Rastafari movement

Rasta, or the Rastafari movement of Jah people, is a religious movement that reveres Haile Selassie I, the former emperor of Ethiopia, as King of Kings, Lord of Lords and the Lion of Judah. The name Rastafari comes from Ras Täfäri, the pre-coronation name of Haile Selassie I, who Rastas of many mansions say is the earthly aspect of Jah (short for Jehova or the Rastafari name for God) and part of the Holy Trinity. The movement emerged in Jamaica among working-class and peasant black people in the early 1930s, arising from an interpretation of Biblical prophecy, black social and political aspirations, and the teachings of their prophet, Jamaican black publicist and organiser Marcus Garvey, whose political and cultural vision helped inspire a new world view. The movement is sometimes called "Rastafarianism"; however, this is considered improper and offensive by the Rastas themselves.

External links

• Scholarly profile
• introductory video and scholarly paper*
• Shorter, more colloquial profile
• Well written and simple site explaining basic Rasta ideas.
• Website to listen to Rastafarian reggae lyrics
• Old academic article
• Jamaican Observer article about Rasta and politics
• Marcus Garvey's prophecy of Haile Selassie
• Garvey critical of Haile Selassie
• Selassie's attitude to the Rastas
• Rastafari use of cannabis
• Guam court case over Rasta cannabis possession as sacrament
• Jamaican Gleaner 2001 letter asking not to call the religion Rastafarianism
• Essay in PDF format on Rasta and Christafari

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