INDEPTH FACTS ABOUT THE RASTAFARI RELIGION

WRITTEN BY: COURTNEY OGBE

Many Gen-Zs’ grew up to see the Jamaican people with dreadlocks and fingers constantly gripping a wrap of marijuana, there is little understanding about the history nor reason behind this practice. Several people especially youths tend to visualize themselves as one of these people as an excuse to get stoned (intoxicated). Here, I’ll tell you a little about the Rastafarians, that you just might have never wondered to research about.

The Rastafari is a religion peculiar to the Jamaican people; although it drew perspective from Christianity, as they do believe in the Holy book. However, as the Christians believe in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Rastafarians believe in God the Father, the Son, Haile Selassie and the Holy Spirit.

Haile Selassie was an Ethiopian ruler back in 1930, it happened that Selassie fulfilled a prophecy in the verses of Psalms, which said that a king would come from Africa to lead black people to Zion, the Promised Land in Ethiopia, a nation which they say represents the whole of Africa. When Selassie became ruler of Ethiopia, he became the king of Africa’s only independent nation at the time. Some members of the Rastafari faith believe Selassie was a reincarnation of God (like Jesus Christ), while others believe he was a destined diplomat.

Rastafarians believe that God makes himself known through humanity. According to Jagessar “there must be one man in whom he exists most eminently and completely, and that is the supreme man, Rastafari, Selassie I. “Ras Tafari” is the pre-coronation name of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie, hence the movement coined their title from it.

It is intriguing to know that:

1. Ratas do not drink alcohol nor eat meals that are not nourishing to their body including meat; many of them follow a strict dietary law called ital, which states that all food must be completely natural and raw.
2. Their dreadlocks according to their belief symbolizes the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, although not all Rastafarians keep dreadlocks.
3. Rastas do not consume cannabis with the sole intention of being intoxicated, rather, they have several biblical backups that allows them to consume this herb. They do it to feel closer to God and also because they believe it is medicinal and nourishing to the body. They are known to always pray thus “Glory be to the father and to the maker of creation. As it was, in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end.” before smoking one.
4. They also believe that marijuana is what the Holy book referred to as the TREE OF LIFE.
5. Rastas believe that Haile Selassie has fulfilled the second coming of Christ, and has redeemed the blacks/Africa.
6. Rastafarians do not have a religious meeting place like a Synagogue or Mosque, rather they meet weekly at a fellow Rasta’s house or any other joint, to discuss matters of the society and smoke weed together.

Today Rastafari is recognized around the world as a religion; one prominent example of a Rastafarian was Bob Marley who was loved by many around the globe, and is still celebrated till date.