Rastafarian: Happy Birthday, Marcus Garvey—and St. John?

TUESDAY, AUGUST 17: Ready or not, here he comes: it was 123 years ago today that Rastafarian prophet and controversial leader Marcus Garvey was born, a man who would go on to ignite black pride around the globe and, at the same time, startle cultural leaders, clergy and laypeople alike. (For a full biography and more, visit MarcusGarvey.com.) By making statements that challenged the Christian God—who, Garvey said, had “failed to soften the hearts of whites and improve the lots of negroes—he inspired the Nation of Islam and exerted his primary influence on the Jamaican Rastafari movement. Garvey’s ideas were central to the Rasta movement, but it was when Garvey spoke of a great king and savior who would rise to power in Africa that he truly cemented his place in Rastafarianism. (Wikipedia has more on Garvey’s role in Rastafarianism.) When Haile Selassie I took the throne in Ethiopia, shortly after Garvey’s prediction, many Africans—in the Diaspora, too—saw Garvey as a prophet. Some Rastas believe Garvey was the reincarnation of St. John the Baptist, and all Rastas view Haile Selassie as the Messiah. (Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner featured several articles on Garvey today. This is one of them.)

Ironically, many of Garvey’s religious influences and devotions were born out of Western Christianity: Garvey was raised a Methodist and later became a Catholic. After arriving in America with little money and knowing few people, Jamaican-born Garvey spent four years working hard—and became, arguably, the most talked-about black man in America and the West Indies.

A documentary about Garvey’s influential life was produced in 2000 for PBS’ “The American Experience” feature collection. The documentary was entitled, “Marcus Garvey: Look For Me in the Whirlwind.”

(By ReadTheSpirit columnist Stephanie Fenton)

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Rastafarian: It’s Haile’s Birthday! (Just ask the Smithsonian)

FRIDAY, JULY 23: Bring out the red, yellow and green streamers as Rastafarians celebrate today the birthday of late Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I, born July 23, 1892. The Ethiopian Orthodox Christian was heir to a dynasty traced back to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, through the blood of his paternal grandmother. (Wikipedia has details.) Haile Selassie I was regarded as much more than another emperor, though; because of his specific lineage and of prophesies proclaimed by African Marcus Garvey, Rastafarians hail Haile Selassie I as Jesus incarnate. Although he ruled Ethiopia, it was in Jamaica in the 1930s that the Rastafarian movement was born. (Parents—take advantage of this learning opportunity for your kids, courtesy of a UK educational site.) This group regarded Jamaica as hell and Ethiopia as heaven. Over the years, racial tenets of the religion have faded as the Rastafarian movement has spread across the world to a rainbow of ethnicities. Nevertheless, Rastafarians believe Selassie will lead the people of Africa and the African diaspora to a golden age.

Worship is highly individualized in Rastafarianism, and because of this, no major events are usually planned for Rasta observances—even on this, one of the most important days of the year for devotees. Small gatherings that result in dancing, drumming, the creation of music and worship are commonly found today, as are feasts of vegetarian foods. Rastafarians will study the Bible and rejoice through music in numbers that vary widely; the number of Rastas in the world is estimated between 200,000 and 800,000.

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History currently features a Rastafarian exhibit that was supposed to end in 2008 but has been extended to “indefinite” status. “Discovering Rastafari!” was created because of increasing academic interest in the religion and its cultural influences. (Smithsonian.com featured a lengthy interview with the exhibit’s curator a couple of years ago.) Together with 17 Rastafarian advisers, Curator Jake Homiak put together the exhibit after 30 years of interest in the cultural movement. (See a photo of the exhibit and read a review at Exhibit Files.) Next month, the Inaugural Rastafari Studies Conference will be centered around the University of the West Indies; the Smithsonian Museum is involved in the conference. (The Gleaner, a Jamaican publication, featured an article earlier this month.)

(By ReadTheSpirit columnist Stephanie Fenton)

(NOTE: To see more short articles about upcoming holidays, festivals and anniversaries, click the “RTS Magazines” tab at the top of this page and select “Religious Holidays.”)

Rastafarian: Chant and pray for Groundation Day

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21: Rastafarians remember the date that Haile Selassie I, the Ethiopian emperor who they believe to be the second manifestation of Christ, visited Jamaica. Called Groundation Day, Rastafarians typically chant, pray, feast and create music in celebration. As the sounds of reggae music rise from believers’ households, the Rastas remind the world that they, too, are members of an Abrahamic religion. (Here is the PDF of a flyer for this year’s London celebration.)

To many Rastas, the drumming associated with reggae music is a tool used to immerse themselves in their spirituality, primarily during faith or “Reasoning” sessions. This type of music is referred to by followers as “Nyabingi,” a mixture of 19th-century gospel music and African drumming. (For more on The Reggae Movement, visit this site.)

Marijuana also plays an important role in these Reasoning sessions, and Rastas regard smoking as a religious experience of meditation and deeper contemplation. Rastas even cite biblical encouragement of marijuana usage, such as this passage from Psalms 104:14: “He causeth the grass for the cattle, and the herb for the services of man.” (The BBC has a page on Rastas’ practices and traditions.)

Rastafarians take the long form of their name from the pre-regnal title of Haile Selassie: Ras Tafari. They generally claim to reject Western culture, and believe Western society to be a modern manifestation of Babylon’s ancient excess. Still, it was Bob Marley who greatly spread the religion throughout the world, and Marley’s music certainly became popular in Western culture. A famous reggae artist of today is Sizzla, a Jamaican native who tours frequently and speaks openly about his religion in his songs. Wikipedia has a page on him, and YouTube features a video of one of his songs, “Be Strong.”

Now, for the question of the day: Why Haile Selassie I? As Rastas see it, Haile Selassie was foretold as an auspicious descendant of David, as was Jesus. (Read details about the Rastafari movement on Wikipedia.) Within this tradition, followers hold that Ethiopia was founded by the son of Soloman and the Queen of Sheba, and Rastas regard Ethiopia as Zion. King Soloman is the son of King David in the Bible—and, in Rasta teaching, Haile Selassie’s bloodline is in keeping with his status as the One of the Second Coming.

(By ReadTheSpirit columnist Stephanie Fenton)

(NOTE: To see more short articles about upcoming holidays, festivals and anniversaries, click the “RTS Magazines” tab at the top of this page and select “Religious Holidays.”)