Understanding Rastafari – Part One
Published:Thursday | April 30, 2015 | 11:31 AMPaul H. Williams ? Gleaner Writer
HEY ARE identified by their trademark dreadlocks, distinctive tunics adorned with a variety of iconic symbols, and accessorised by extravagant costume jewellery.
Some wear sandals only, others go barefooted. And there are other things that make them a standout ? the food they eat, the music they play, their places of worship, not to mention their peculiar vocabulary.
They are Rastafarians, a set of people who are embraced and admired by many, but who are denigrated and despised by many more. But who really are the Rastafarians? The story of their evolution goes back to Ethiopia, east Africa, and to the birth of Lidj Tafari Makonnen on Saturday, July 23, 1892.
Lidj means male child, Tafari Creator, and Makonnen was his father?s name. His father was the Royal RAS Makonnen, cousin to the Emperor Menelik II. And his mother was Weyzaro Yeshimabet.
His birth, it is said, was foretold in the Bible and his lineage goes back several centuries before the birth of Christ. Lidj Tafari was elevated to the title of RAS (prince) and became RAS Tafari, regent and heir to the Ethiopian throne. Ras Tafari was eventually crowned His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia.
When Ras Tafari was six years old, Leonard P. Howell was born in the parish of Clarendon. As a youth, he migrated to the United States, where he joined Marcus Garvey?s Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA).
Soon, Howell became one of Garvey?s top-brass members, but Garvey and the UNIA were constantly under the radar of US authorities, which eventually arrested and charged Garvey for various crimes. Garvey was deported in 1928, and Howell was to follow him in 1932.
But Howell?s activism switched from Garveyism to one that focused on the importance of Selassie I. He saw Selassie as the great black messiah, the earthly manifestation of God or Jah. He established the King of Kings Mission out of respect for Selassie, and appointed himself Selassie?s representative in Jamaica. He also wrote the first book about Rastafarianism, The Promised Key.
huge following
Soon after his return to Jamaica, Howell stepped up his preaching on Selassie, which, in addition to his faith healing practices, earned him a huge following. Hence the birth of Rastafarianism. Universally, Howell is regarded as the father of the Rastafari Movement, and was to face much persecution since his teachings were considered ?un-Christian? and seditious. He was charged and sent to prison for sedition.
Yet, imprisonment could not stop what he felt, and so in 1940 when he was released, he set up the first Rastafarian village in Jamaica on 400 acres at Sligoville, St Catherine. The village became known as Pinnacle because of its elevation, and is now the centre of an ownership dispute.
Howell?s influence spread outside of The Pinnacle, and Rastafarian communities of mainly small farmers were set up across the country. But as Rastafarianism was growing, negative attitudes towards Rastafarians were also mounting.
People saw the rise of the movement as threatening to law and order, an affront to their own faith, and the dreadlocked ones were seen as ?unkempt hoodlums?, people to be wary of, to be scared of.
As the mistrust of the Rastafarians grew in 1941 government forces stormed Pinnacle and arrested many of Howell?s followers. Howell fled, but he was eventually arrested, and on August 20, he was tried again for sedition and sentenced to two years in prison. When he was released in 1943, he returned to Pinnacle, which was again invaded by the authorities in 1954.
The complete destruction of Pinnacle did not mean the end of Rastafarianism. In fact, the movement, as well as the antagonism towards Rastafarians continued to grow. The Rastafarians were not backing down. This resistance culminated in bloodshed in 1963 in Coral Gardens, St James, when some Rastafarians and other civilians were involved in disturbances.
The Jamaica Defence Force was called in and, ?consequently, many Rastafarians were killed, beaten, intimidated brutally, trimmed, ridiculed, harassed and arrested?, Yasus Afari says in his book, Overstanding Rastafari - Jamaica?s Gift to the World.
It seems life Rastafarianism is indeed one of Jamaica?s gift to the world, as the 1963 killings did not kill the resolve of the Rastafarians. It has evolved into faith that has converts all over the world, and like all religions it has its own set of beliefs, precepts, customs and rituals, which we will discuss next week.