IRON LION ZION

February 6th, the BOB MARLEY DAY, is never celebrated solely by Rastafari practitioners. Over the years, the date of Marley’s birth came to be celebrated by all lovers of reggae music. Wearing Bob Marley t-shirts, distinctive red, gold and green hats or having their hairs dreaded, reggae fans all over the globe flock to cafes where they hear the familiar tunes of Marley’s hits. However, while humming along his laid-back tunes, many fail to notice the spiritual and religious shades of Marley’s lyrics. Namely, Bob Marley was one of the greatest proponents of the Rastafari movement, a monotheistic religious movement, or perhaps more accurately, an entire way of life, which developed in the 1930s among the poorest classes of Jamaicans. By spreading his music to a global audience, Marley had also spread the Rastafari ideology.

The Rastafari movement developed in the slums of Kingston, Jamaica, in the 1930s. As the Rastafari movement evolved from Chiristianity, the Rastas came to be monotheists and to believe in a sinular God they call Jah. They also healivly rely on the Book of Revelation from the Holy Bible. Furthermore, they have kept the belief in the Holly Trinity. However, they claim that the holy spirit is present within all humans, and that thus, all humans are equal. This is exemplified by their usage of the pronouns “I and I” instead of “you and me” to express equality of all before Jah. The Rastas worship Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia as their messiah, second to Jesus Christ. The name of the Rastafari movement is derived from the title that Selassie held before becoming an Ethiopian emperor - Ras=Head, Duke - and his given name - Tafari. This Ethiopian ruler was perhaps the only African ruler to be recognized by the European leaders at that time. Haile Selassie worked towards the modernization of Ethiopia and managed to bring the country to the League of Nations and the United Nations. He was the first black African to appear on the cover of Time Magazine in 1930. 5 years later, he was named Time magazine’s person of the year. More importantly, he worked for African unity and world peace. The Rastas believe that he would form and lead the perfect world they call ZION; Zion has come to mean the paradise of Rastas, a place they believe to be situated in Ethiopia. Moreover, this land is believed to be their promissed land. On the other hand, Rastas refer to the societies of whites as BABYLON, and percieve them as utterly corrupt.


Although the wearing of dreadlocks is not unique to this movement, Rastas dread their hair as a religious act. The dreadlocks came to signify the mane of the Lion of Judah (another name for Haile Selassie), and the Rastas’ symbolic rebelion against Babylon. Even so, many other groups such as the Sufi mystics and early Kenyans dreaded their hair as well. Furthermore, the 3 colors usually present on Rastafari hats and t-shirts, red, green, and gold, are also featured on the Ethiopian and the Jamaican flag. Red symbolizes the blood of Black Jamaican martyrs, green the lushness of the Ethiopian and Jamaican countryside, and gold the wealth of Africa. Another inherent aspect of the Rastafari movement has always been music; indeed, the world got closely acquainted to it through the several famous reggae artists. Another interesting aspect of Rastafari ideology is the role that ritual smoking of cannabis plays in their worship. This spiritual act is often accompined by study of the Bible; indeed, Rastas claim that smoking cannabis purifies thier souls and minds, and brings them closer to Jah. However, Rastas render cannabis as the only means for cleaning the mind and the soul; indeed, they feel that alcohol and other drugs destroy the mind. Interestingly, Rastas explain the illegality of canabis as another form of persecution of Babylon against them.

Over the years, the Rastafari movement has attracted followers from all over the globe. Rasta ideology has attracted not only black Africans, but also many others who feel passionate about the ideas of the movement. Therefore, Rasta communities are spranging up in various countries and are gaining much prominence. Of course, there is much more to Rasta way of life than described above; however, I hope my attempt to bring a few segments of their powerful ideology closer to all reggae and Bob Marley fans who did enjoy their resent celebration of February 6th, can be rendered a success.