In the early 1900s, Marcus Garvey prophesied that a new Black King would soon come to Africa and that man would be the Messiah. After this, in Ethiopia, a new king was crowned and his name was Haile Selassie I.
Rastafari, sometimes termed Rastafarianism, is an Abrahamic religion. It is both a religion and social movement. It developed in the 1930s. The Rastafari movement was founded on the belief that Haile Selassie 1, the Emperor of Ethiopia, was God incarnate on Earth. Much diversity exists among practitioners, who are known as Rastafari, Rastafarians, or Rastas. The inchoate Rastafarians movement, took this man as the second coming of Jesus. However, while most people do not believe in a second coming of the Messiah solely based on prophecy. The Rastafarians do. They point to evidence as well, particularly the claim that Haile Selassie is related to King Solomon, giving him a connection to Jesus. If Haile Selassie I was the Messiah, he kept it very quiet about it. He himself always denied being a reincarnation of Jesus.
Take for example Rastafarians .”The Harder They Come,” featuring singer Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker and others, premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 1972. It became an international success. Around the same time, the street-poetry of Bob Marley included “Slave Driver” ” Concrete” and “400 Years”. E.g. in “Concrete Jungle” there cries from the dispossessed and distressed for rural and urban communities.
Rastas believe that marijuana is a religious sacrament, on a par with taking Holy Communion. The act of smoking weed as a means of engaging with ‘Jah’ (God.) Rastas never cut their hair. Instead serpentine corkscrew curls known as dreadlocks, intended as a visual homage to the Lion of Judah. An emblem often depicted on the flag of Ethiopia. True Rastas are perceived a social movement against Babylon: It is a reaction to historic injustices and neocolonialist policies. Through education, brainwashing, and color (white is right) by the neocolonialism forces, (white establishment) which sought to impose their values, judgements, and a general loathing towards the subjugated majority. Which basically means rich kids with dreadlocks with trust funds are called ‘Trustfarians. Privileged white kids who subscribe to the land lifestyle (because they can) since they have no worries about money, a job. Or rich kids whose parents put money in a trust for their child to use as they please or an orphan of rich parents/grandparents/relatives and is now living off a trust.
Rastafarian religion places high value on the natural world as something that should be lived in harmony with nature. The Rastafarians believe that they should live their life as ‘Jah’ intends is to be lived. The stress here is on the personal, subjective understanding of one’s meaning and purpose in life. The ancient Babylon mentality that is very much alive and kicking today. In contrast to the modern society values its members according to their wealth, and ability to work in conventional and settings. “Babylon has become the symbol of the wickedness and evils of the world” /www.lds.org/manual/doctrines-of-the-gospel-student-manual/35-fall-of-babylon-and-establishment-of-zion?
Take ‘Slave Driver’ and ‘400 Years’ by Bob Marley and The Wailers. No chains around my feet/But I’m not free/I know I’m bounded in captivity,” Marley also sang in ‘Concrete Jungle’, the first of several cries and criticisms on behalf of the oppressed.
The Nyahbinghi Order;
Nyahbighi which means “death to the Black and White downpressors.” The focus of this group is on the veneration of Haile Haile Selassie, who is regarded by them as the embodiment of God. Which emphasizes the repatriation of blacks to Africa. The Nyahbinghi regard water, air and fire as representations of the elements of life. Nyahbinghi eat organic produce only, such as vegetables, fruits, herbs and barks, and avoid the consumption of salt. The word ‘foundation’ means affirmation of life through earth.
Twelve Tribes of Israel. Rastafarians who are Afrocentic and focuses its attention is oppressed within Western society, or “Babylon”. Many Rastas call for the resettlement of the African diaspora in either Ethiopia or Africa more widely, referring to this continent as the Promised land of “Zion.”Other interpretations shift focus on to the adoption of an Afrocentric attitude while living outside of Africa. Rastafarians refer to their practices as “livity”. “Communal meetings are known as “Groundations” and are typified by music, chanting and the inhalation of smoking cannabis. Dreadlocks have several layers of meaning for Rastafarians, including “the biblical command not to cut one’s hair” (Leviticus 21:5), the appearance of a lion’s mane, representing strength, Africa, Ethiopia, and the Lion of Judah – naturalness and simplicity, which are associated with Africa – the Rasta’s roots in Africa” http://www.religionfacts.com/rastafarianism
The Bobo Shanti movement was founded in 1958 in Jamaica, by Prince Emmanuel Charles Edwards, considered by many to be the Black Christ. Selassie is regarded as King or God, Garvey is perceived to be a prophet and Emmanuel a High Priest Bobo Shanti wear brightly colored turbans and long flowing robes. They are opposed the laws and principles of Jamaican society. There are rules for menstruating women.