Rastamans are supporters of the Rastafarian religious movement. The name of the religion comes from the name of the last emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie I (1892-1975). This name, meaning the Power of the Holy Trinity, he received at baptism, and in the world he was called Ras Tafari Makonnen. The Rastamans believe that Selassie I was the embodiment of a god on earth, whom they call Jah, which translates from Hebrew as "nature."
Back to Africa
“Our religion is the most democratic in the world,” the Rastafarians of Jamaica, where Rastafarianism is extremely popular, proudly say. - She does not need divine services, preachers, icons, lavish ceremonies and temples. Every rastaman must find faith and God Jah in himself, and also support and love each other and abandon the vicious values of Western society, which we call Babylon. If a person observes these principles, he will certainly go to heaven after death!
The Rastamans believe that the Holy Land is located in Ethiopia, which they consider to be their original homeland.
The Jamaican publicist, politician, writer and public figure Marcus Gavri, leader of the Back to Africa movement, is considered to be a kind of prophet of Rastafarianism. He was born on 17 August 1887 on the island of Jamaica, then a British colony. After the seventh grade, he was forced to leave the walls of the school to work as a dishwasher in a cafe and to support his family with his salary. In my free time I read a lot (I especially leaned on religious literature). He believed that the Jamaicans should have their own religion. So he came to the Rastafarian. From the age of twenty, he spoke at rallies and published articles urging blacks to fight for their rights, which gained popularity in his homeland. The Jamaicans idolized Marcus. He was also favored by the Jamaican Orthodox Church, which thus contributed to the spread of Rastafarianism.
In 1914, Markus founded the World Association for the Advancement of Blacks. In his speeches, he called on the Negro population for racial purity, predicted the coronation of the black king on the African continent and advocated the resettlement of the Jamaicans to Africa.
It was he who largely contributed to the fact that the Emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selassie I was proclaimed by the adherents of Rastafarianism to be the embodiment of the god Jah. Rastafarian followers in Jamaica stubbornly believe that Selassie was a descendant of the biblical king Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.
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In sin and hate
Marcus Gavri in every possible way extolled the dignity of the Ethiopian monarch, admired his human and business qualities, called Rastafarianism "the most humane religion", and also consistently castigated the vices of colonialism. He declared: - The Western world is mired in sin and hatred. For the sake of profit, the politicians of a decaying society are ready to commit any crimes: they unleash wars, the victims of which become millions.
They poison the atmosphere, ruthlessly exploit natural resources, cut down forests and lead the world to disaster! The capitalists do not care at all about the human soul, and although many of them verbally believe in Christ, they clearly lack the search for God. Even though such “Christians” say that God is love, you cannot tell by their real actions. It turns out that their religion is sheer pharisaism, but Rastafarianism is a true and noble faith!
According to Gavri, rastamans should not convert someone to their faith, as representatives of other religions practice, - converts should come to faith in God Jah themselves, and also constantly cultivate African identity, not accept Western values and live by the principles of love for to your neighbor.
Marcus Gavri in his speeches assured the Jamaicans that they were given into slavery by the white-skinned god Jah himself as punishment for their many years of sins.
- But soon Jah will have mercy, appear on earth and take our people to the "promised land" - Ethiopia! - Gavri usually concluded his soulful speeches with such a passage.
Having achieved immense popularity and great success in spreading rastafarianism throughout the world, Markus left for the United States and there founded several branches of the association. But in the future, a complete fiasco awaited him - in 1922 he was convicted of financial fraud and spent five years in an American prison, after which he lost not only health, but also authority in the black movement. He died in 1940 in London from a stroke while in political isolation.
However, his articles and theses of speeches are currently experiencing a new surge in popularity.
Lifestyle and spirit
British scientist Leonard Barrett spent many years studying Rastafarianism. In his monumental work, published in 1988, he wrote: “Rastafarianism is a way of life and spirit. This is a return to the way of life of our ancestors who respected spirituality, philanthropy and humanity towards nature."
Barrett formulated the main tenets of the Rastaman religion, among which he singled out the following: “Haile Selassie I is. Living God. The Black Man is the reincarnation of ancient Israel, which, through the fault of the White Man, was in exile in Jamaica. White man gives way to Black man. Jamaica is hell, Ethiopia is heaven. The invincible emperor of Ethiopia is the savior for the exiled people of African descent who came to help them return to Ethiopia. In the near future, blacks must begin to rule the world."
However, modern rastamans believe that these postulates of Barrett thirty years ago are now irrelevant. To prove the correctness of their conclusions, they cite information about a sharp increase in the number of white rastamans in the countries of Europe and America.
Rastamans are by no means alien to earthly pleasures, one of which they consider the use of cannabis, or marijuana. According to the followers of Rastafarianism, cannabis first grew on the tomb of King Solomon and absorbed his wisdom.
Therefore, another popular name for cannabis is the herb of wisdom. The use of this drug, according to the rastamans, has a beneficial effect on human health: it increases the general tone of the body, instills cheerfulness, gives optimism, helps to forget difficulties and hardships, and most importantly - gives a wonderful chance to visit the world of dreams. In addition, according to the Rastafarians, cannabis provides an opportunity for cleansing from unnecessary understanding of the world.
Death of an idol
- For it cannot be cured in other ways! - was often repeated by the famous reggae music performer and rastaman Bob Marley (1945-1981).
He was born into a poor family, tried many blue-collar jobs, and started music at the age of 16 under the influence of friends. He created his own group, which performed his ballads, and practiced Rastafarianism.
Largely due to his performing and concert activities, the number of Rastafarians in the world grew rapidly and in the 80s of the XX century reached two million.
To the great regret of numerous fans, on May 11, 1981, Bob Marley passed away due to a serious cancer. The last words he said to Ziggy's son were: "Money can't buy life" (literally translated - "Money can't buy life").
Musicologists believe that reggae absorbed the harmonies and rhythms of the national Jamaican music, based on the clear rhythm of the Nyabinga drums. The lyrics of Bob Marley's ballads called for philanthropy and brotherhood. Thanks to him, the typical appearance of a rastaman was formed, who wears dreadlocks, a baggy jacket, jeans and an indispensable knitted multi-colored hat.
Gradually, the reggae texts, originally preaching Christian values, became more politicized, topical. They more and more often castigated social and economic injustice, gradually turning into the voice of the oppressed, but not indulging in despondency and melancholy, but able to catch a buzz in every melody, in every chord, in every line.
It is interesting that reggae has taken root in the post-Soviet space, this music was often performed by the groups "Heat Protection Committee", "Caribasy", "Mikhei and Jumanji", "Locust". The young talented performer Kirill Tolmatsky, who recently passed away under the pseudonym Decl, also turned to reggae.
Strength and calm
Rastamans in Jamaica have a negative attitude towards the values of Western society and believe that the low standard of living of local residents is largely due to the actions of organizations such as the International Monetary Fund.
Rastamans are also confident that they deserve to have their own legal system and their own court.
- We are God's chosen people who are able to bring strength, confidence and calmness to other inhabitants of the earth, - said Bob Marley.
Rastamans strictly adhere to certain rules in everyday life: they eat vegetables and fruits, fish (no more than twelve centimeters long), do not use salt, reject alcohol, pork, prefer herbal teas from coffee and milk drinks.
A newborn child is certainly blessed by an elder of the Rastafarian community. The ceremony is accompanied by songs and prayers. But weddings in Jamaica are not practiced.
A man and a woman living together are automatically considered husband and wife. Rastamans consider marriage itself as a social fact, not a religious event.
In Rastafarianism, there is no funeral rite to mark the end of the life of the deceased. Rastamans believe in reincarnation and believe that life is an eternal and ongoing process.
Believers call their religious meetings sessions or conversations, as a rule, they gather in the spacious house of some rastaman. Prayers are accompanied by reggae tunes.
- Our religion will gradually conquer the whole world! - modern adherents of Rastafarianism are firmly convinced of this.
Magazine: Secrets of the 20th century №34. Author: Vladimir Barsov