[223] Cannabis is usually smoked during groundings,[193] although some practitioners also smoke it informally in other contexts. [311] They argue that their dreadlocks mark a covenant that they have made with Jah,[312] and reflect their commitment to the idea of 'naturalness'. Rasta slang for lord or Jehovah . [403] In 1995, the Rastafari Centralization Organization was established in Jamaica as an attempt to organise the Rastafari community. Rastas emphasise what they regard as living "naturally", adhering to ital dietary requirements, twisting their hair into dreadlocks, and following patriarchal gender roles. [205], The term "grounding" is used among Rastas to refer to the establishment of relationships between like-minded practitioners. [373] Henry's son was accused of being part of a paramilitary cell and executed, confirming public fears about Rasta violence. [248], The bass-line of Rasta music is provided by the akete, a three-drum set, which is accompanied by percussion instruments like rattles and tambourines. [148], Most Rastas share a pair of fundamental moral principles known as the "two great commandments": love of God and love of neighbour. What we struggle to make of it is our sole gift to Jah. Reggae music grew out of the Rastafari movement and was made popular throughout the world by the Jamaican singer and songwriter Bob Marley. [35], Rastas refer to the totality of their religion's ideas and beliefs as "Rastalogy". [54] Rastas regard themselves as an exclusive and elite community, membership of which is restricted to those who have the "insight" to recognise Haile Selassie's importance. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. [181], As it existed in Jamaica, Rastafari did not promote monogamy. [181] This was legitimised with the explanation that women were impure through menstruation and that their presence at the ceremonies would distract male participants. Rastafarianism takes elements of the Bible and combines them with the ideology of Marcus Garvey and the belief that Haile Selassie I, emperor of Ethiopia (1930—1975) was the second advent of the Messiah. [366] Jamaica's Rastas expressed contempt for many aspects of the island's society, viewing the government, police, bureaucracy, professional classes, and established churches as instruments of Babylon. [38] Rastas place great emphasis on the idea that personal experience and intuitive understanding should be used to determine the truth or validity of a particular belief or practice. [415] The group hold to a highly rigid ethos. [408] This and subsequent international conferences, assemblies, and workshops have helped to cement global networks and cultivate an international community of Rastas. Rastafari, also known as Rastafarianism and the Rastafari movement, is a religion that developed in Jamaica during the 1930s. Jah or Yah (Hebrew: יה ‎, Yah) is a short form of Hebrew: יהוה ‎ (YHWH), the four letters that form the tetragrammaton, the personal name of God: Jehovah, which the ancient Israelites used. [201], Rastas typically smoke cannabis through a form of large cigarette known as a spliff. [128] The wearing of hair as dreadlocks then emerged as a Rasta practice in the 1940s;[128] there were debates within the movement as to whether dreadlocks should be worn or not, with proponents of the style becoming dominant. [207] The adoption of cannabis may also have been influenced by the widespread medicinal and recreational use of cannabis among Afro-Jamaicans in the early 20th century. [353] The ship never arrived and Henry was charged with fraud. [300] Rasta men refuse to eat food prepared by a woman while she is menstruating,[301] and some will avoid food prepared by a woman at any time. [365] In 1941, the British drove the Italians out of Ethiopia and Selassie returned to reclaim his throne. [338] In that century, many members of the African diaspora moved to colonies founded in Sierra Leone and Liberia. [442] On researching English Rastas during the 1970s, Cashmore noted that they had not converted instantaneously, but rather had undergone "a process of drift" through which they gradually adopted Rasta beliefs and practices, resulting in their ultimate acceptance of Haile Selassie's central importance. Answer: Rastafarianism, Rastafari, or Rasta is a religious movement originating in Jamaica in the 1930s. [201] Rastas typically see the growing acceptance of birth control and homosexuality in Western society as evidence of the degeneration of Babylon as it approaches its apocalyptic end. [158] The increasing militancy of some Rastas resulted in growing alarm about the religion in Jamaica. [a][97], According to Clarke, Rastafari is "concerned above all else with black consciousness, with rediscovering the identity, personal and racial, of black people". [298] In Jamaica, Rasta practitioners have commercialised ital food, for instance by selling fruit juices prepared according to Rasta custom. [338], In the 19th century, there were growing calls for the African diaspora located in Western Europe and the Americas to be resettled in Africa. [357] They first did so in Kingston, and soon the message spread throughout 1930s Jamaica,[358] especially among poor communities who were hit particularly hard by the Great Depression. [416] It places greater restrictions on women than most other forms of Rastafari;[418] women are regarded as impure because of menstruation and childbirth and so are not permitted to cook for men. [364] For its first thirty years, Rastafari was in a conflictual relationship with the Jamaican authorities. [76] Rastas who view Haile Selassie as Jesus argue that both were descendants from the royal line of the Biblical king David,[60] while Rastas also emphasise the fact that the Makonnen dynasty, of which Haile Selassie was a member, claimed descent from the Biblical figures Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. [102] This is similar to beliefs in Judaism,[103] although many Rastas believe that contemporary Jews' status as the descendants of the ancient Israelites is a false claim. [408] The Fulfilled Rastafari group accept Haile Selassie's statements that he was a man and that he was a devout Christian, and so place emphasis on worshipping Jesus through the example set forth by Haile Selassie. [422] He proclaimed himself the reincarnation of the Old Testament prophet Gad and his followers call him "Prophet Gad", "Brother Gad", or "Gadman". [120] Many Rastas, adopting a Pan-Africanist ethos, have criticised the division of Africa into nation-states, regarding this as a Babylonian development,[121] and are often hostile to Western resource extraction from the continent. [126] Other Rastas apply the term "Zion" to Jamaica or they use it to describe a state of mind. [207] Groundings often take place in a commune or yard, and are presided over by an elder. [424] The group divides its members into twelve groups according to which Hebrew calendar month they were born in; each month is associated with a particular colour, body part, and mental function. [316] Members of the Bobo Ashanti sect of Rastas conceal their dreadlocks within turbans,[321] while some Rastas tuck their dreads under a rastacap or tam headdress, usually coloured green, red, black, and yellow. [39] No Rasta, therefore, has the authority to declare which beliefs and practices are orthodox and which are heterodox. [26] It is thus difficult to make broad generalisations about the movement without obscuring the complexities within it. Rastafarian expression of the physical body and mind being in oneness with soul. [178] Rasta discourse insists this female dress code is necessary to prevent women attracting men and presents it as an antidote to the sexual objectification of women in Babylon. [203] Rastafari does not place emphasis on hierarchical structures. [247] Rasta music is performed to praise and commune with Jah,[248] and to reaffirm the rejection of Babylon. [306], Rastas use their physical appearance as a means of visually demarcating themselves from non-Rastas. [131] Some Rastas seek to transform Western society so that they may more comfortably live within it rather than seeking to move to Africa. [282] Similarly, they often favour "livicate" over "dedicate" because "ded-" is phonetically akin to the word "dead". [129] Rather, many Rastas saw the idea of returning to Africa in a metaphorical sense, entailing the restoration of their pride and self-confidence as people of black African descent. [484] Rastafari groups have also appeared in Zimbabwe,[485] and in South Africa;[486] in 2008, there were at least 12,000 Rastas in the country. [64] Many Rastas take the view that the God worshipped by most white Christians is actually the Devil,[65] and a recurring claim among Rastas is that the Pope is Satan or the Antichrist. Rastafari. [217] Some Rastas also organise Nyabinghi Issemblies to mark Jamaica's Emancipation Day (1 August) and Marcus Garvey's birthday (17 August). [208] Most groundings contain only men, although some Rasta women have established their own all-female grounding circles. [240] In the United States, for example, thousands of practitioners have been arrested because of their possession of the drug. "[94] His grandson Ermias Sahle Selassie has said that there is "no doubt that Haile Selassie did not encourage the Rastafari movement". [141] They believe in the possibility of eternal life,[65] and that only those who shun righteousness will actually die. Princes shall come out of Egypt, Ethiopia shall stretch forth her hand unto God. [48] Rastas commonly perceive the final book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation, as the most important part, because they see its contents as having particular significance for the world's present situation. [413], The Bobo Ashanti sect was founded in Jamaica by Emanuel Charles Edwards through the establishment of his Ethiopia Africa Black International Congress (EABIC) in 1958. Many Rastas call for this diaspora's resettlement in Africa, a continent they consider the Promised Land, or "Zion". [62] Many Rastas regard Christianity as the creation of the white man;[63] they treat it with suspicion out of the view that the oppressors (white Europeans) and the oppressed (black Africans) cannot share the same God. [196] Some Rasta women have challenged gender norms by wearing their hair uncovered in public and donning trousers. [247] A syncopated rhythm is then provided by the fundeh drum. [229] Rastas argue that the use of ganja is promoted in the Bible, specifically in Genesis,[c] Psalms,[d] and Revelation. [186] Rasta men refer to their female partners as "queens",[187] or "empresses",[188] while the males in these relationships are known as "kingmen". [394] This helped to confer greater legitimacy on Rastafari,[395] with reggae and Rasta imagery being increasingly presented as a core part of Jamaica's cultural heritage for the growing tourist industry. [263], Through reggae, Rasta musicians became increasingly important in Jamaica's political life during the 1970s. Hang around the rastafarians and you will sooner or later hear these words. [254] Ossie subsequently popularised this new Rastafari ritual music by playing at various groundings and groundations around Jamaica,[254] with songs like "Another Moses" and "Babylon Gone" reflecting Rasta influence. This term is also used to describe food that is cooked with very little or no salt. [86] The 1974 overthrow of Haile Selassie by the military Derg and his subsequent death in 1975 resulted in a crisis of faith for many practitioners. [472] In West Africa, Rastafari has spread largely through the popularity of reggae,[473] gaining a larger presence in Anglophone areas than their Francophone counterparts. [434] Men dominate Rastafari. [334] One key influence on Rastafari was Christian Revivalism,[335] with the Great Revival of 1860–61 drawing many Afro-Jamaicans to join churches. [406] Rastas avoid centralised and hierarchical structures because they do not want to replicate the structures of Babylon and because their religion's ultra-individualistic ethos places emphasis on inner divinity. [79] Rastas holding to this view sometimes regard the deification of Haile Selassie as naïve or ignorant,[80] in some cases thinking it as dangerous to worship a human being as God. [72] Many, although not all, believe that the Ethiopian monarch was the Second Coming of Jesus,[73] legitimising this by reference to their interpretation of the nineteenth chapter of the Book of Revelation. [143] He suggested that this attitude stemmed from the large numbers of young people that were then members of the movement, and who had thus seen only few Rastas die. [89] To bolster their argument, they pointed to the fact that no corpse had been produced; in reality, Haile Selassie's body had been buried beneath his palace, remaining undiscovered there until 1992. Jah Jah move I away, no man can catch me Some hungry fi kill, man a better you chill I, Buju nah go no funeral, I am nyabinghi Heed, yet I and I try, no invite me Let the dead praise the dead, man, I wanna be lively Remembering how folks used to be This life means so much more to me I and I a Rastafari, dreader than dread, oh Lord Garvey knew of the Rastas but his view of them, according to the scholar Barry Chevannes, "bordered on scorn". [263] Although reggae contains much Rastafari symbolism,[5] and the two are widely associated,[264] the connection is often exaggerated by non-Rastas. [61] They believe that Jesus was a black African, and that the white Jesus was a false god. [423] It is commonly regarded as the most liberal form of Rastafari and the closest to Christianity. [66] Rastas therefore often view Christian preachers as deceivers[65] and regard Christianity as being guilty of furthering the oppression of the African diaspora,[67] frequently referring to it as having perpetrated "mental enslavement". [226] However, not all Rastas use ganja;[227] abstainers explain that they have already achieved a higher level of consciousness and thus do not require it. [210] This is a discussion among assembled Rastas about the religion's principles and their relevance to current events. [189] Rastafari places great importance on family life and the raising of children,[190] with reproduction being encouraged. There are an estimated 700,000 to 1,000,000 Rastas across the world. Example Sentences (patois) Jah shall guide mi (english) The lord shall guide me. I and I about to sing praises unto the most high Jah. [368] The vanguard of this was the House of Youth Black Faith, a group whose members were largely based in West Kingston. In the 1960s and 1970s, it gained increased respectability within Jamaica and greater visibility abroad through the popularity of Rasta-inspired reggae musicians, most notably Bob Marley. [410] The wearing of dreadlocks is regarded as indispensable and patriarchal gender roles are strongly emphasised,[410] while, according to Cashmore, they are "vehemently anti-white". [468], Rastafari was introduced to the United States and Canada with the migration of Jamaicans to continental North America in the 1960s and 1970s. [47] Rastas regard the Bible as an authentic account of early black African history and of their place as God's favoured people. [12] Many Rastas nevertheless reject descriptions of Rastafari as a religion, instead referring to it as a "way of life",[13] a "philosophy",[14] or a "spirituality". [127] To this end, various Rastas lobbied the Jamaican government and United Nations to oversee this resettlement process. [139] A view then common in the Rasta community was that the world's white people would wipe themselves out through nuclear war,[140] with black Africans then ruling the world, something that they argued was prophesied in the Book of Daniel. [483] There were also conflicts with local Ethiopians, who largely regarded the incoming Rastas, and their Ethiopia-born children, as foreigners. [36] Edmonds described Rastafari as having "a fairly cohesive worldview";[36] however, the scholar Ernest Cashmore thought that its beliefs were "fluid and open to interpretation". [244][245], Rastafari music developed at reasoning sessions,[246] where drumming, chanting, and dancing are all present. [3] Multiple scholars of religion have categorised Rastafari as a new religious movement,[4] while some scholars have also classified it as a sect,[5] a cult,[6] and a revitalisation movement. [90] Another perspective within Rastafari acknowledged that Haile Selassie's body had perished, but claimed that his inner essence survived as a spiritual force. Religious rituals include prayer services, the smoking of ganja (marijuana) to achieve better “itation” (meditation) with Jah, and “bingis” (all-night drumming ceremonies). Rastafarian beliefs dictate this as one of the ways rastas give praise to their god incarnate, Haile Selasse. One of Bob Marley's greatest strengths as a songwriter was his abilty to transform the folk wisdom of Jamaica with his thorough knowledge of the Bible and Rastafari into memorable lyrics grounded in a circular bass line. [436] This picture of Rastafari's demographics has been confirmed by ethnographic studies conducted in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. [218] Nyabinghi Issemblies often attract Rastas from a wide area, including from different countries. [22], Rastafari has continuously changed and developed,[23] with significant doctrinal variation existing among practitioners depending on the group to which they belong. [184] Marriage is not usually formalised through legal ceremonies but is a common-law affair,[185] although many Rastas are legally married. [128] One claim is that it was adopted in imitation of certain African nations, such as the Maasai, Somalis, or Oromo, or that it was inspired by the hairstyles worn by some of those involved in the anti-colonialist Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya. [149] Many Rastas believe that to determine whether they should undertake a certain act or not, they should consult the presence of Jah within themselves. Rastas, as members of the movement are called, see their past, present, and future in a distinct way. [83] Rastas use this title for Haile Selassie alongside others, such as "Almighty God", "Judge and Avenger", "King Alpha and Queen Omega", "Returned Messiah", "Elect of God", and "Elect of Himself". [274] Adherents believe that by formulating their own language they are launching an ideological attack on the integrity of the English language, which they view as a tool of Babylon. [453] It has spread primarily in Anglophone regions and countries, largely because reggae music has primarily been produced in the English language. [314] Rastas are often critical of black people who straighten their hair, believing that it is an attempt to imitate white European hair and thus reflects alienation from a person's African identity. “Rasta” (Photo: grooble, Flickr). Edmonds described Rastafari as having "a fairly cohesive worldview"; however, the scholar Ernest Cashmore thought that its beliefs were "fluid and open to interpretation". [241] Rastas also often avoid mainstream scientific medicine and will reject surgery, injections, or blood transfusions. No, the Rastafarian god 'Jah,' is not the same as the biblical God. [104] Rastas typically believe that black Africans are God's chosen people, meaning that they made a covenant with him and thus have a special responsibility. [237] Hindu migrants arrived in Jamaica as indentured servants from British India between 1834 and 1917, and brought cannabis with them. [297] Rasta dietary practices have been ridiculed by non-Rastas; in Ghana for example, where food traditionally includes a high meat content, the Rastas' emphasis on vegetable produce has led to the joke that they "eat like sheep and goats". The religion is based on Christianity but followers worship the former Ethiopian ruler Haile Selassie. [173], Rasta women usually wear clothing that covers their head and hides their body contours. [243] In 2019, Barbados legalised Rastafarian use of cannabis within religious settings and pledged 60 acres (24 ha) of land for Rastafarians to grow it. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. [180] Although men and women took part alongside each other in early Rasta rituals, from the late 1940s and 1950s the Rasta community increasingly encouraged gender segregation for ceremonies. Born in the ghettos of Kingston, Jamaica, the Rastafarian movement has captured the imagination of thousands of black youth, and some white youth, throughout Jamaica, the Caribbean, Britain, France, and other countries in Western Europe and North America. I and I (also spelled I&I, InI, or Ihi yahnh Ihi) is a complex term, referring to the oneness of Jah (God) and every human. By the 8th century, Arab traders had introduced cannabis to Central and Southern Africa. [191] The religion emphasises the place of men in child-rearing, associating this with the recovery of African manhood. [118] Rastas turn to Biblical scripture to explain the Atlantic slave trade,[119] believing that the enslavement, exile, and exploitation of black Africans was punishment for failing to live up to their status as Jah's chosen people. [317] Some Rastas have also joined the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the Christian organisation to which Haile Selassie belonged, and these individuals are forbidden from putting their hair in dreadlocks by the Church. Communal meetings are known as "groundations", and are typified by music, chanting, discussions, and the smoking of cannabis, the latter regarded as a sacrament with beneficial properties. [130] The term "liberation before repatriation" began to be used within the movement. [411], Probably the largest Rastafari group, the House of Nyabinghi is an aggregate of more traditional and militant Rastas who seek to retain the movement close to the way in which it existed during the 1940s. That’s right! The phrase translates as a literal command to a group of people to “praise Jah,” or “Yah.” Literally, "Praise Ye Jehovah." [337] Further contributing significantly to Rastafari's development were Ethiopianism and the Back to Africa ethos, both traditions with 18th century roots. [11] The scholar Ennis B. Edmonds also suggested that Rastafari was "emerging" as a world religion, not because of the number of its adherents, but because of its global spread. [329], Rastafari developed out of the legacy of the Atlantic slave trade, in which over ten million Africans were enslaved and transported to the Americas between the 16th and 19th centuries. [469] American police were often suspicious of Rastas and regarded Rastafari as a criminal sub-culture. 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