Rastafarians are members of a religious and political movement that began on the Caribbean island of Jamaica in the late 1920’s. Followers of the movement are sometimes called Rastas or Dreads. They are perhaps best known as the originators of a popular musical style called reggae; for their use of marijuana (which they call ganja); and for wearing their hair in long, ropelike braids called dreadlocks.
The name Rastafarian comes from Ras Tafari, a title held by Haile Selassie I, the emperor of Ethiopia from 1916 to 1974. Ethiopia is a country in northeastern Africa. Many early Rastafarians proclaimed that Haile Selassie was a god. However, Haile Selassie did not consider himself a god, and when he visited Jamaica in 1966, he was puzzled by Rastafarians who tried to worship him.
Today, Rastafarianism is a worldwide religious movement. Members live not only in Jamaica and other Caribbean islands but also in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ghana, the South Pacific islands, and western Europe. Although Rastafarians today belong to many races and nationalities, the religion began as a black nationalist movement.
Early Rastafarians taught that all African people are descendants of the ancient Hebrews. According to this teaching, God, whom Rastafarians call Ja , made many black Africans the slaves of whites as punishment for disobedience. The early Rastafarians believed that Haile Selassie would arrange for the return to Africa of all people of African descent. After Haile Selassie’s death in 1975, Rastafarians changed some of their beliefs concerning Africa. Today, many look forward to a return to African spirituality rather than to actually living in Africa.
A central Rastafarian ritual is the binghi. Binghis are group discussions and debates dealing with interpretations of the Bible, with local politics, and with the meaning of world events. Rastafarian beliefs are constantly changing as a result of these intense discussions and debates.
Although small in number, Rastafarians have had a great impact on Jamaica and elsewhere. The movement has played a major role in black struggles for freedom and equality throughout the world.
