Rastafari movement

Rastafari ( German pronunciation is [ ˌ ʁastafa ː ʁi ], mostly [ ˌ ɹastafaɹaɪ ], often abbreviated in Jamaica Rasta, also Rastafarianism ) is a in the 1930s, resulting in Jamaica, today globally widespread belief, which has sprung from Christianity and has many Old Testament references. The movement teaches the divinity of Haile Selassie.

In connection with the establishment of the Rastafari movement in Jamaica is Marcus Garvey, founder of the Back-to- Africa movement. Garvey predicted the crowning of a powerful black king in Africa in the 1920s. Haile Selassie's The Coronation ( Amharic for "Power of the Trinity " ) to the Emperor of Ethiopia in 1930 was seen as a fulfillment of this prophecy.

Among the Rastafarians there are different currents, whereby some have joined together in so-called "Houses ", eg Nyahbinghi, Bobo Ashanti and the Twelve Tribes ( Twelve Tribes of Israel, founded by Vernon Carrington 1968). Today, some 24,000 of the 3 million Jamaicans profess the Rastafarian faith.

Term origin

The term Rastafari is derived from the title of prince of the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie, Ras Tafari Makonnen namely. In the Amharic language " Ras " means Ethiopia "head" and was one of the highest title at the Ethiopian imperial court. He was then only to the managers of the greatest provinces and was the highest military rank that only the emperor could give. Even some high dignitaries of the Coptic Church had the right to carry the title of Ras. Only in the 19th century, the title was used more frequently. A Ras had the right 24 ceremony drums ( Negarits ) to lead. The title is comparable in importance about a duke. (→ Ras )

Movement

The most important source of the Rastafari movement are different sections of the Christian Bible, especially the Book of Revelation in the New Testament. However, some Rastas also appreciate the special books of the Ethiopian Bible ( Enoch, Book of Jubilees and other - see list of Biblical books) and the Kebra Nagast. In addition, some texts of the first Rastas, such as The Promised Key by Leonard P. Howell or the Holy Piby by Robert Rogers Athlyi a key role to play in the emergence of the Rastafarian movement.

The Rastafari movement is a typical expectation of salvation. Its main features are: Haile Selassie Recognition as the returned Messiah and living God on earth, the rejection of Western philosophy (which they refer to as Babylon or Babylon ) system and the fight for equal rights for the black population.

Another principle is the demand for repatriation, so the return to the African homeland of their ancestors, who were taken as slaves to America. Meanwhile, the physical return to Africa was reinterpreted in a " spiritual return", although some Rastafari are moved to Africa and have there own communities established, for example in Ethiopia Shashemene. However, many Rastafari accept their lives in Jamaica or other countries and strive for a " spiritual return" to the African homeland. It is aimed to overcome the cultural break that was created by the enslavement of their ancestors, and to positively identify with their African heritage.

Some Rastafarians later left the idea of the divinity of Haile Selassie's fall and turned to the Christian Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

Religion

Haile Selassie is considered the Rastas as the announced in the Bible return of Jesus Christ. Unlike Jews, Christians and Muslims, the Rastas not wait therefore to the (possibly new ) appearance of the Messiah, but see this already at the coronation of Haile Selassie by fulfilled. However, the expressions often used " chosen by God " and " Victorious Lion of Judah " are not, as is often assumed, the coronation of Selassie's title, but are part of a profession of faith, with which the Ethiopian emperors traditionally ushered her letters.

Among the Rastafari is a perception that God appeared three times in the form of a human being on earth: The first incarnation in the likeness of Melchizedek, the second as Jesus Christ, and the third and final as Haile Selassie I, who opens the Seven Seals and the Armageddon ( called by Rastas also Armagideon ) initiates.

Symbols

The colors of the Rastafari movement are red, gold ( or yellow ) and green, the colors of the Ethiopian national flag, the colors of the Ethiopian national flag are held in reverse order. You have the Rastas also symbolic meanings: Red for the bloodshed and the killing of the kidnapped slaves, gold for the wealth that has been stolen from the slave ( Sufferahs, " sufferer " ), and green for the promised motherland Ethiopia or generally Africa that awaits the return of displaced persons.

An additional symbolism receive the colors by using them as Pan-African colors since the second half of the 20th century.

Culture

In principle, the human being is seen as an individual and thus accepts the freedom of opinion. On the other hand, some groups rely on the strict purity laws of the Old Testament. There are also patriarchal structures, such as the woman's duty is imposed to cover their head, to care for her husband and to be faithful to him - even if he is not himself.

Homosexuality is rejected by many Rastafarians with reference to the Bible. The music of individual Rastafarian artist came in the early 2000s due to homophobic lyrics, so-called Battyman -Tunes, in the criticism.

Basically, the Rastafarians reject alcohol and tobacco and feed as possible without animal products and salt ( I- tal ). They believe that man in the beginning of creation nourished exclusively of herbs and fruits. They invoked on 1 Mos 1.29 LUT: "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, is at the seed-bearing tree fruit to you it shall for serve food. "

Many of them, but not all consume together ritually cannabis ( Ganja ), which they debate to meditate or " reasoning ", that is, thinking or with others, use. Based on the Book of Revelation (v. 22.2 LUT) Hemp is also known as healing of the nation, " healing of the nations ".

In addition, some Rastas reject the wearing of body jewelry ( piercings and tattoos ).

Rastas use for God the name " Jah" (in English pronunciation Jah ), a short form of the Hebrew name of God YHWH.

Some Rastafarians wear dreadlocks and untrimmed beards as an expression of their union with God. The dreadlocks are also a symbol of closeness to nature and reminiscent of the mane of the lion of Judah. They were also thus understood as a symbol of distinction from the Western aesthetic of the " white oppressors " and as a sign of resistance. Some Rastafarians also the vow of the Nazarite stored, what the characteristic dreadlocks and long beards a result.

Although the movement has its origins in the black population, there are also white Rastas. However, the firmly anchored in the Rastafarian faith return to the motherland - Ethiopia and Africa in general - also apply the white Rastafarians as a target, since Ethiopia is the cradle of mankind. A high-level, comprehensive institution or church that could define beliefs, for example, is missing in the Rastafarian faith, so that the conditions for membership in the movement are not clearly defined.

Known International Rastafarians were from the 1970s, mainly through the reggae music, for example, by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Dennis Brown. Even in today's popular dancehall reggae, there are some musicians who are members of the Rastafari religion, such as Capleton. At the same time, however, there are many Rastas, for example, until recently, the Bobo Ashanti, the reggae music critical of or reject it categorically.

Language

The Jamaican Rastafari speak the patois common on the island, but mixed with a whole series Rastafarian specific words that are not used by other patois - speakers. These words are also sometimes used in English.

The main feature of these terms is that they were alienated with a mostly upper-case "I", which symbolizes both the English word " I " and the numeral " one" of the Roman number system, which is found in the title of Haile Selassie. The Rastafari - specific language is called by Rastafarians themselves " Iyaric ".

Well-known examples are " I and I" for " I " or "we". By avoiding the term " you " (ie, "me and you" ) the unity of the individuals should be expressed with one another and with God.

Some followers of the movement or commonly individuals are called accordingly bredren or Idren ( "Brothers " ), in female Rasta Sistren, Sister ( " Sisters" ), Daughter or Iawata ( "daughter" ).

Many words or parts of words have been replaced by its opposite. The most striking example is the word "understand" - English " to understand" - which was replaced by the Rastafarians by "to overstand " because they see the original word as atavism from slavery and therefore perceive as humiliating. Another example is the word " cigarette", which can be in English pronunciation understood as a " see- Garette ". Since tobacco smoking as negative and the view is said to tarnishing, instead, " blindgarette " used. Even words are changed so that they reveal their " true character ". From " television" is "tell -lie - vision" or " Israelite " " His- real -light".

A regulated spelling of these terms does not exist, so that different spellings are used.