RASTAFARI
early rasta (part 1)
For close to 30 years Rasta continued to grow against the tide of official and social approbation. Early elders were charged with sedition and locked up. Others were declared insane and placed in the Jamaican equivalent of Bedlam, a prison for the criminally insane. Churches and schools, newspapers and radio stations were conscripted in the fight against this Ras Tafarian-ism. The entire overclass was united in this fight.
Rasta was the lowest of the low, the poorest of the poor, yet secure in his knowledge that his fight was a righteous one. How could a man love his neighbour, if he did not first love and accept himself? and what did it gain a man or woman to deny their blackness, when that could never be erased and when it was the image of JAH.
At first, society resisted the idea of goodness, let alone greatness in Afrikan people, but as time went by Rasta showed no wavering in the doctrine, despite the horrendous toll that the society through its criminal Justice System inflicted upon anyone who dared to wear dreadlocks or appear to offer support to Rasta.
This above all, was the single most important factor in catching and holding the attention of the people who readily sympathized, when they realized that they were just as vulnerable as Rasta. Now there was a commonality they could relate to. Now they could begin to see that Jamaica was babilan and run under a babylonian system and that they were like those who wept by the rivers of Babylon, when they remembered Zion:
For a while there was serious effort to move Rasta into militancy of te sort that led to armed revolutions, and this culminated in the attack on the Coral Gardens Police Station outside of Montego Bay in the 1950's. Several policemen died as well as several bredrin. Suddenly the colony had a Ras Tafarian problem. Little could be done, however as decolonization was very much on the minds of the British. Thus was born the idea of the dreadlocked criminal, a stereotype that has worked its way into Holly-Weird .
Rasta spoke out against this type of violence, reasoning at the gatherings ( or NIAHBINGI ) that the way of Rasta was to shun the works of babilan. Since babilan had used violence upon Rasta and the people, in an attempt to convert Rasta to their corrupt mentality, Rasta could not be seen to be emulating the acts of babilan, however worthwhile the intended result.
Furthermore, the commandmants were clear: Thou shalt not kill. Thus was born the enduring image that most Jamaicans have of the true Rasta: That of the peaceloving being.
RASTAFARI
early rasta (part 2)
Although there were attempts to form the Rasta church or an analogue, they never bore fruit. The primary reason for this failure stemmed from the dynamics of Rastafari, the movement.
Rastafari is such an intensely personal sacrifice that in making it, one outdistances the idea of church and congregation.
Because the Bible was used to justify the enslavement of the ancestors, it has to be interpreted to get its true meaning, therefore no one could claim to be more adept at interpreting the Bible. Experienced, yes. But no more adept. On this level, Rasta is truly democratic in that all Rasta may be teachers and students simultaneously.
The inability to communicate with any degree of regularity meant that Rastas were isolated by geography and therefore the idea of the regular service went out the window. But the idea of gatherings persisted, and thus the Niahbingi.
The first Niahbingi was held by Prince Emmanuel I, who is revered by his followers as at least being the equal of His Majesty.
RASTAFARI
niahbingi: the word
A gathering of Rastafari originally focussed on celebrating important dates in the Movemant of JAH people. Such gatherings revolve around Bible readings, use of the sacramant and drumming as the central activities.
It is more than a religious gathering, however, since Rasta does not compartmentalize life into spiritual and non-spiritual periods.
Now InI must explain that Rastafari is not internalised as a religion. Rastafari is an integrated way of living and of thinking that goes beyond most definitions of religion.
That is to say, that Rasta is in touch with his/her spirituality each minute of the day since the King man or the Queen wears the covenant of dreadlocks as an outward sign of that spirituality and humility before JAH, who is All.
As the movemant grew, the concept of the Niahbingi or Bingi expanded to include dates that did not neccessarily include dates related to the life and travels of H.I.M. Selassie I.
The Niahbingi is a meeting place where Rasta celebrates the gifts of JAH. It is the closest we come to an organized meeting as far as the idea of a church is concerned. These infrequent gatherings are characterized by a sharing of worldly and Iritual (spiritual) gifts. By custom, no one is ever turned away from a Niahbingi, however, by that same token, all are expected to fully participate in the debates and discussion that are characteristic of the Afrikan oral tradition. A concept which can be frightening to those who believe what they will about Rasta.
Such debates and discussions often centre around interpretation of the Bible. The irony, as Rasta is well aware, is that this is the same book that was used to justify I&I servitude in times not too long ago. Hence, the task of interpreting the words of the Bible, which often have been translated with certain agenda in mind, is treated as one which merits careful deliberation. This flies in the face of those who believe that Rasta is illiterate and unschooled, even by Western ideals. Those who are familiar with it, know (as opposed to believe) that the King James Version of the Bible is second to none in the difficulty of its language.
Most people who have read tracts, pamphlets, and self-styled learned books, often come away with beliefs about Rasta, are reflective of their deep rooted ignorance of the dynamics of Rasta. In spite of massive propogandizing, a number of persons do manage to "get over" the hurdle of the misconceptions which are placed before them. This then leads to a greater overstanding of themselves which, in its turn, leads to a more positive vibe and greater inner harmony.
True, Rasta has been a catalyst for social change, and a voice in the wilderness, long before self overstanding became another fad. True, Rasta aspirations and the status quo, do not have much common ground, however, Rasta is not a political being.
RASTAFARI
niahbingi: the individual
There is no need for temporal leaders in the Movemant of JAH people, for all Rasta vow the vow of the Nazarite and thus are shepherds and shepherdesses in their own right. This means that all Rasta are equally able to learn from and to teach each other. This leads to a greater strength against conceit and a proud heart as well as helping I&I to keep humble and not blind Iself to truth.
A one can only speak for himself or herself for Truth manifests itself in any vessel it sees fit. So there is no need for Rasta to take on the conceit of saving the soul of others, while his or her soul is cast into the fiery pit. Also, a one cannot be shown the light against his or her wishes. So who better to say when they want to travel the road of no-ledge? I man or that man? To overstand JAH, a one must WANT to do so. No one can force that one to sight JAH. Truly, a one can profess to change their life in the course of a day and make a big declaration and abase him or herself in the public eye, but the reality is that the habits of a lifetime cannot be changed in a day.
Therefore Rasta seeks no converts, neither is Rasta a door to door salesperson of Iritual salvation. Those who know the truth will act upon it or not. Everyones salvation is their own task. As King Solomon wrote: Wisdom crieth in the streets so therefore every one who seeks to manifest Rasta must first know themselves.
Deuteronomy 23: 1 He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord
REASONING: March 1996 -Big Dread
This vow of the Nazarite, is a powerful thing, seen? Cause it mean that a one haffi give up or otherwise refrain from doing certain things so that the individual can have less distractions when im a seek JAH. The guy or girl who feel seh dem can diss InI by wearing a sheepskin and pretend to be a sheep, come in like the guy who have the problem in the Bible verse. Unless im tell a one, no one naah go know jus so. So everyting deh between him an JAH. And di sista dem nuh fi feel nuh way either, cause it apply to dem said way. Neither man nor woman can iron out your problem wid JAH. A you haffi dweet. So nuh bodda waste yu time a choose posture while time a run out pon yu. Seek JAH and all things will be added. Seen? seh
Deuteronomy 10: 12 .. what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear JAH, to walk in all His ways and to love HIM and to serve JAH with all thy heart and with all thy soul..
REASONING: February 1996 - Digital Dread
InI do not sit in the judgemant of anyone. It is not for I to determine the rightness or wrongness of a one's livity, since it is only the Father who can do so. Yet InI can determine to follow I path, seeking JAH in thought and in deed and so avoid the mistakes of those who claim to seek JAH but who think they can serve JAH and bow down to babilan.
Sing unto JAH, sing [348K] praises to his name: extol HIM that rideth upon the heavens by His name : JAH !!! RASTAFARI Psalm 68v4
Until the colour of a man's skin is of no greater significance than the colour of his eyes.... there will be war His Imperial Majesty, King Selassie I ~ (On Angola and Azania)
Rasta seeks no converts, neither is Rasta a door to door salesperson of Iritual salvation. Those who know the truth will act upon it or not. Everyones salvation is their own task. As King Solomon wrote: Wisdom crieth in the streets therefore every one who seeks to manifest Rasta must first know themselves.
psalm 133.
" Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in Inity. It is like the precious ointmant upon the dread, that ran down the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garmants; As the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there JAH commanded the blessing, even life for evermore
A people without a knowledge of their history is like a tree without roots... Marcus Garvey...
long years of struggle/ but man still deh yah/ long years of pain/ but man still on yah/ some a susu/ some a chat /some a holla / some a bawl..../ long years of struggle/ but man still deh deh ....... abedawi: sunrise by the sea (c)1991
Marcus Mosiah Garvey, the prophet of Rastafari and mentor of the Afrikan struggle to rid ourselves of centuries of oppression and Jamaican National Hero, was born in St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica, where he spent most of his early years as a printer. He later emigrated to the United States where he was instrumental in raising the awareness of the Afrikan Amerikan, primarily through the Universal Negro Improvement Association. His political activities were a thorn in the side of governments of the day and at various times the British, Jamaican and Amerikan governments sought to have him imprisoned for sedition.
"Where can we find in this race of ours real men. Men of character, men of purpose, men of confidence, men of faith, men who really know themselves? I have come across so many weaklings who profess to be leaders, and in the test I have found them but the slaves to a nobler class. They perform the will of their masters without question." he asked then, and we must continue to ask.
His views on the struggle that Afrikans continue to face have inspired, among others:
Nelson Mandela (representing the countless numbers of Azanians who have struggled against apartness)(The ANC was founded in 1912 as a result of Mosiah's views on the role of Afrika in the life of Afrikans, at home and abroad)
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah The first leader of independent Ghana, a country whose people include the Asante and the Akan from which - along with Nigeria (the Ibo and Yoruba)- the great majority of Arikans in Diaspora are descended.
Dr. Martin Luther King and the Afrikan civil rights movemant in the US took many of their cues from the teachings of Mosiah Garvey. Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think. The Nation of Islam was founded as a result of Marcus Garvey's untiring efforts to "keep hope alive" within the Afrikan community. Malcolm X (whose father was a member of the UNIA, the United Negro Improvement Association and met Mosiah many times) Interview by Alex Haley [ Author of Roots] The Zion Coptic Church was also inspired by the teachings of Mosiah Garvey. They have, however, chosen to interpret the teachings in a way that pays only lip service to them. While it is not the role of the Virtual Niahbingi to be unduly critical of any one or any organization, it must be said that these Coptics place undue emphasis on the herbs, which tends to skew their priorities. Nuff said.
Marcus Garvey's teachings on the theme of Afrika for Afrikans would later galvanize the struggle for a reclamation of Independence from colonial powers and Nkrumah was among a select group of intellectuals and freedom fighters which pressed for the abolition of the imposed colonial presence in Afrika.
Mosiah Garvey advocated the physical repatriation of all Afrikans in the Diaspora, a key tenet of Rastafari. To that end he formed the Black Star Line Company. The venture was met with great resistance from within and without the Afrikan Amerikan community and Garvey was later unjustly convicted of mail fraud, when the company failed. It took the US congress approximately 50 years to officially recognize that an injustice had been done. ( This, incidentally, is the reason for the Black Star in the Ghanian flag)
eziageber. let JAH be praised, itinually
the virtual niahbingi is created through the inspiration of JAH, by krishna reynolds of ananse webworks. text and graphics ¸1995. krishna reynolds Published by Ananse WebWorks - mcmxcv