Rastafarian Jamaica’s Indigenous Culture

Jamaica has many lifestyles, as derived from the “many” which comes out of “Out of many One People”, the island’s national motto.

“We as Africans must worship through the eyes of Ethiopia”, regarding the promulgating of a white god to black people. Europeans have influenced Jamaica, specifically its colonisers, the British. Obviously, the tone of worship would and have centered on around Europe’s dedication to Christianity, Papacy and whitening of its symbols and images. African Jamaicans interpreted this their way and now Jamaica,

known for their diversity of churches.In that atmosphere of mis-identity, you can imagine how salivating it sounded when in 1930 after anxiously awaiting the coming of a black king, as prophesied by Marcus Garvey, years before, Leonard Percival Howell began to tell Jamaica of Hail Selassie I.that said. “We as Africans must worship through the eyes of Ethiopia”, regarding the promulgating of a white god to black people. Europeans have influenced Jamaica, specifically its colonisers, the British. Obviously, the tone of worship would and have centered on around Europe’s dedication to Christianity, Papacy and whitening of its symbols and images. African Jamaicans interpreted this their way and now Jamaica, And in turn the rest of the world, through its music Nyabinghi and its world accepted offspring Reggae Music. And it is all because of the spiritual yet real outlook on life and its challenges, lessons and victories experienced by the people and expressed by the rasta-man.

Rooted in Ethiopia.

The Rastaman was born out of the struggles and hardships of the people and their yearning for a saviour. Leonard Howell heralded “The arrival of the Saviour”, Rastafari. By virtue of calling himself Rastaman, it suggests his acceptance of and declaration that he is a follower of Rastafari. Despite no commandment was made to Jamaicans by Rastafari himself to canonise and praise him, African Jamaicans automatically synced themselves with all his teachings. The most fundamental…the acceptance and one’s roots at home and abroad. The socially and religiously accepted term Rastafarian did not come easy. Even whilst Haile Selassie high, was drawn into world war two by the fascist Italians led by Mussolini in 1936… Rastafarians who declared their way of life was seen as seditious against British crown.

They were persecuted for practicing a way of life that severed its self from society.The Rastaman would not groom and kempt his appearance. He was bearded and locked. The Rastaman rejected the eating habits of the norm and culinared his own delicacies, known as ital. Dishes that exempted the heavy use of sodium (salt), a danger which the Rastaman warned of to be fatal. The Rastaman language was intrinsically different from the prim and proper of British English grammar. He would say I predominantly to give acceptance of the God within us and everything. So when Jamaicans were given this alternative to pagan worship, it was accepted, but not without its struggles. So where did it all began, well obviously the birth of Rastafari would be the best place to start. Christened Tafari Makonen and born to Makonen and Yeshimebeth.

Tafari was the last child of his mother, who died after giving birth to him. Tafari life unfolded as if preordained and destined for the throne of Ethiopia as the 225 King and last to sit on the Davidic Throne. As early as eleven years old, he was in ruler ship when he inherited his father’s province and his life’s experience continued on that path. It was not until 1930 they crowned him Emperor alongside his Empress Menen. This was not before being contested by Emperor Menelik’s daughter Zauditu and his cousin Lidj Yassu without success. The world accepted Rastafari as Haile Selassie I, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, indicative of the attendance of representative from all over the world at his coronation.

History of black Starliner

Marcus Mosiah Garvey

“A people without the knowledge of their history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots”.

“The Black skin is not a badge of shame, but rather a glorious symbol of national greatness”.

Marcus Garvey is one of Jamaica’s National Hero. He was an Jamaican political activist publisher, journalist, entrepreneur. Founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL).