What is Rastafari?
is a believe,religion culture of mankind
• Originated in Jamaica, 1930s
• Now found worldwide
• Rastafari as a global phenomenon throught
Early Roots of Rastafari
• Ethiopian Baptist Church in Jamaica, est. 1784
by George Liele
•
ncouraged resistance to slavery
• Less Euro- and white-centric reading of the
Bible; black pride
•
Opposed by the Jamaican white ruling class
The beginning of Rastafari
• Marcus Garvey – Jamaican national hero
(his face appears on several coins)
•
Back-to-Africa movement:
philosophical and literal (Black Star Liner)
• Rasta Prophet: "Look to Africa, where a black king
shall be crowned, for the day of deliverance is at
hand.”
The beginning of Rastafari
• Crowning of Ras Tafari Makonnen as Emperor Haile
Selassie I of Ethiopia
• First black African king in 20th C (1930-74)
• Seen as a fulfillment of Garvey’s prophesy
• Living God
• “King of Kings,”
• “Lord of Lords,
• “Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah”
• (also Biblical titles used to describe Jesus)
Rasta Music - Nyabinghi
• The Burru and Kumina people (descendants of the
Maroons)
• In 1930s, some of the only surviving African musical
traditions in Jamaica
• Their music became known as Nyabinghi
• Thought of as traditional Rasta music, used in
ceremonies
• Drums, chanting, polyrhythms
Ex: Count Ossie and the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari
“Grounation” (1973)
- An example of Rasta music (Nyabinghi)
- This style (but not this recording) predates reggae
- Used in ceremonies and reasoning sessions
- Can go on for hours without a break!
- Film clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_z2CLhDJBo
Ex: The Folkes Brothers feat. Count
Ossie – “Oh Carolina” (1960)
• First Jamaican pop song with Rasta drumming
• Birth of reggae?
• Uniquely Jamaican
• Very important step in bringing Rastafari to
the mainstream in Jamaica
• Prod. Prince Buster
Some Rastafarian Believe
