July 23rd Birthday of Emperor Haile Selassie – Rastafari

 by Jo Morgan

Jah Rastafari!

Despite being too young to enjoy Bob Marley’s music during his lifetime, I grew up listening to his voice almost every day. My parents had an old record player and my dad, who’d seen Marley play live in the 70s, had a massive collection of his records. 

Even from a young age, the raw emotion of Marley's music moved me. Whether it was the uplifting message of 'One Love' or the pain and injustice conveyed in 'Redemption Song', I felt every word. 

My bedroom walls were covered in posters of Bob Marley and the Jamaican and Rasta flags. This working class white girl from Pompey was completely removed from the struggles of black people in the Caribbean and the legacy of slavery but nonetheless my lifelong interest in different cultures and religions was cemented at this formative time.

Marley's iconic appearance is most commonly associated with his long dreadlocks. More than just a hairstyle, this symbol of his religious faith had great significance for him as a Rasta. The Rastafari movement is a response to centuries of oppression of black people. Reflecting the hair of the Lion of Zion, dreadlocks are often regarded as a symbol of defiance against white supremacy. Many Rastas regard connection with nature as an essential part of the African experience; thus dreadlocks, smoking cannabis and a diet of ital food can all be seen as observance to the Rastafari faith. 

Although there is no central institution for Rastafaris and thus no unified doctrine, Rastas generally accept the divinity of Emperor Haile Selassi. Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930-1974, it is believed that Selassi was God in human form and the Messiah who would lead the liberation of the African diaspora (those whose ancestors had been stolen from Africa by the slavers). 

Despite rejecting claims of his own divinity, many Rastas continued to worship Selassi and regard him as the figurehead of the faith. His death in 1975 sparked a crisis within the movement as rastas had to work out what this meant for them. Many now wait until the day of judgement, when it is believed that Selassi will call the day of judgement and the righteous will be united with him. Until then, many rastas work for the repatriation of those still living in the Carribean to the motherland Africa. 

As an atheist I am not convinced by the theological claims of rastas and as a feminist I find some of the gender politics troubling. Rastas often regard women as inferior and intellectually and morally weak. Men have the freedom to be sexually promiscuous while women are expected to remain chaste and faithful. Many women willingly join the faith knowing this, but for me it would be a deal breaker. Nonetheless, Rastafari remains an important spiritual and political movement for up to a million rastas worldwide and on July 23rd many will remember the birthday of Emperor Haile Selassie. 

Jah Rastafari!