Jah = manifested on earth as Jesus, who is Black and is the Ethiopian Emperor HaileSelassie • Selassie = often referred to as His Imperial Majesty (or H.I.M.) • Rastafarians honor Old Testament prophets like Moses and Elijah

  7. Rastafarian Concepts • No afterlife? – Look to Africa (“Zion”) as heaven on earth • “Everliving” = a select few, true Rastas are believed to be immortal, both physically and spiritually • “I and I” vs. “you and I” = oneness between humanity and God; equality of all humans • Babylon = the White power structure of Europe and the Americas • Rastas seek to resist Bablyon • See the modern church/church of Rome as particularly Babylonian

  8. Sacred Texts • The Holy Piby – the “Black Man’s Bible” • Published in 1924 • A version of the Christian Bible that has been altered to remove “distortions” that are believed to have been made by White leaders during its translation into English • The KebraNegast (Ethiopian National Epic)

  9. Video: 60 Minutes – The Rastafarians • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtgRKZjVA0k

  10. Marcus Garvey (1887-1940) • Led the “Back to Africa” movement • The The Rastafarian Movement began with his teachings • Taught that Africans = the true Israelites (Chosen People) who were exiled to Jamaica and other parts of the world as divine punishment for their sins • In 1927, he prophesied: “Look to Africa, for there a king shall be crowned.”

  11. HaileSelassie • November 2, 1930: RasTafariMakonnen was crowned emperor of Ethiopia (ruled until 1974) • Took on the name HaileSelassie (“Might of the Trinity”) • Also took the titles “Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Elect of God, and King of Kings of Ethiopia” • Rastafarians saw Selassie’s coronation as a fulfillment of Garvey’s prophecy • Believed that Selassie = the messiah • Saw his coronation as a sign that the divine punishment had ended and the return to Africa would begin • Named their movement after his original name and saw Selassie as the physical presence of Jah on earth

  12. Selassie on his Messiahship • Selassie = an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian • Denied his divine status • In a radio interview with Canada’s CBC news in 1967 he said, “I have heard of that idea [that I am divine]. I also met certain Rastafarians. I told them clearly that I am a man, that I am mortal, and that I will be replaced by the oncoming generation, and that they should never make a mistake in assuming or pretending that a human being is emanated from a deity.” • Garvey did not think highly of Selassie – saw him as an incompetent leader and in collusion with White oppressors

  13. Selassie and Rastafarians: Back to Africa • 1955: Selassie offered 500 acres of his personal land to Black people wishing to return to Africa • About 2,200 Black people (mostly Rastafarians) moved during the 1960s • Poverty, a lack of acceptance by the Ethiopian population, and disputes with the government that overthrew Selassie caused the population to dwindle • The current population = about 250

  14. Selassie’s Visit to Jamaica • April 21, 1966 • Rita Marley claimed she saw stigmata appear on Selassie as proof of his divinity • Further proof of his divinity = A serious drought ended with rain upon his arrival • Selassie told Rastafarians not to seek to immigrate to Ethiopia until they had liberated the people of Jamaica • His visit helped legitimize the Rastafari Movement

  15. Selassie’s Death • 1974: Selassie was overthrown by a military coup and kept under house arrest until his captors killed him in 1975 • Many Rastas believe his death was a hoax • Believe he lives on in hiding until Judgement Day • Others say he lives on through individual Rastafarians

  16. Ritual Use of Marijuana • Rastas call marijuana ganja, the “holy herb,” and believe it was given by God • Cite Psalm 104:14, “He causeth the grass for the cattle and herb for the service of man.” • Also use marijuana for medicinal purposes • Marijuana is used primarily during the two main Rastafari rituals: reasonings and nyabinghi

  17. Reasonings • Reasoning = The reasoning is an informal gathering at which a small group of Rastas smoke ganja and engage in discussion • The ritual begins when one person lights the pipe, or "chalice," and recites a short prayer while all other participants bow their heads • The pipe is then passed around the circle until all of the people have smoked • The reasoning ends when the participants depart one by one

  18. Nyabinghi • Nyabinghi (binghi for short) = A dance held on Rasta holidays and special occasions • Can last for several days and bring together hundreds of Rastafarians from all over Jamaica • Camp in tents on land owned by the host Rastas • Formal dancing takes place at night in a tabernacle set up for the occasion • Rastas sing and dance until the early hours of the morning; in the daytime they “rest and reason”

  19. Dreadlocks: Significance to Rastas • The Bible commands one to not cut her/his hair (Leviticus 21:5) • Symbolize the lion's mane, which is a representation of strength, Africa/Ethiopia, and the Lion of Judah (symbol of the Israelite tribe of Judah in Genesis) • Naturalness and simplicity, which are associated with Africa • The Rasta’s roots are believed to be in Africa

  20. Symbols • Red = church of the Rastas; blood of the marytrs in the Black struggle for liberation • Gold = the wealth of the African homeland • Green = Ethiopia’s beauty and lush vegetation • Black = Color of Africans • Lion of Judah = HaileSelassie as the King of Kings, Africa, strength

  21. Dietary Restrictions: Ital • The most observant Rastas follow a dietary law called Ital • Ital = food which is completely natural (not canned and free of chemicals and preservatives) and eaten as raw as possible • Old Testament prohibitions against pork and shellfish are part of Ital; most Rastafarians are vegatarians or vegans • Coffee and milk are also rejected as unnatural • Rastafarians reject the use of alcohol; see it as a fermented chemical that does not belong in the temple of the body • It makes a person “stupid,” thereby playing into the hands of White leaders • This is contrasted with the holy herb of marijuana, which is natural and believed by Rastas to open their minds and assist in reasoning

  22. Bob Marley (1945-81): Rasta Prophet? • One of the most important figures in the history of the Rastafari movement • Son of a White father and Black mother; Marley lived in the Kingston slumS • Became a Rastafari around 1966 • Reggae music = intimately connected to RastafarI; its lyrics often speak of oppression, poverty, slavery, apartheid and human rights • Diagnosed with cancer in 1977; died on May 11, 1981 • A few months before his death, Bob Marley was baptized into the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, a Christian faith that rejects the divinity of HaileSelassie • Marley received a state funeral in Jamaica, which combined elements of Ethiopian Orthodoxy and Rastafari

  23. Snoop Lion: Bob Marley Re-Incarnated? After Before

  24. Video: Snoop Lion Interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9q1V54V5Yc • Excommunicated/denounced by the Rastafari Millennium Council

  25. Rasta Backlash against “Snoop Lion” • Bunny Wailer (last surviving member of Bob Marley's original band) accused Snoop Lion of “outright fraudulent use of Rastafari Community's personalities and symbolism” • The Rastafari Millennium Council has sent seven pages of demands to him • Among other things, the council is demanding money and “moral support,” a public apology, an assurance that Snoop will stop calling himself Lion, and threatens to sue him if he doesn’t comply • “Smoking weed and loving Bob Marley and reggae music is not what defines the Rastafari Indigenous Culture”

  26. Video: Ras Trent • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcK0MYgnHjo • Snoop Lion: La La La • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ5KlZNh1WA

  27. Rastafarian Millennium Council • “To provide support and empowerment to all Rastafari…in the practice and furtherance of their living faith” • “To secure, protect and manage the intellectual property of the Rastafari community worldwide, for the benefit of the Rastafari community worldwide” • “To take all such actions as are necessary and appropriate to prevent the further theft and abuse of the symbols, emblems, music, cultural arts, tangible and intangible heritage of the Rastafari community worldwide” • “To advocate and negotiate with appropriate bodies in order to further the interests of the Rastafari communities, including in matters of human rights and welfare, intellectual property… and cultural heritage tourism”

  28. “Despite the invaluable contribution of Rastafari…the Rastafari community remains socially and economically marginalized in Jamaica.” • “Unauthorized copying, reproductions and association of Rastafari style of dress, talk, appearance, raises serious issues with regard to the right of Rastafari culture to safeguard the…misuse of its culture…without regard or respect for the culture and those who suffered and died to establish, develop, and nurture it.”

  29. 1. Rastafari includes important religious elements such as a deity, sacred texts, rituals, and a messiah. Why, then, do you think that people question whether it is a “real” religion? 2. Who decides what a “real” religion is? Who should be allowed to make this decision? 3. Why do you think that religious/cultural intolerance is often aimed at non-mainstream religions such as Rastafari? 4. Do the racialized and/or socio-economic backgrounds of the majority of a religion’s followers play a role in determining whether the religion is viewed as legitimate? 5. Do you think that media portrayals of Rastafari (such as Snoop Lion’s recent “conversion”) have distorted Rastafari’s true religiosity? 6. What should people do when their form of resistance becomes a second form of oppression?

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