Meaning and popularity (Rastafari overview)
For a complete history, philosophy, meaning,etc see further down the page, where Rastafari and all its elements are divided into sections.
The Rastafari wear dreads as an expression of inner spirituality. For them, the term "dread" refers to a "fear of the Lord", expressed in part as alienation from the perceived decadence and other evils of contemporary society and a return to the Covenant with the Almighty, Jah Rastafari.
Another interpretation among the Rastafari is that "dread" refers to the fear that dreadlocked Mau Mau warriors inspired among the colonial British. The Mau Mau, a largely ethnic Kikuyu rebel group in Kenya fighting to overthrow their colonial British oppressors from 1952–1960, hid for many years in the forests, during which time their hair grew into long locks. The images of their rebellion, then broadcast around the world, are said to have inspired Jamaican Rastafari to wear locks
Rastafari Movement
Rasta, or the Rastafari movement, is a religion that accepts Haile Selassie I, the former Emperor of Ethiopia,(See Above picture) as God incarnate, whom they call Jah. He is also seen as part of the Holy Trinity as the messiah promised in the Bible to return. The name Rastafari comes from Ras (Prince, Head, Duke or Chief) Tafari Makonnen, the pre-coronation name of Haile Selassie I.
The movement emerged in Jamaica among working-class and peasant black people in the early 1930s, arising from an interpretation of Biblical prophecy partly based on Selassie's status as the only African monarch of a fully independent state, and his titles of King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and Conquering Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5). Other characteristics of Rastafari include the spiritual use of cannabis, and various Afrocentric social and political aspirations, such as the teachings of Jamaican publicist, organiser, and black separatist Marcus Garvey (also often regarded as a prophet), whose political and cultural vision helped inspire a new worldview. (Marcus Garvey was like Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, a civil rights leader for Black Africans, who even advocated the fleeing of America and returning to the African motherland, a movie of his life was made starring James Woods, Marcus Garvey was also victim of Assassination in the 50’s)
(RASTAFARI BACKGROUND)
On November 2nd, 1930 the world received the controversial news, that Prince Ras Tafari, Haile Selassie I, was crowned in Ethiopia as King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and Conquering Lion of Judah. Haile Selassie was directly descended from the root of King David in the bloodline and lineage of King Solomon and Jesus Christ. The people of Jamaica saw this as the sign of Revelation and the fulfillment of Garveys prophecy. Some say this is when the Rastafari movement began
The Rastafari movement has spread throughout much of the world, largely through interest generated by reggae music—most notably, that of Jamaican singer/songwriter Bob Marley. By 2000, there were more than one million Rastafari faithful worldwide. About five to ten percent of Jamaicans identify themselves as Rastafari. Many Rastafari follow an ital diet which essentially means living by the dietary Laws of Leviticus and Deuteronomy in the Old Testament. (eating meat which is Halal or Kosher, no eating of any pig product, carrion, club footed animal, strangled, electrocuted or dead animal) by dead animal one means the animal is freshly slaughtered and not already dead or roadkill.
Leonard Howell, who has been described as the "first Rasta," formed a commune which has grown as large as 5,000 persons at a place called Pinnacle, at St. Catherine in Jamaica
Doctrines
Rastafari developed among an oppressed people who felt society had nothing to offer them except more suffering. Rastas may regard themselves as conforming to certain visions of how Africans should live, reclaiming what they see as a culture stolen from them when their ancestors were brought on slave ships to Jamaica, the movement's birthplace. The messages expounded by the Rastafari promote love and respect for all living things and emphasize the paramount importance of human dignity and self-respect. Above all else they speak of freedom from spiritual, psychological as well as physical slavery and oppression. In their attempts to heal the wounds inflicted upon the African race by the civilized nations of the world, Rastafarians continually extol the virtue and superiority of African culture and civilization past and present.
The doctrines of Rastafari depart radically from the norms of the conventional modern western mind, a trait of the movement deliberately encouraged by Rastas themselves. Unlike many religious groups that stress compliance with and recognition of the "powers-that-be," Rastafari instead stresses loyalty to their vision of "Zion," and rejection of modern society (called Babylon), which they see as thoroughly corrupt. "Babylon" in this case is considered to be rebelling against "Earth's Rightful Ruler" (JAH) ever since the days of king Nimrod.
This "way of life" is not merely to be assented to intellectually, or "belief" as the term is often used; it is used for the finding and knowledge of one's true identity. To follow and worship JAH Rastafari is to find, spread and "trod" the unique path to which each individual Rasta was rightfully born. The movement is difficult to categorize, because Rastafari is not a centralized organization. Individual Rastafari work out their religion for themselves, resulting in a wide variety of doctrines nevertheless also covered under the general umbrella of Rastafari
Dreadlocks
Rastaman with thick dreadlocks, though he has piercings, which may go against the teachings in LeviticusThe wearing of dreadlocks is very closely associated with the movement, though not universal among, or exclusive to, its adherents. Rastas believe dreadlocks to be supported by Leviticus 21:5 ("They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in the flesh.") and the Nazarite vow in Numbers 6:5 ("All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.") Part of the reason the hairstyle was adopted, was to contrast the kinky hair of black men with the straighter hair of whites.
It is believed that the first Rasta dreadlocks were copied from Kenya in the 1940s, when photos of the independence struggle of the feared Mau Mau insurgents, who grew their "dreaded locks" while hiding in the mountains, were published in a major media publication that reached Jamaica. However, there are ascetic groups within nearly every major religion that have at times worn their hair in this fashion. The length of a Rasta's dreads is a measure of Wisdom, Maturity, and knowledge in that it can indicate not only the Rasta's age, but also his/her time as a Rasta.
Also, according to the Bible, Samson was a Nazarite who had "Seven locks". Rastas point out that these "Seven locks" could only have been dreadlocks, as it is unlikely to refer to seven strands of hair.
Dreadlocks have also come to symbolize the Lion of Judah (its mane) and rebellion against Babylon. In the United States, several public schools and workplaces have lost lawsuits as the result of banning dreadlocks. Safeway is an early example, and the victory of eight children in a suit against their Lafayette, Louisiana school was a landmark decision in favor of Rastafari rights.
Rastafari associate dreadlocks with a spiritual journey that one takes in the process of locking their hair (growing dreadlocks). It is taught that patience is the key to growing dreadlocks, a journey of the mind, soul and spirituality. Its spiritual pattern is aligned with the Rastafari movement. People who do not understand the process sometimes mock the dreadlock style and make comments about the cleanliness of the locked hair. The way to form natural dreadlocks is to allow hair to grow in its natural pattern, without cutting, combing or brushing, but simply to wash it with pure water.
For the Rastas the razor, the scissors and the comb are the three Babylonian or Roman inventions. So close is the association between dreadlocks and Rastafari, that the two are sometimes used synonymously. In reggae music, a follower of Rastafari may be referred to simply as a dreadlocks or Natty (natural) Dread, whilst those non-believers who cut their hair are referred to as baldheads.
As important and connected with the movement as the wearing of dreadlocks is, though, it is not deemed necessary for, or equivalent to, true faith. Popular slogans, often incorporated within Reggae lyrics, include: "Not every dread is a Rasta and not every Rasta is a dread..."; "It's not the dread upon your head, but the love inna your heart, that mek ya Rastaman" (Sugar Minott); and as Morgan Heritage sings: "You don't haffi dread to be Rasta...," and "Children of Selassie I, don't lose your faith; whether you do or don't have your locks 'pon your head..."
Many non-Rastafari of black African descent have also adopted dreads as an expression of pride in their ethnic identity, or simply as a hairstyle, and take a less purist approach to developing and grooming them, adding various substances such as beeswax in an attempt to assist the locking process. The wearing of dreads also has spread among people of other ethnicities whose hair is not naturally suited to the style, and who sometimes go to great lengths to form them. These artificially acquired dreads worn for stylish reasons are sometimes referred to as "bathroom locks," to distinguish them from the kind that are purely natural. Rasta purists also sometimes refer to such "dreadlocked" individuals as "wolves," as in "a wolf in sheep's clothing," especially when they are seen as trouble-makers who might potentially discredit or infiltrate Rastafari.
Ganja
Cannabis For many Rastas, smoking cannabis (known as ganja, marijuana, herb, kali, or lamb's bread) is a spiritual act, often accompanied by Bible study; they consider it a sacrament that cleans the body and mind, exalts the consciousness, facilitates peacefulness, and brings them closer to Jah. The burning of the herb is often said to be essential "for it will sting in the hearts of those that promote and perform evil and wrongs." Many believe that cannabis originated in Africa, and that it is a part of their African culture that they are reclaiming. It is sometimes also referred to as "the healing of the nation", a phraseology adapted from Revelation 22:2.
They are not surprised that it is illegal, seeing it as a powerful substance that opens people's minds to the truth — something the Babylon system, they reason, clearly does not want. They contrast their herb to liquor, which they feel makes people stupid, and is not a part of African culture. While there is a clear belief in the beneficial qualities of cannabis, it is not compulsory to use it, and there are Rastas who do not do so. Dreadlocked mystics, often ascetic, known as the sadhus, have smoked cannabis in India for centuries. According to many Rastas, the illegality of cannabis in many nations is evidence that the Persecution of Rastafari is a reality. The migration of many thousands of Indian Hindus to the Caribbean in the 20th century may have brought this culture to Jamaica.
They believe that the smoking of cannabis enjoys Biblical sanction and is an aid to meditation and religious observance.
Among Biblical verses Rastas believe justify the use of cannabis:
Genesis 1:11 "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so."
Genesis 1:12 “I have given you all the seed bearing plants on earth to use”
Genesis 3:18 "... thou shalt eat the herb of the field."
Proverbs 15:17 "Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith."
Psalms 104:14 "He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man."
According to Rastafarian and other scholars, the etymology of the word "cannabis" and similar terms in all the languages of the Near East may be traced to the Hebrew qaneh bosm that is one of the herbs God commands Moses to include in his preparation of sacred anointing perfume in Exodus 30:23; the Hebrew term also appears in Isaiah 43:24; Jeremiah 6:20; Ezekiel 27:19; and Song of Songs 4:14. Deuterocanonical and canonical references to the patriarchs Adam, Noah, Abraham and Moses "burning incense before the Lord" are also applied, and many Rastas today refer to cannabis by the term ishence — a slightly changed form of the English word "incense". It is also said that cannabis was the first plant to grow on King Solomon's grave.
In 1998, then-Attorney General of the United States Janet Reno, though not a judge, opined that Rastafari do not have the religious right to smoke ganja in violation of the United States' drug laws. The position is the same in the United Kingdom, where, in the Court of Appeal case of R. v. Taylor [2002] 1 Cr. App. R. 37, it was held that the UK's prohibition on cannabis use did not contravene the right to freedom of religion conferred under the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
Early adherents adopted their dietary laws based on their interpretation of several books of the Bible, like the Genesis ("Then God said, "I give you every Seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food."), the Leviticus and Deuteronomy. In common with Religions such as Judaism, Islam, and Ethiopian Christianity, most Rastas avoid the eating of pork. Some Rastas also avoid eating shellfish because, in common with pigs, they are considered to be scavengers. Most Rastas avoid the consumption of red meat, some do not eat fish over 12 inches in length, and some are strict vegetarians or vegans
This holy anointing oil, as described in the original Hebrew version of the recipe in Exodus,[1] contained over 6 pounds of kaneh-bosem-a substance identified by respected etymologists, linguists, anthropologists, botanists, and other researchers as cannabis extracted into 6 quarts of olive oil along with a variety of other fragrant herbs. The ancient anointed ones were literally drenched in this potent mixture.
Carl Ruck, the scholar who coined the term entheogen, is a professor of classical mythology at Boston University and has researched the history of psychoactive substances in religion for over three decades, working with such luminaries as the father of LSD, Albert Hoffman; entheobotanist Richard Evans Shcultes; and mycologist R. Gordon Wasson. On the subject of Old Testament cannabis use, he exclaims:
“There can be little doubt about a role for cannabis in the Judaic religion………..
There is no way that so important a plant as a fiber source for textiles and nutritive oils and one so easy to grow would have gone unnoticed……The mere harvesting of it would have introduced an entheogenic reaction.”
Ruck comments further on this practice into the early Christian period: “Obviously the easy availability and long-established tradition of cannabis in early Judaism…. Would inevitably have included it in the [Christian] mixtures.”[2]
Although most modern people choose to smoke or eat pot, when its active ingredients are transferred into an oil-based carrier, it can also be absorbed through the skin, which is one big organ. In the New Testament, Jesus baptizes none of his disciples, as is practiced by the Catholic church, but anoints them with this potent entheogenic oil, sending out the 12 apostles to do the same. “And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.”[3]
Likewise, after Jesus’ passing, James suggests that anyone of the Christian community who was sick should call to the elders to anoint him with oil in the name of Jesus.[4]
It should be understood that in the ancient world, diseases such as epilepsy were attributed to demonic possession. To cure somebody of such an illness, even with the aid of certain herbs, was considered exorcism or miraculous healing. Interesting, cannabis has been shown to be effective in not only epilepsy, but many other ailments that Jesus and his disciples healed people of, such as skin diseases,[5] eye problems,[6] and menstrual problems.[7]
Although the biblical story of Jesus’ initiation by John describes it as the classic Catholic baptism, a form submersion in the water, the term baptism itself can be seen to have connotations of initiation. Likely there was more to the story than is described in the Bible.
Ancient Christian scriptures indicate that the rite originally was performed in conjunction with the kaneh-bosem anointing rite, “the anointing taking place either before or after the baptismal ceremony.”[13] Certain Christian texts that are not part of the official cannon specifically state that Jesus received the title “Christ…because of the anointing,”[14] not because of the water baptism.
The controversy over baptism verses anointing with oil is apparently as old as Christianity itself. The New Testament, from which we get our image of the classical Jesus, was not selected as such until about AD 350. The Roman Catholic church fathers who put it together selected these writings from a larger selection of text that were collected from the numerous schools of Christian thought that had developed over the first few centuries. Anything that contradicted their official view of the life of Jesus was considered heresy and destined for the editorial flames.
Diet
Ital or I-tal is food often celebrated by those in the Rastafari movement. The word derives from the English word "vital", with the initial syllable replaced by i. This is done to many words in the Rastafari vocabulary to signify the unity of the speaker with all of nature. Rastafarians derive their beliefs and morality from intense personal meditations and prayer, and therefore there is no single dogma of Rastafarian belief. Due to this emphasis on individual personal meditation in Rastafari, the expression of Ital eating varies widely from Rasta to Rasta, and there are few universal "rules" of Ital living.
The primary goal of adhering to an Ital diet is to increase Livity, or the life energy that Rastas generally believe lives within all of us, as conferred from the Almighty. A common tenet of Rastafarian beliefs is the sharing of a central Livity among living things, and what is put into one's body should enhance Livity rather than reduce it. Though there are different interpretations of ital regarding specific foods, the general principle is that food should be natural, or pure, and from the earth; Rastas therefore often avoid food which is chemically modified or contains artificial additives (e.g., color, flavorings, and preservatives). Some also avoid added salt in foods, especially salt with the artificial addition of iodine, while pure sea or kosher salt is eaten by some. In strict interpretations, foods that have been produced using chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizer are not considered ital.
Colours
The colours of Rasta are black, red, yellow, and green. The red, green, and yellow are the colours of the Ethiopian flag, and the black reperesents Africa. Each colour has its own meaning, and they are very significant for many Rastafarians. The black is for Africa because it is considered the homeland.The red is for the blood of all living things in the world. The yellow is for all the gold, jewels, and treasures. The green is for the Earth that people walk on, and that Rastas feel a special connection to.
History of the Rastafari movement
Ethiopianism
Before Garvey there were two major events that led to Rastafari: The history of resistance and the forming of an afrocentric worldview, Ethiopianism. In Jamaica they carried a tradition of ”what musician Bob Marley called ’resisting against the system.’
Marcus Garvey
Marcus Garvey Rastas see Marcus Garvey as a prophet, with his philosophy fundamentally shaping the movement, and with many of the early Rastas having started out as Garveyites. He is often seen as a second John the Baptist. One of the most famous prophecies attributed to him involving the coronation of Haile Selassie I was the 1927 pronouncement "Look to Africa, for there a king shall be crowned," though an associate of Garvey's, James Morris Webb, had made very similar public statements as early as 1921. Marcus Garvey promoted Black Nationalism, black separatism, and Pan-Africanism: the belief that all black people of the world should join in brotherhood and work to decolonise the continent of Africa — then still controlled by the white colonialist powers. He promoted his cause of black pride throughout the twenties and thirties, and was particularly successful and influential among lower-class blacks in Jamaica and in rural communities. Although his ideas have been hugely influential in the development of Rastafari culture, Garvey never identified himself with the movement, and even wrote an article critical of Haile Selassie for leaving Ethiopia at the time of the Fascist occupation. In addition, his Universal Negro Improvement Association disagreed with Leonard Howell over Howell's teaching that Haile Selassie was the Messiah. Rastafari nonetheless may be seen as an extension of Garveyism. In early Rasta folklore, it is the Black Star Liner (actually a shipping company bought by Garvey to encourage repatriation to Liberia) that takes them home to Africa.
Rastafari today
By claiming Haile Selassie I as the returned messiah, Rastafari may be seen as a new religious movement that has arisen from Judaism and Christianity. Rastafari is not a highly organized religion, it is a movement and an ideology. Many Rastas say that it is not a "religion" at all, but a "Way of Life". Most Rastas do not claim any sect or denomination, and thus encourage one another to find faith and inspiration within themselves; although some do identify strongly with one of the "mansions of Rastafari", the three most prominent of these being the Nyahbinghi, the Bobo Ashanti and the Twelve Tribes of Israel. In 1996, the International Rastafari Development Society was given consultative status by the United Nations
Locks have also come to symbolize the Lion of Judah (his mane) and rebellion against Babylon. In the United States, several public schools and workplaces have lost lawsuits as the result of banning locks. Safeway is an early example, and the victory of eight children in a suit against their Lafayette, Louisiana school was a landmark decision in favor of Rastafari rights. More recently, a group of Rastafarians settled a federal lawsuit with the Grand Central Partnership in New York City, allowing them to wear their locks in neat ponytails, rather than be forced to "painfully tuck in their long hair" in their uniform caps. [36]
Rastafari associate dreadlocks with a spiritual journey that one takes in the process of locking their hair (growing hairlocks). It is taught that patience is the key to growing locks, a journey of the mind, soul and spirituality. Its spiritual pattern is aligned with the Rastafari movement. The way to form natural dreadlocks is to allow hair to grow in its natural pattern, without cutting, combing or brushing, but simply to wash it with pure water.
For the Rastas the razor, the scissors and the comb are the three Babylonian or Roman inventions. [37] So close is the association between dreadlocks and Rastafari, that the two are sometimes used synonymously. In reggae music, a follower of Rastafari may be referred to simply as a "dreadlocks" or "natty (natural) dread".
As important and connected with the movement as the wearing of locks is, though, it is not deemed necessary for, or equivalent to, true faith. Popular slogans, often incorporated within Reggae lyrics, include: "Not every dread is a Rasta and not every Rasta is a dread..."; "It's not the dread upon your head, but the love inna your heart, that mek ya Rastaman" (Sugar Minott); and as Morgan Heritage sings: "You don't haffi dread to be Rasta...," and "Children of Selassie I, don't lose your faith; whether you do or don't have your locks 'pon your head..." Some Rastafarians may eschew dreadlocks, either as a means of avoiding persecution or for practical reasons, especially in as they may be a liability in many industrial jobs as it may get trapped in machinery.
Many non-Rastafari of black African descent wear locks as an expression of pride in their ethnic identity, or simply as a hairstyle, and take a less purist approach to developing and grooming them, adding various substances such as beeswax in an attempt to assist the locking process. The wearing of dreads also has spread among people of other ethnicities, including those whose hair is not naturally suited to the style, and who sometimes go to great lengths to form them. Locks worn for stylish reasons are sometimes referred to as "bathroom locks," to distinguish them from the kind that are purely natural. Rasta purists also sometimes refer to such dreadlocked individuals as "wolves," as in "a wolf in sheep's clothing," especially when they are seen as trouble-makers who might potentially discredit or infiltrate Rastafari. [38]
Due to the spread of dreadlocks in popular culture, they have even appeared in the comic book medium, most notably The X-men's Bishop and the Dread & Alive comic book series, and making a notble appearance in “Predator” the movies as the hunter sports Dreads
In the late 1970’s Reggae artists such as Bob Marley helped launch the popular introduction of dreadlocks. Following the anti-establisment sentiments of their parents during the 1960’s, Marley and his music attracted a new generation of young Blacks and leftist Whites who found hope, inspiration and motivation to unite against oppression, racism and cultural misunderstanding. Although Marley helped usher in a new generation of lock wearers, it wasn’t until the late 1990’s when musicians from other genres, pro-athletes and actors began to wear locks and further the popular globalization of the hair style
For a complete history, philosophy, meaning,etc see further down the page, where Rastafari and all its elements are divided into sections.
The Rastafari wear dreads as an expression of inner spirituality. For them, the term "dread" refers to a "fear of the Lord", expressed in part as alienation from the perceived decadence and other evils of contemporary society and a return to the Covenant with the Almighty, Jah Rastafari.
Another interpretation among the Rastafari is that "dread" refers to the fear that dreadlocked Mau Mau warriors inspired among the colonial British. The Mau Mau, a largely ethnic Kikuyu rebel group in Kenya fighting to overthrow their colonial British oppressors from 1952–1960, hid for many years in the forests, during which time their hair grew into long locks. The images of their rebellion, then broadcast around the world, are said to have inspired Jamaican Rastafari to wear locks
Rastafari Movement
Rasta, or the Rastafari movement, is a religion that accepts Haile Selassie I, the former Emperor of Ethiopia,(See Above picture) as God incarnate, whom they call Jah. He is also seen as part of the Holy Trinity as the messiah promised in the Bible to return. The name Rastafari comes from Ras (Prince, Head, Duke or Chief) Tafari Makonnen, the pre-coronation name of Haile Selassie I.
The movement emerged in Jamaica among working-class and peasant black people in the early 1930s, arising from an interpretation of Biblical prophecy partly based on Selassie's status as the only African monarch of a fully independent state, and his titles of King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and Conquering Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5). Other characteristics of Rastafari include the spiritual use of cannabis, and various Afrocentric social and political aspirations, such as the teachings of Jamaican publicist, organiser, and black separatist Marcus Garvey (also often regarded as a prophet), whose political and cultural vision helped inspire a new worldview. (Marcus Garvey was like Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, a civil rights leader for Black Africans, who even advocated the fleeing of America and returning to the African motherland, a movie of his life was made starring James Woods, Marcus Garvey was also victim of Assassination in the 50’s)
(RASTAFARI BACKGROUND)
On November 2nd, 1930 the world received the controversial news, that Prince Ras Tafari, Haile Selassie I, was crowned in Ethiopia as King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and Conquering Lion of Judah. Haile Selassie was directly descended from the root of King David in the bloodline and lineage of King Solomon and Jesus Christ. The people of Jamaica saw this as the sign of Revelation and the fulfillment of Garveys prophecy. Some say this is when the Rastafari movement began
The Rastafari movement has spread throughout much of the world, largely through interest generated by reggae music—most notably, that of Jamaican singer/songwriter Bob Marley. By 2000, there were more than one million Rastafari faithful worldwide. About five to ten percent of Jamaicans identify themselves as Rastafari. Many Rastafari follow an ital diet which essentially means living by the dietary Laws of Leviticus and Deuteronomy in the Old Testament. (eating meat which is Halal or Kosher, no eating of any pig product, carrion, club footed animal, strangled, electrocuted or dead animal) by dead animal one means the animal is freshly slaughtered and not already dead or roadkill.
Leonard Howell, who has been described as the "first Rasta," formed a commune which has grown as large as 5,000 persons at a place called Pinnacle, at St. Catherine in Jamaica
Doctrines
Rastafari developed among an oppressed people who felt society had nothing to offer them except more suffering. Rastas may regard themselves as conforming to certain visions of how Africans should live, reclaiming what they see as a culture stolen from them when their ancestors were brought on slave ships to Jamaica, the movement's birthplace. The messages expounded by the Rastafari promote love and respect for all living things and emphasize the paramount importance of human dignity and self-respect. Above all else they speak of freedom from spiritual, psychological as well as physical slavery and oppression. In their attempts to heal the wounds inflicted upon the African race by the civilized nations of the world, Rastafarians continually extol the virtue and superiority of African culture and civilization past and present.
The doctrines of Rastafari depart radically from the norms of the conventional modern western mind, a trait of the movement deliberately encouraged by Rastas themselves. Unlike many religious groups that stress compliance with and recognition of the "powers-that-be," Rastafari instead stresses loyalty to their vision of "Zion," and rejection of modern society (called Babylon), which they see as thoroughly corrupt. "Babylon" in this case is considered to be rebelling against "Earth's Rightful Ruler" (JAH) ever since the days of king Nimrod.
This "way of life" is not merely to be assented to intellectually, or "belief" as the term is often used; it is used for the finding and knowledge of one's true identity. To follow and worship JAH Rastafari is to find, spread and "trod" the unique path to which each individual Rasta was rightfully born. The movement is difficult to categorize, because Rastafari is not a centralized organization. Individual Rastafari work out their religion for themselves, resulting in a wide variety of doctrines nevertheless also covered under the general umbrella of Rastafari
Dreadlocks
Rastaman with thick dreadlocks, though he has piercings, which may go against the teachings in LeviticusThe wearing of dreadlocks is very closely associated with the movement, though not universal among, or exclusive to, its adherents. Rastas believe dreadlocks to be supported by Leviticus 21:5 ("They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in the flesh.") and the Nazarite vow in Numbers 6:5 ("All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.") Part of the reason the hairstyle was adopted, was to contrast the kinky hair of black men with the straighter hair of whites.
It is believed that the first Rasta dreadlocks were copied from Kenya in the 1940s, when photos of the independence struggle of the feared Mau Mau insurgents, who grew their "dreaded locks" while hiding in the mountains, were published in a major media publication that reached Jamaica. However, there are ascetic groups within nearly every major religion that have at times worn their hair in this fashion. The length of a Rasta's dreads is a measure of Wisdom, Maturity, and knowledge in that it can indicate not only the Rasta's age, but also his/her time as a Rasta.
Also, according to the Bible, Samson was a Nazarite who had "Seven locks". Rastas point out that these "Seven locks" could only have been dreadlocks, as it is unlikely to refer to seven strands of hair.
Dreadlocks have also come to symbolize the Lion of Judah (its mane) and rebellion against Babylon. In the United States, several public schools and workplaces have lost lawsuits as the result of banning dreadlocks. Safeway is an early example, and the victory of eight children in a suit against their Lafayette, Louisiana school was a landmark decision in favor of Rastafari rights.
Rastafari associate dreadlocks with a spiritual journey that one takes in the process of locking their hair (growing dreadlocks). It is taught that patience is the key to growing dreadlocks, a journey of the mind, soul and spirituality. Its spiritual pattern is aligned with the Rastafari movement. People who do not understand the process sometimes mock the dreadlock style and make comments about the cleanliness of the locked hair. The way to form natural dreadlocks is to allow hair to grow in its natural pattern, without cutting, combing or brushing, but simply to wash it with pure water.
For the Rastas the razor, the scissors and the comb are the three Babylonian or Roman inventions. So close is the association between dreadlocks and Rastafari, that the two are sometimes used synonymously. In reggae music, a follower of Rastafari may be referred to simply as a dreadlocks or Natty (natural) Dread, whilst those non-believers who cut their hair are referred to as baldheads.
As important and connected with the movement as the wearing of dreadlocks is, though, it is not deemed necessary for, or equivalent to, true faith. Popular slogans, often incorporated within Reggae lyrics, include: "Not every dread is a Rasta and not every Rasta is a dread..."; "It's not the dread upon your head, but the love inna your heart, that mek ya Rastaman" (Sugar Minott); and as Morgan Heritage sings: "You don't haffi dread to be Rasta...," and "Children of Selassie I, don't lose your faith; whether you do or don't have your locks 'pon your head..."
Many non-Rastafari of black African descent have also adopted dreads as an expression of pride in their ethnic identity, or simply as a hairstyle, and take a less purist approach to developing and grooming them, adding various substances such as beeswax in an attempt to assist the locking process. The wearing of dreads also has spread among people of other ethnicities whose hair is not naturally suited to the style, and who sometimes go to great lengths to form them. These artificially acquired dreads worn for stylish reasons are sometimes referred to as "bathroom locks," to distinguish them from the kind that are purely natural. Rasta purists also sometimes refer to such "dreadlocked" individuals as "wolves," as in "a wolf in sheep's clothing," especially when they are seen as trouble-makers who might potentially discredit or infiltrate Rastafari.
Ganja
Cannabis For many Rastas, smoking cannabis (known as ganja, marijuana, herb, kali, or lamb's bread) is a spiritual act, often accompanied by Bible study; they consider it a sacrament that cleans the body and mind, exalts the consciousness, facilitates peacefulness, and brings them closer to Jah. The burning of the herb is often said to be essential "for it will sting in the hearts of those that promote and perform evil and wrongs." Many believe that cannabis originated in Africa, and that it is a part of their African culture that they are reclaiming. It is sometimes also referred to as "the healing of the nation", a phraseology adapted from Revelation 22:2.
They are not surprised that it is illegal, seeing it as a powerful substance that opens people's minds to the truth — something the Babylon system, they reason, clearly does not want. They contrast their herb to liquor, which they feel makes people stupid, and is not a part of African culture. While there is a clear belief in the beneficial qualities of cannabis, it is not compulsory to use it, and there are Rastas who do not do so. Dreadlocked mystics, often ascetic, known as the sadhus, have smoked cannabis in India for centuries. According to many Rastas, the illegality of cannabis in many nations is evidence that the Persecution of Rastafari is a reality. The migration of many thousands of Indian Hindus to the Caribbean in the 20th century may have brought this culture to Jamaica.
They believe that the smoking of cannabis enjoys Biblical sanction and is an aid to meditation and religious observance.
Among Biblical verses Rastas believe justify the use of cannabis:
Genesis 1:11 "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so."
Genesis 1:12 “I have given you all the seed bearing plants on earth to use”
Genesis 3:18 "... thou shalt eat the herb of the field."
Proverbs 15:17 "Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith."
Psalms 104:14 "He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man."
According to Rastafarian and other scholars, the etymology of the word "cannabis" and similar terms in all the languages of the Near East may be traced to the Hebrew qaneh bosm that is one of the herbs God commands Moses to include in his preparation of sacred anointing perfume in Exodus 30:23; the Hebrew term also appears in Isaiah 43:24; Jeremiah 6:20; Ezekiel 27:19; and Song of Songs 4:14. Deuterocanonical and canonical references to the patriarchs Adam, Noah, Abraham and Moses "burning incense before the Lord" are also applied, and many Rastas today refer to cannabis by the term ishence — a slightly changed form of the English word "incense". It is also said that cannabis was the first plant to grow on King Solomon's grave.
In 1998, then-Attorney General of the United States Janet Reno, though not a judge, opined that Rastafari do not have the religious right to smoke ganja in violation of the United States' drug laws. The position is the same in the United Kingdom, where, in the Court of Appeal case of R. v. Taylor [2002] 1 Cr. App. R. 37, it was held that the UK's prohibition on cannabis use did not contravene the right to freedom of religion conferred under the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
Early adherents adopted their dietary laws based on their interpretation of several books of the Bible, like the Genesis ("Then God said, "I give you every Seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food."), the Leviticus and Deuteronomy. In common with Religions such as Judaism, Islam, and Ethiopian Christianity, most Rastas avoid the eating of pork. Some Rastas also avoid eating shellfish because, in common with pigs, they are considered to be scavengers. Most Rastas avoid the consumption of red meat, some do not eat fish over 12 inches in length, and some are strict vegetarians or vegans
This holy anointing oil, as described in the original Hebrew version of the recipe in Exodus,[1] contained over 6 pounds of kaneh-bosem-a substance identified by respected etymologists, linguists, anthropologists, botanists, and other researchers as cannabis extracted into 6 quarts of olive oil along with a variety of other fragrant herbs. The ancient anointed ones were literally drenched in this potent mixture.
Carl Ruck, the scholar who coined the term entheogen, is a professor of classical mythology at Boston University and has researched the history of psychoactive substances in religion for over three decades, working with such luminaries as the father of LSD, Albert Hoffman; entheobotanist Richard Evans Shcultes; and mycologist R. Gordon Wasson. On the subject of Old Testament cannabis use, he exclaims:
“There can be little doubt about a role for cannabis in the Judaic religion………..
There is no way that so important a plant as a fiber source for textiles and nutritive oils and one so easy to grow would have gone unnoticed……The mere harvesting of it would have introduced an entheogenic reaction.”
Ruck comments further on this practice into the early Christian period: “Obviously the easy availability and long-established tradition of cannabis in early Judaism…. Would inevitably have included it in the [Christian] mixtures.”[2]
Although most modern people choose to smoke or eat pot, when its active ingredients are transferred into an oil-based carrier, it can also be absorbed through the skin, which is one big organ. In the New Testament, Jesus baptizes none of his disciples, as is practiced by the Catholic church, but anoints them with this potent entheogenic oil, sending out the 12 apostles to do the same. “And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.”[3]
Likewise, after Jesus’ passing, James suggests that anyone of the Christian community who was sick should call to the elders to anoint him with oil in the name of Jesus.[4]
It should be understood that in the ancient world, diseases such as epilepsy were attributed to demonic possession. To cure somebody of such an illness, even with the aid of certain herbs, was considered exorcism or miraculous healing. Interesting, cannabis has been shown to be effective in not only epilepsy, but many other ailments that Jesus and his disciples healed people of, such as skin diseases,[5] eye problems,[6] and menstrual problems.[7]
Although the biblical story of Jesus’ initiation by John describes it as the classic Catholic baptism, a form submersion in the water, the term baptism itself can be seen to have connotations of initiation. Likely there was more to the story than is described in the Bible.
Ancient Christian scriptures indicate that the rite originally was performed in conjunction with the kaneh-bosem anointing rite, “the anointing taking place either before or after the baptismal ceremony.”[13] Certain Christian texts that are not part of the official cannon specifically state that Jesus received the title “Christ…because of the anointing,”[14] not because of the water baptism.
The controversy over baptism verses anointing with oil is apparently as old as Christianity itself. The New Testament, from which we get our image of the classical Jesus, was not selected as such until about AD 350. The Roman Catholic church fathers who put it together selected these writings from a larger selection of text that were collected from the numerous schools of Christian thought that had developed over the first few centuries. Anything that contradicted their official view of the life of Jesus was considered heresy and destined for the editorial flames.
Diet
Ital or I-tal is food often celebrated by those in the Rastafari movement. The word derives from the English word "vital", with the initial syllable replaced by i. This is done to many words in the Rastafari vocabulary to signify the unity of the speaker with all of nature. Rastafarians derive their beliefs and morality from intense personal meditations and prayer, and therefore there is no single dogma of Rastafarian belief. Due to this emphasis on individual personal meditation in Rastafari, the expression of Ital eating varies widely from Rasta to Rasta, and there are few universal "rules" of Ital living.
The primary goal of adhering to an Ital diet is to increase Livity, or the life energy that Rastas generally believe lives within all of us, as conferred from the Almighty. A common tenet of Rastafarian beliefs is the sharing of a central Livity among living things, and what is put into one's body should enhance Livity rather than reduce it. Though there are different interpretations of ital regarding specific foods, the general principle is that food should be natural, or pure, and from the earth; Rastas therefore often avoid food which is chemically modified or contains artificial additives (e.g., color, flavorings, and preservatives). Some also avoid added salt in foods, especially salt with the artificial addition of iodine, while pure sea or kosher salt is eaten by some. In strict interpretations, foods that have been produced using chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizer are not considered ital.
Colours
The colours of Rasta are black, red, yellow, and green. The red, green, and yellow are the colours of the Ethiopian flag, and the black reperesents Africa. Each colour has its own meaning, and they are very significant for many Rastafarians. The black is for Africa because it is considered the homeland.The red is for the blood of all living things in the world. The yellow is for all the gold, jewels, and treasures. The green is for the Earth that people walk on, and that Rastas feel a special connection to.
History of the Rastafari movement
Ethiopianism
Before Garvey there were two major events that led to Rastafari: The history of resistance and the forming of an afrocentric worldview, Ethiopianism. In Jamaica they carried a tradition of ”what musician Bob Marley called ’resisting against the system.’
Marcus Garvey
Marcus Garvey Rastas see Marcus Garvey as a prophet, with his philosophy fundamentally shaping the movement, and with many of the early Rastas having started out as Garveyites. He is often seen as a second John the Baptist. One of the most famous prophecies attributed to him involving the coronation of Haile Selassie I was the 1927 pronouncement "Look to Africa, for there a king shall be crowned," though an associate of Garvey's, James Morris Webb, had made very similar public statements as early as 1921. Marcus Garvey promoted Black Nationalism, black separatism, and Pan-Africanism: the belief that all black people of the world should join in brotherhood and work to decolonise the continent of Africa — then still controlled by the white colonialist powers. He promoted his cause of black pride throughout the twenties and thirties, and was particularly successful and influential among lower-class blacks in Jamaica and in rural communities. Although his ideas have been hugely influential in the development of Rastafari culture, Garvey never identified himself with the movement, and even wrote an article critical of Haile Selassie for leaving Ethiopia at the time of the Fascist occupation. In addition, his Universal Negro Improvement Association disagreed with Leonard Howell over Howell's teaching that Haile Selassie was the Messiah. Rastafari nonetheless may be seen as an extension of Garveyism. In early Rasta folklore, it is the Black Star Liner (actually a shipping company bought by Garvey to encourage repatriation to Liberia) that takes them home to Africa.
Rastafari today
By claiming Haile Selassie I as the returned messiah, Rastafari may be seen as a new religious movement that has arisen from Judaism and Christianity. Rastafari is not a highly organized religion, it is a movement and an ideology. Many Rastas say that it is not a "religion" at all, but a "Way of Life". Most Rastas do not claim any sect or denomination, and thus encourage one another to find faith and inspiration within themselves; although some do identify strongly with one of the "mansions of Rastafari", the three most prominent of these being the Nyahbinghi, the Bobo Ashanti and the Twelve Tribes of Israel. In 1996, the International Rastafari Development Society was given consultative status by the United Nations
Locks have also come to symbolize the Lion of Judah (his mane) and rebellion against Babylon. In the United States, several public schools and workplaces have lost lawsuits as the result of banning locks. Safeway is an early example, and the victory of eight children in a suit against their Lafayette, Louisiana school was a landmark decision in favor of Rastafari rights. More recently, a group of Rastafarians settled a federal lawsuit with the Grand Central Partnership in New York City, allowing them to wear their locks in neat ponytails, rather than be forced to "painfully tuck in their long hair" in their uniform caps. [36]
Rastafari associate dreadlocks with a spiritual journey that one takes in the process of locking their hair (growing hairlocks). It is taught that patience is the key to growing locks, a journey of the mind, soul and spirituality. Its spiritual pattern is aligned with the Rastafari movement. The way to form natural dreadlocks is to allow hair to grow in its natural pattern, without cutting, combing or brushing, but simply to wash it with pure water.
For the Rastas the razor, the scissors and the comb are the three Babylonian or Roman inventions. [37] So close is the association between dreadlocks and Rastafari, that the two are sometimes used synonymously. In reggae music, a follower of Rastafari may be referred to simply as a "dreadlocks" or "natty (natural) dread".
As important and connected with the movement as the wearing of locks is, though, it is not deemed necessary for, or equivalent to, true faith. Popular slogans, often incorporated within Reggae lyrics, include: "Not every dread is a Rasta and not every Rasta is a dread..."; "It's not the dread upon your head, but the love inna your heart, that mek ya Rastaman" (Sugar Minott); and as Morgan Heritage sings: "You don't haffi dread to be Rasta...," and "Children of Selassie I, don't lose your faith; whether you do or don't have your locks 'pon your head..." Some Rastafarians may eschew dreadlocks, either as a means of avoiding persecution or for practical reasons, especially in as they may be a liability in many industrial jobs as it may get trapped in machinery.
Many non-Rastafari of black African descent wear locks as an expression of pride in their ethnic identity, or simply as a hairstyle, and take a less purist approach to developing and grooming them, adding various substances such as beeswax in an attempt to assist the locking process. The wearing of dreads also has spread among people of other ethnicities, including those whose hair is not naturally suited to the style, and who sometimes go to great lengths to form them. Locks worn for stylish reasons are sometimes referred to as "bathroom locks," to distinguish them from the kind that are purely natural. Rasta purists also sometimes refer to such dreadlocked individuals as "wolves," as in "a wolf in sheep's clothing," especially when they are seen as trouble-makers who might potentially discredit or infiltrate Rastafari. [38]
Due to the spread of dreadlocks in popular culture, they have even appeared in the comic book medium, most notably The X-men's Bishop and the Dread & Alive comic book series, and making a notble appearance in “Predator” the movies as the hunter sports Dreads
In the late 1970’s Reggae artists such as Bob Marley helped launch the popular introduction of dreadlocks. Following the anti-establisment sentiments of their parents during the 1960’s, Marley and his music attracted a new generation of young Blacks and leftist Whites who found hope, inspiration and motivation to unite against oppression, racism and cultural misunderstanding. Although Marley helped usher in a new generation of lock wearers, it wasn’t until the late 1990’s when musicians from other genres, pro-athletes and actors began to wear locks and further the popular globalization of the hair style
SO WHERE DOES THE WORD “DREADLOCKS” COME FROM?
In Jamaica the term dreadlocks was first recorded in the 1950s as a derogatory term when the "Young Black Faith", an early sect of the Rastafari which began among the marginalized poor of Jamaica in the 1930s, ceased to copy the particular hair style of Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia and began to wear dreadlocks instead. (See picture above) It was said that they looked 'dreadful' with their locks, which gave birth to the modern name 'dreadlocks' for this ancient style. Different theories exist about the origin of Rastalocks. Some sources trace Rasta locks back to Indians who arrived in Jamaica to work as indentured laborers in the late 19th century, some of whom were among the first followers of Leonard Howell. This may be a plausible explanation, given that some may have been Sadhus of the Naga sect, who also wear dreadlocks and smoke cannabis. Still others believe the first Rasta dreadlocks were derived from the "dreaded locks" of the Mau Mau, the violent, largely Kikuyu protonationalist insurgency against British colonialism in 1950s Kenya. What is known however is among the number of African slaves abandoned in the Caribbean on their way to the U.S also had dreadlocks, many began to get dreadlocks during the 10 month voyage, from Africa to the Carribean, even those who continued on to the U.S got dreads on the same extended voyage.
but also note that, The word dreadlocks is not a universal term (each culture seems to have a word of their own). The word "Dreadlocks" is of Jamaican origin. When the Rastafari movement began to take shape in Jamaica, because in the early stages of the movement people were afraid of the Rastamen they called them dreadlocks (dread meaning fear or in terror of). The Rastas gave another explanation: the locks bearer is one who reveres the Black God and King (biblical fear, awe, and reverence of the Lord). Rastafari elder Mortimer Planno, who met Haile Selassie I (the Rastafari God and King of Ethiopia), has said Dread means wise and righteous and the Rastas strive to live in this way.
IN WESTERN POPULAR CULTURE
The Rastas also consider themselves to be the reincarnated Nazarites of biblical days. They regard themselves as the separate ones, livicated (dedicated) to pure and holy living. Nazarites vowed not to cut their hair nor beard, and so were recognized by the mass of knotted locks upon their head:
All the days of the vow of the separation, no razor shall pass over his head. Until the day be fulfilled of his consecration to the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let his head grow. Numbers 6:5
Biblical figures such as Samuel and Samson are biblically documented as born into the Nazarite vow, and Solomon, John the Baptist, and Jesus were also believed by the Rastas to be Nazarites. Rastas identification with Haile Selassie as Lion of Judah and the fierce lion as king of the jungle is also expressed in their locks as a Lions Mane along with their strong and confident walk.
Although Emperor Haile Sellassie did not wear the locks, dreadlocks on a Rasta's head are symbolic of the Lion of Judah which is centered on the Ethiopian Flag. Rastas hold that Selassie is a direct descendant of the Israelite Tribe of Judah through the lineage of Kings of IsraelDavid and Solomon, and that he is also the Lion of Judah mentioned in the Book of Revelation.
After the baptism of Bob Marley in late 1980 by Ethiopian archbishop, Abuna Yeshaq, some people, such as rock music author Timothy White in Catch a Fire: The Life of Bob Marley, believe that the religious or spiritual meaning of dreadlocks can be traced back to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Like the afro, locks also can have social and political implications. For some peoples of African descent, locks are a statement of racial or ethnic pride. Some see them as a repudiation of Eurocentric values represented by straightened hair. For some, the rejection of ideas and values deemed alien to African peoples (which dreadlocks embody) sometimes can assume a spiritual dimension. Similarly, others wear dreads as a manifestation of their black nationalist or pan-Africanist political beliefs and view locks as symbols of black unity and power, and a rejection of oppression, racism and imperialism. While most Rastafari sects welcome all ethnicities and the history of dreadlocks attributes the hairstyle to almost all racial and ethnic groups, some blacks who attach strong racial meaning to dreads disapprove of the wearing of dreads by nonblacks, viewing such practice as a form of cultural appropriation.
In white counterculture, dreads have become popular among groups such as the "anti-globalisation" movement and environmental activists (such as Swampy, well-known in the 1990s). One issue of SchNEWS, an English anarchist newsletter, described the coming together of striking dockworkers and green protestors as "Docks and dreadlocks come together".
Dreadlocks are also becoming increasingly popular and fashionable in the metal music scene.
In the West, dreadlocks have gained particular popularity among certain subcultures. Examples of these are the New Age Traveller, hippie, crust punk, hyphy and gothic subcultures. Also it has gained popularity as a style among youth of both Black African and European descent. Members of the cybergoth sub-culture often wear blatantly artificial "dreadfalls" made of synthetic hair, fabric or plastic tubing.
Brian Fair of Shadows Fall is known for his extremely long dreadlocks that reach past his knees. Brandon Mills of Decyfer Down, Noah Henson of Pillar, Anders Friden of In Flames Chris Barnes of Six Feet Under and Rob Zombie are also known for sporting dreadlocks. Slipknot's lead vocalist Corey Taylor used to have dreadlocks during the early years of the band, before cutting them off and attaching them to the outside of the mask he wore onstage.
Bob Marley, George Clinton, Rosalind Cash, Bobby McFerrin, Tracy Chapman, Lauryn Hill, Lenny Kravitz, Inner Circle, WIll I am (from Black eyed peas),Eddy Grant, Lil Wayne and members of the band Living Colour; authors Alice Walker and Toni Morrison; and actors Whoopi Goldberg, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Mekhi Pfieffer, Jason Manoa and Keith Hamilton Cobb (to name just a mere few)
While many lock up their hair for fashion, for others it is a way to show dedication and patience to themselves and others as well, being that dreadlocks take a lot of time and work.
There are many reasons among various cultures for wearing locks. Locks can be an expression of deep religious or spiritual convictions, a manifestation of ethnic pride, a political statement, or be simply a fashion preference. In response to the derogatory history of the term dreadlocks, alternative names for the style include locks, Locs and African Locks
The Rastas also consider themselves to be the reincarnated Nazarites of biblical days. They regard themselves as the separate ones, livicated (dedicated) to pure and holy living. Nazarites vowed not to cut their hair nor beard, and so were recognized by the mass of knotted locks upon their head:
All the days of the vow of the separation, no razor shall pass over his head. Until the day be fulfilled of his consecration to the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let his head grow. Numbers 6:5
Biblical figures such as Samuel and Samson are biblically documented as born into the Nazarite vow, and Solomon, John the Baptist, and Jesus were also believed by the Rastas to be Nazarites. Rastas identification with Haile Selassie as Lion of Judah and the fierce lion as king of the jungle is also expressed in their locks as a Lions Mane along with their strong and confident walk.
Although Emperor Haile Sellassie did not wear the locks, dreadlocks on a Rasta's head are symbolic of the Lion of Judah which is centered on the Ethiopian Flag. Rastas hold that Selassie is a direct descendant of the Israelite Tribe of Judah through the lineage of Kings of IsraelDavid and Solomon, and that he is also the Lion of Judah mentioned in the Book of Revelation.
After the baptism of Bob Marley in late 1980 by Ethiopian archbishop, Abuna Yeshaq, some people, such as rock music author Timothy White in Catch a Fire: The Life of Bob Marley, believe that the religious or spiritual meaning of dreadlocks can be traced back to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Like the afro, locks also can have social and political implications. For some peoples of African descent, locks are a statement of racial or ethnic pride. Some see them as a repudiation of Eurocentric values represented by straightened hair. For some, the rejection of ideas and values deemed alien to African peoples (which dreadlocks embody) sometimes can assume a spiritual dimension. Similarly, others wear dreads as a manifestation of their black nationalist or pan-Africanist political beliefs and view locks as symbols of black unity and power, and a rejection of oppression, racism and imperialism. While most Rastafari sects welcome all ethnicities and the history of dreadlocks attributes the hairstyle to almost all racial and ethnic groups, some blacks who attach strong racial meaning to dreads disapprove of the wearing of dreads by nonblacks, viewing such practice as a form of cultural appropriation.
In white counterculture, dreads have become popular among groups such as the "anti-globalisation" movement and environmental activists (such as Swampy, well-known in the 1990s). One issue of SchNEWS, an English anarchist newsletter, described the coming together of striking dockworkers and green protestors as "Docks and dreadlocks come together".
Dreadlocks are also becoming increasingly popular and fashionable in the metal music scene.
In the West, dreadlocks have gained particular popularity among certain subcultures. Examples of these are the New Age Traveller, hippie, crust punk, hyphy and gothic subcultures. Also it has gained popularity as a style among youth of both Black African and European descent. Members of the cybergoth sub-culture often wear blatantly artificial "dreadfalls" made of synthetic hair, fabric or plastic tubing.
Brian Fair of Shadows Fall is known for his extremely long dreadlocks that reach past his knees. Brandon Mills of Decyfer Down, Noah Henson of Pillar, Anders Friden of In Flames Chris Barnes of Six Feet Under and Rob Zombie are also known for sporting dreadlocks. Slipknot's lead vocalist Corey Taylor used to have dreadlocks during the early years of the band, before cutting them off and attaching them to the outside of the mask he wore onstage.
Bob Marley, George Clinton, Rosalind Cash, Bobby McFerrin, Tracy Chapman, Lauryn Hill, Lenny Kravitz, Inner Circle, WIll I am (from Black eyed peas),Eddy Grant, Lil Wayne and members of the band Living Colour; authors Alice Walker and Toni Morrison; and actors Whoopi Goldberg, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Mekhi Pfieffer, Jason Manoa and Keith Hamilton Cobb (to name just a mere few)
While many lock up their hair for fashion, for others it is a way to show dedication and patience to themselves and others as well, being that dreadlocks take a lot of time and work.
There are many reasons among various cultures for wearing locks. Locks can be an expression of deep religious or spiritual convictions, a manifestation of ethnic pride, a political statement, or be simply a fashion preference. In response to the derogatory history of the term dreadlocks, alternative names for the style include locks, Locs and African Locks