Introduction
“Up, you mighty race, accomplish what you will.” Marcus Garvey
Rastafarianism is a religious movement born out of black slums of Jamaica which harnessed the teachings of the Jamaican born black nationalists, Marcus Garvey and conditionally uses selective Old Testament Christian writings to support its teachings and practices. Among Jamaican society, members of the Rastafarian movement were commonly perceived as social outcasts because of their anti-establishment way of life and their pride in identifying themselves as people of African ancestry. The inspiration which led to its genesis in the 1930’s was Messianic or millenarian in nature has been sustained and pervaded by a sense of African triumphalism.
Although physical repatriation to Africa has not been fulfilled as Garvey or the founding Rastafarianism originally hoped, followers learned the “idea of Africa as home” can be a psychologically, culturally and spiritually empowering experience- all of which are important ingredients for creating positive ethno-racial self- conceptions of self and community. (Singh 2001)
To participate in a form of active engagement towards liberation, Rastafarianism practice “reasonings”. The purpose is to heighten awareness by discussing local and worldly issues in an open communal environment and also emulating what theologian and educator Paulo Freire called conscientization. Conscientization arouse people’s consciousness and sense of self-redemption from the bottom up, with liberating significance”. (Murrell and Taylor 1998) In using these tools towards achieving liberation, Rastafarians seized the power of self-identification of the poor and developed an awareness which is the first step to empower oneself and to strive toward attaining freedom. (Erskine 2005).
The History of the Religion
Rastafarianism is an African way of life. Our deity is African,