Rastafari
| Rastafari | |
|---|---|
| Family | New religious movement / African diaspora |
| Origin region | Jamaica |
| Founding period | 1930s CE onward |
| Estimated adherents | A global movement with communities in Jamaica, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, North America, and beyond. |
Rastafari is rastafari is a religious, cultural, and political movement that emerged in Jamaica, emphasizing African identity, resistance to oppression, biblical interpretation, repatriation, and reverence for Haile Selassie I in many forms of the movement.
Overview
[edit | edit source]Rastafari developed among Black Jamaicans in the 20th century in response to colonialism, racism, biblical interpretation, and Pan-African thought. It has no single centralized authority and includes diverse mansions, interpretations, and practices. Music, especially reggae, helped spread Rastafari symbols and language globally.
Key beliefs
[edit | edit source]- Jah as the living God
- Haile Selassie I understood by many Rastafari as divine, messianic, or providential
- Africa, especially Ethiopia, as spiritual homeland
- Babylon as a symbol of oppressive worldly systems
- Liberation, dignity, natural living, and resistance to colonial mentality
Practices
[edit | edit source]- Reasoning gatherings
- Nyabinghi drumming and chanting
- Ital diet and natural living in many communities
- Dreadlocks as a covenantal or identity symbol for many adherents
- Use of cannabis as sacrament in some communities
Places of worship
[edit | edit source]- Reasoning circle
- Nyabinghi gathering place
- Home and community spaces
Sacred texts
[edit | edit source]- Bible, especially interpreted through Black liberation and Ethiopian themes
- Holy Piby in some historical contexts
- Speeches and writings of Haile Selassie I and Marcus Garvey in movement memory
Holidays and observances
[edit | edit source]- Coronation Day of Haile Selassie I
- Earthstrong of Haile Selassie I
- Grounation Day
- Ethiopian Christmas in some communities
Branches and related traditions
[edit | edit source]- Nyabinghi - One of the major mansions or currents within Rastafari.
- Bobo Ashanti - A Rastafari mansion with distinctive communal and liturgical practices.
- Twelve Tribes of Israel - A Rastafari organization with biblical tribal symbolism.