About Rastafarians

Rastas once existed on the edge of Kingston, Spanish Town, and Montego Bay, waiting for their God to bring about "the repatriation." Today it is clear that the movement has brought about a new culture change in the island. It has contributed new words to the Jamaica folk language known among linguists as "Jamaica-talk." Rastas have added a saltless diet to their cuisine called "I-tal" foods—"I-tal" means natural and is a new idiom in Jamaica-talk. They have commercialized the I-tal foods, selling juices from Jamaican fruits, and have made economic gains through their artistic endeavors. While alcohol is taboo, the little weed (ganja) is encouraged.
Reggae music has also become popular in almost every aspect of Jamaican life, both religious and secular. Reggae is used in the rituals of the Catholic Church and among the Rastafarian brethren, who divide reggae into two forms: "churchical" and "heartical." Churchical adopts the reggae beat to all hymns; heartical is the regular dance music. The latter form is used by the Twelve Tribes of Israel in their dance sessions.
Early in the 1990s, a number of popular Jamaican song-writers turned to the Rastafarian faith of Bob Marley and thers. They stopped cutting their hair and grew dreadlocks. Some of their emphases are upon:
1. Patriotic love is expressed for Africa and especially Ethiopia. Africa and Ethiopia are two "holy" places to most Jamaicans. Africa is often called Ethiopia—in fact, most Jamaicans confuse the two. This was also true of the great lover of things African—Marcus Garvey. To the Rastas, Ethiopia means that territory ruled by Haile Selassie, who is the God of Black people. It is through him that Blacks shall be removed from the far-flung places where they as Africans have been carried into slavery and, through repatriation, will be returned to their homeland.
2. The hair of Black people is celebrated. Jamaicans are noted for their disdain of kinky hair. The Rastafarians, who come from the working class, have struggled under this disdain for many centuries. Many Jamaicans will co-habit only with people with straight hair, in hopes that a child with "good" hair will be born. The hairstyle of the Rastafarians, and the enormous volume of it, is adopted partly to upset the more British-oriented Jamaican. Their hairdos are immortalized in the song "Natty Dread." Some Black people's hair is "natty" and must be combed often. The Rastafarians decided long ago to rid the hair of all restriction and allow it to grow at will. At least a third of the brethren cultivate this style and in this way they become "dreadful" to the more Europeanized Jamaican.
3. Reggae that is used in worship services must be purged of lewdness and sexism. Dance-hall reggae, which is known for its lewdness and sexual suggestiveness, is loudly rebuked by Rastafarians. Sexual love is not a subject to air in public, according to most Rastafarians, who vigorously maintain a conservative approach to life. When reading reggae lyrics, one meets descriptions of hunger, deprivation, colonialism, inequities, and all things that prey upon the Third World.
4. Oppression of all kinds is denounced in reggae. There are crimes against women in the song "No 'oman No Cry," in which Bob Marley relates the experience of women in thers. They stopped cutting their hair and grew dreadlocks. Some of their emphases are upon:
1. Patriotic love is expressed for Africa and especially Ethiopia. Africa and Ethiopia are two "holy" places to most Jamaicans. Africa is often called Ethiopia—in fact, most Jamaicans confuse the two. This was also true of the great lover of things African—Marcus Garvey. To the Rastas, Ethiopia means that territory ruled by Haile Selassie, who is the God of Black people. It is through him that Blacks shall be removed from the far-flung places where they as Africans have been carried into slavery and, through repatriation, will be returned to their homeland.
2. The hair of Black people is celebrated. Jamaicans are noted for their disdain of kinky hair. The Rastafarians, who come from the working class, have struggled under this disdain for many centuries. Many Jamaicans will co-habit only with people with straight hair, in hopes that a child with "good" hair will be born. The hairstyle of the Rastafarians, and the enormous volume of it, is adopted partly to upset the more British-oriented Jamaican. Their hairdos are immortalized in the song "Natty Dread." Some Black people's hair is "natty" and must be combed often. The Rastafarians decided long ago to rid the hair of all restriction and allow it to grow at will. At least a third of the brethren cultivate this style and in this way they become "dreadful" to the more Europeanized Jamaican.
3. Reggae that is used in worship services must be purged of lewdness and sexism. Dance-hall reggae, which is known for its lewdness and sexual suggestiveness, is loudly rebuked by Rastafarians. Sexual love is not a subject to air in public, according to most Rastafarians, who vigorously maintain a conservative approach to life. When reading reggae lyrics, one meets descriptions of hunger, deprivation, colonialism, inequities, and all things that prey upon the Third World.
4. Oppression of all kinds is denounced in reggae. There are crimes against women in the song "No 'oman No Cry," in which Bob Marley relates the experience of women in ppressed situations and shows his concern about the plight of women. Jamaica is a typical "macho" society; although men love their mothers, their women, and their children, they see themselves as the head of the household. The situation is changing, however; women are gradually managing offices and holding positions once held by men. Reggae music condemns "slave drivers," praises the "Buffalo Soldiers" of the Civil War, and rejoices in the shooting of the "sheriff." There are many more examples.
5. Reggae calls for truth and righteousness among Rastas. The Rasta's motto is "Peace and Love"—this is the manner in which they greet each other, although that surprises many irascible Jamaicans. The song "Man to Man Is So Unjust," as sung by Bob Marley, illustrates the morality of the lyrics and captures the Jamaican way of life.
There have also been changes in the movement itself. Women have been a part of Rastafarianism from its inception, yet their position as functionaries has been a major bone of contention among the brethren. In Jamaica, the early Rastas represented a group that was rather conservative. When dealing with the "fairer sex," their treatment of women was comparable to that of Islamic laws. Rastafarian biblical doctrine does not provide comfort for women: it states that man is superior to woman; her knowledge of the scripture is a direct copy of man's; she is not allowed to speak in Assembly; she is seductive; she bears the stigma of "periodical uncleanliness," which is a restriction placed on her by God. The Rastafari take the King James version of the Bible literally. Most women attending meetings were wives of Rastafarians. In more recent times, however, there is a more respectful approach toward women in their worship services. Women accept the doctrine by their own choice; many take leadership roles, and it would not be too much of a surprise to find a female Rasta leader in Jamaica.
Rasta hairstyles originated during the wilderness experience at the Pinnacle commune. Today there are several kinds of hairdos, although the term "dreadlocks" is misleading because Rastas do nothing to their hair other than ash it to create the "locks" and/or "dread" look. The hair growth is natural and its form depends upon individual texture. There are dreadlocks that are certain to cause fear in the weak of heart—some are as long as thirty-five inches. Then, there are the "combsomes," for which Rastas use combs to shape their dreads and groom their beards. A well-groomed combsome has the appearance of the well-groomed Afro. This Rasta is identified by the tarn he wears upon his head. Finally, there is the "clean-face" Rasta. He is like any other Jamaican—he wears neither a beard nor either of the two hairstyles described above. The clean-face Rasta can more easily "pass" as an employee of the government, a pilot, or any other "acceptable" person in the society. Jamaica has grown accustomed to the Rastafarian movement; it sees the movement's members as no different from any other person on the street. This attitude is not universal, but Rastafarianism has come a long way and, although it has met great resistance on its journey, it has overcome many obstacles. The Rastafarian movement is Jamaica's newest religion.

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