One of the most talked about religion is the Rastafarian religion. If you don’t know about the religion I will give you the definition and the rules and regulation that you must follow as a Rastafarian. Rastafarianism is a politico-religious movement among elements of the black population of Jamaica and several other countries. The followers of this religion do not believe in God, instead they worship Haile Selassie, the former emperor of Ethiopia.
The word Rastafarian was originated from his name Ras (Prince) Tafari. They believe that the Ethiopian emperor to have been a divine being, the Messiah, and the champion of the black race. Some Rastafarians believe that blacks are the Israelites reincarnated and have been subjected to the evil and inferior white race in divine punishment for their sins; they will eventually be redeemed by repatriation to Africa, their true home and heaven. The various groups that make up the Rastafarians rejected Jamaican-European-oriented culture and Christianity revivalist religion and develop their own identity while awaiting the exodus. Since the early 1950’s the Rastafarian movement has grown in numbers and complexity.
The identification with the Africa remained, but the repatriation concept received less emphasis and the Rastafarians mysticism supported by the Old Testament and incorporating African forms. The lifestyles of Rastafarians are very different from other religions over the world. Rastafarians dietary mainly vegetarianism. Their hair must be worn as uncombed locks and dreads. The most important part of the religion is the smoking of ganja (marijuana). The reason why the smoking of ganja is so important to the religion is because; it is used for medication and to keep the body pure.
They believe that everything they eat or use must be natural. Even though the Rastafarian religion as been around since 1953 a lot of people didn’t know about it. Some people did not know the requirements of this religion until the 1970s and 1980s. The person who spread the word about the religion was Robert Nester Marley or Bob Marley. Bob Marley was born in St. Ann, Jamaica and he was born under a Christian religion.
In 1961 he started is own group that was called The Rudeboys. This same group later went on to become one of the most famous reggae groups known as The Wailers. Bob Marley later went on and converted from Christianity to Rastafarianism, this was a religion that has had a profound influence on reggae music. Marley and the Wailers music contain elements of spiritualism and mysticism.
Some of their songs called for personal freedom through revolution, while others embrace carefree attitudes toward life or convey stories of love. Their music also focused a lot on their religion; most of their songs and title is always related to their Rastafarian religion in one way or another. Bob Marley and the Wailers went on to produce a lot of music albums. Most of the title were named after the Rastafarian religion or there believes.
Some people also think that there music came close to been associated with movement toward black political independence. As mention above Bob Marley and his band has made a lot of songs that talks about their religion. There is a lot but there are two that reflects these believe more than the others do. These two focuses only on there God Haile Selassie and their believes in what a Rastafarian should do to be faithful to there religion. The name of one of these songs is Forever Loving Jah.
In this song Bob Marley and his band was focusing on their religious leader. In this song Bob Marley is trying to say that he found the correct path in life and it a thanks to Jah. Bob Marley is telling everyone that he is loved and that no matter what he or she says won’t affect him. The reason behind this is that he knows that Jah protects him. In Bob Marley words he knows that Haile Selassie created him on earth for a specific reason and when his time is right he will be called forth by jah. One of the verses in the songs sings;Cause just like a tree planted by the river of waterThat bringeth forth, fruits in due seasonEvery thing in life got its purposeFind its reason in every season, forever Yeah!As you can see from the above verse that he believe strongly in Haile Selassie and his believes.
Also can you see in the above verse and the way he talk as if no one believes in Haile Selassie. Bob Marley also express in is word that Jah will come, he is just waiting for the right time. Cause just like a tree planted by the river it will brighten when the time is right. This is how Bob Marley felt about his God that he will won’t let them suffer he is just waiting for the right time.
Another song that focuses on the Rastafarians and their religion is called the Rastaman Chant. The reason behind this song was to tell his fellow Rastafarians in codes that they will soon be home very soon. In this song he focus on telling them that they will be going home to Zion soon. In the song Zion refers to the promise land where all the Rastafarians will meet their Jah Haile Selassie for the first time.
This was telling the Rastafarians not to worry about what everyone says about that their thrown is gone down. This was one of the songs that have had an impact on the Rastafarian religion. In this song he kept repeating the term Babylon which means leaders. In this song he also kept saying “I”, in the song “I ” was referring to him as a Rastafarian.
