Rastafari messiah Haile Selassie I Intrigued by the music of legends like Bob Marley, we decided to take a closer look at some of the messages in reggae lyrics. Who is Jah, and what exactly is Rastafari? Well, on this day in 1930, Haile Selassie I celebrated his coronation as the emperor of Ethiopia. Known as an eloquent speaker who strove to unify Africa, Selassie gained worldwide admiration from the African diaspora. A few poverty-stricken Jamaicans even acknowledged him as God incarnate or Jah. Devoted followers of Selassie called themselves Rastas and started the Rastafari movement -- derived from Selassie's original first name, Ras Tafari. Combining Christianity with the belief in a black messiah, Rastas based their religion on interpretations of Biblical scripture while retaining cultural pride in Africa. Being a Rasta isn't just a faith though; it's a lifestyle -- which commonly consists of smoking ganja (Psalms 104:14) for spirituality and wearing dreadlocks (Leviticus 21:5). So the next time you hear reggae jams, spend a little time working out the Rasta references in the music and the lyrics. Suggested Sites... BobMarley.com: Rastafari - discover the philosophy, sacraments, and figures of the Rastafari movement. BBC: Rastafari - get the gist of Jamaica's original religion based on Marcus Garvey's ideas. Rastafari Speaks Archive - explore the Rastafarian perspective. Christian Today: Could Rastas and Christians Really Unite? - dig deep into the Jamaican politics of two faiths. The Seattle Times: Reggae Jammin' on for a New Generation - the message and music of Rastafari continues on with Ziggy Marley and other reggae stars.

Directory categories: Haile Selassie I, Rastafarian, Reggae, Bob Marley

Archived under: Africa, Entertainment, History, Music, Reggae, Regional, Religion

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