Rasta Culture in New York

Haile Selassie

Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia is the central figure of the Rastafari Movement. He reigned as Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 until 1974. His divinity is one of the central teachings of Rastafari. He is worshiped as Jesus Christ returned. Selassie was born Tafari Makonnen on July 23, 1892. As governor of Harer, he was awarded the title Ras, meaning head. It is from his designation as Ras Tafari that the movement takes its name. As heir to the Solomonic dynasty of Ethiopia, Selassie traces his heritage back to the biblical King Solomon. This biblical connection strengthens Rastas’ claim that Ethiopia is Zion (Seignoret & Battice).

 

Marcus Garvey

Marcus Garvey was a Jamaican political leader active in both Jamaica and Harlem. His views of repatriation and Pan-Africanism had a deep influence on the development Rastafari movement. He spoke of the impending coronation of an African King who would be their messiah, a prophecy fulfilled in the 2 November 1930 coronation of Haile Selassie. An important figure in the Black Nationalist and Pan-African movements, Garvey is held by the Rastafari to be a prophet (Seignoret & Battice).

 

 

Charles Edwards

Prince Emmanuel Charles Edwards was a Rastafari leader best known as the founder and leader of the Bobo Shanti, one of the major Mansions of Rastafari. The mansion is very orthodox in its approach to dress and gender roles. Within the Bobo Shanti mansion, Prince Emmanuel is worshiped as part of the Holy Trinity, in which he is Priest, Marcus Garvey is Prophet, and Haile Selassie is King. This Trinity, rather than reflecting the traditional Christian persons of “father, son, and spirit,” reflects Jesus’ threefold role as priest, prophet, and king (Barnett).

 

Vernon Carrington

Vernon Carrington, known as the Prophet Gad or Gadman by his followers, was the founder of the Twelve Tribes of Israel Mansion of Rastafari. The Mansion is unique in that it does not discriminate based on race and affords equal standing to women. His self-proclaimed role as a messenger of Jah allowed him to wield absolute authority within the mansion for years. Although this authority waned in the later years of his life, Gad is still acknowledged as founder and prophet by the Twelve Tribes (Barnett).

 

 Leonard Howell

 

Leonard Percival Howell was one of the earliest preachers of the Rastafari Movement. Shortly after Haile Selassie’s coronation in 1930, Howell began to preach the emperor’s divinity. He established a Rasta commune in Jamaica known as Pinnacle and published his doctrine in a book titled The Promise Key. This book became one of the key scriptures of Rastafari. Howell was came into frequent conflict with the police and other establishments of Jamaican society. He is sometimes referred to as “The First Rasta” (Lee & Davis).

 

 Bob Marley

Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley was a Jamaican reggae musician and devoted Rastafari. Marley’s music, imbued with his personal sense of Rasta spirituality, helped bring the movement to international prominence. He achieved success first with his band The Wailers and later in his solo career. Marley spoke in interviews about his Rasta faith, and his words and music helped to proselytize (and to an extent commercialize) the Rastafari movement. Marley is regarded as a prophet within the movement, and is also seen by mainstream society as the face of Rastafari (Seignoret & Battice).

 

 

 

Sources

Rastafari Talk by Herbert Seignoret and Tau Battice, 10 April 2014.

Lee, Hélène, and Stephen Davis. The First Rasta: Leonard Howell and the Rise of Rastafarianism. Chicago, IL: Lawrence _____Hill, 2003. Print.

Barnett, Michael. “The Many Faces of Rasta: Doctrinal Diversity within the Rastafari Movement.” Caribbean Quarterly 51.2 _____(2005)