Cover Story

Rastafarian Reggae
Worships Whom?

Itawe, also known as Donavan Cunningham, grew up in the hills of St. Ann, Jamaica, near Bob Marley's home. "Hey, oh Portland!," he said. "You know we livin' on the battlefield and have to cry out to the Most High for deliverance;
Jah watch his people!" --Benjamin Tertin, photo

਍吀栀甀洀瀀椀渀最 搀爀甀洀猀 攀挀栀漀 昀爀漀洀 爀甀爀愀氀 䨀愀洀愀椀挀愀 琀漀 樀漀椀渀 洀漀搀攀爀渀 戀愀猀猀 氀椀渀攀猀 愀渀搀 昀漀爀洀 琀栀攀 昀漀甀渀搀愀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 刀愀猀琀愀昀愀爀椀愀渀 刀攀最最愀攀Ⰰ 愀 洀甀猀椀挀愀氀 猀琀礀氀攀 戀攀猀琀 挀栀愀爀愀挀琀攀爀椀稀攀搀 戀礀 琀栀攀 愀爀挀栀攀琀礀瀀愀氀 刀愀猀琀愀洀愀渀ⴀⴀ䈀漀戀 䴀愀爀氀攀礀⸀ 㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ Reggae's smooth rhythm, often presented in a 72- to 90-beat-per-minute tempo, mimics a pulsing human heart and massages the soul of an international audience, Portlanders included.

਍刀愀猀琀愀昀愀爀椀愀渀猀 瀀爀愀椀猀椀渀最 䨀愀栀 ⠀猀栀漀爀琀 昀漀爀 䨀攀栀漀瘀愀栀⤀ 愀琀 一漀爀琀栀 倀漀爀琀氀愀渀搀✀猀 䄀昀爀椀挀愀渀 挀甀氀琀甀爀愀氀 挀攀渀琀攀爀Ⰰ 一攀眀 䈀漀爀渀 吀爀椀戀攀Ⰰ 猀愀椀搀 琀栀攀礀 愀爀攀 昀漀氀氀漀眀椀渀最 愀 ∀氀椀瘀椀琀礀Ⰰ∀ 渀漀琀 愀 爀攀氀椀最椀漀渀⸀ 㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ Livity refers to a way of life, one that embraces strict dietary codes, dreadlocked hairstyles, ritual ganja smoking and deep respect for the natural environment created by the "Most High."

਍吀栀攀猀攀 倀漀爀琀氀愀渀搀 刀愀猀琀愀昀愀爀椀愀渀猀 猀愀椀搀 琀栀攀礀 爀攀猀瀀攀挀琀 䨀愀栀 戀礀 氀椀瘀椀渀最 椀渀 甀渀椀琀礀 眀椀琀栀 攀愀挀栀 漀琀栀攀爀Ⰰ 猀攀攀欀椀渀最 愀渀 ∀攀氀攀瘀愀琀攀搀 眀椀猀搀漀洀∀ 愀渀搀 瀀爀愀椀猀椀渀最 栀椀猀 渀愀洀攀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 爀攀最最愀攀 洀甀猀椀挀⸀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ But Rastafari, according to its devout followers, extends beyond the markings of a unique lifestyle; Rastafari followers proclaim faith in the incarnate God. This true Messiah, they say, is "Haile Selassie I -- King of Kings, Lord of Lords and Conquering Lion of Judah."

਍匀洀椀氀攀礀Ⰰ 愀渀 漀爀最愀渀椀挀 昀愀爀洀攀爀 眀栀漀 猀瀀攀渀琀 琀栀攀 昀椀爀猀琀 ㈀㄀ 漀昀 栀椀猀 ㈀㠀 礀攀愀爀猀 漀渀 琀栀攀 䌀愀爀椀戀戀攀愀渀 椀猀氀愀渀搀 匀琀⸀ 䌀爀漀椀砀Ⰰ 眀愀猀 琀爀愀瘀攀氀椀渀最 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 倀漀爀琀氀愀渀搀 椀渀 洀椀搀ⴀ一漀瘀攀洀戀攀爀Ⰰ 攀渀 爀漀甀琀攀 琀漀 栀椀猀 挀甀爀爀攀渀琀 栀漀洀攀 椀渀 䌀愀氀椀昀漀爀渀椀愀⸀ ⠀匀洀椀氀攀礀 爀攀昀甀猀攀搀 琀漀 瀀爀漀瘀椀搀攀 栀椀猀 昀甀氀氀 渀愀洀攀⸀⤀ ഀ He said that prince Ras Tafari Makonnen was named Haile Selassie I after his November 1928 coronation to Emperor of Ethiopia. ਍刀愀猀琀愀猀 猀攀攀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀爀漀渀愀琀椀漀渀 愀猀 琀栀攀 ∀昀甀氀昀椀氀氀洀攀渀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 瀀爀漀瀀栀攀挀礀 漀昀 琀栀攀 漀渀攀 琀爀甀攀 瀀爀漀瀀栀攀琀Ⰰ 䴀愀爀挀甀猀 䜀愀爀瘀攀礀Ⰰ∀ 匀洀椀氀攀礀 猀愀椀搀⸀ഀ In his Psalm 68:31-supported prophecy, Garvey had said, "Look to Africa for the crowning of a Black King; he shall be the redeemer." That statement, however, was never formally documented, and several variations circulate today.਍䔀愀爀氀礀 刀愀猀琀愀昀愀爀椀 爀攀猀攀愀爀挀栀攀爀 䰀攀漀渀愀爀搀 䈀愀爀爀攀琀琀 眀爀椀琀攀猀 椀渀 ∀吀栀攀 刀愀猀琀愀昀愀爀椀愀渀猀∀ 琀栀愀琀 刀愀猀琀愀猀 昀椀爀猀琀 挀漀渀猀椀搀攀爀攀搀 匀攀氀愀猀猀椀攀✀猀 搀椀瘀椀渀攀 爀攀搀攀洀瀀琀椀漀渀 琀漀 戀攀 愀渀 愀挀琀甀愀氀 爀攀瀀愀琀爀椀愀琀椀漀渀 琀漀 䔀琀栀椀漀瀀椀愀 戀礀 戀氀愀挀欀猀 眀漀爀氀搀眀椀搀攀⸀  ഀ Before 1975, Barrett wrote, "Repatriation is inevitable, and the time awaits only the decision of Haile Selassie. Known only to true believers, the details of the departure [to Africa] are secret." ਍匀攀氀愀猀猀椀攀Ⰰ 栀漀眀攀瘀攀爀Ⰰ 椀渀椀琀椀愀琀攀搀 渀漀 猀甀挀栀 爀攀搀攀洀瀀琀椀漀渀 愀渀搀 搀椀攀搀 椀渀 ㄀㤀㜀㔀⸀ 匀漀 刀愀猀琀愀猀 愀搀愀瀀琀攀搀 琀漀 琀栀攀 挀椀爀挀甀洀猀琀愀渀挀攀猀 愀渀搀 爀攀搀攀昀椀渀攀搀 爀攀搀攀洀瀀琀椀漀渀 愀猀 洀攀渀琀愀氀 爀攀瀀愀琀爀椀愀琀椀漀渀 琀漀Ⰰ 愀猀 匀洀椀氀攀礀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ∀琀栀攀 眀椀搀攀 漀瀀攀渀 最愀琀攀 漀昀 娀椀漀渀⸀∀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ Selassie's death did not slow the growth of Rastafari.

਍吀栀攀 爀攀最最愀攀 漀昀 䈀漀戀 䴀愀爀氀攀礀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 圀愀椀氀攀爀猀 栀愀搀 愀氀爀攀愀搀礀 椀洀瀀愀挀琀攀搀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀氀搀Ⰰ 戀攀最椀渀渀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 ᠀㘠　猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 猀瀀愀爀欀攀搀 爀愀瀀椀搀 最爀漀眀琀栀 椀渀 刀愀猀琀愀昀愀爀椀 ⠀刀愀猀ⴀ琀愀栀ⴀ昀愀爀ⴀ攀礀攀⤀⸀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ From its birth to present day, Rastas have encouraged resistance to a Babylon system. Smiley described Babylon as "judicial, economic and religious structures" set in place to "deceive Jah people."

਍䠀攀Ⰰ 氀椀欀攀 愀氀氀 刀愀猀琀愀猀Ⰰ 猀攀攀猀 琀栀攀 戀椀戀氀椀挀愀氀 愀挀挀漀甀渀琀 漀昀 䤀猀爀愀攀氀✀猀 攀砀椀氀攀 昀爀漀洀 䈀愀戀礀氀漀渀 愀猀 愀 搀攀猀挀爀椀瀀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 琀栀攀 挀甀爀爀攀渀琀 眀漀爀氀搀 猀挀攀渀攀⸀ 㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ "I know that we are the original Hebrew," Smiley said, "because before there was Jews, there was Hebrews, and before there was Hebrews, there was Ethiopians; it's written right in book of Genesis." Smiley said, "I don't care what any scientist or archaeologist say or whoever they be; I don't care what Babylon say.

਍∀刀愀猀琀愀洀愀渀 搀漀渀✀琀 瀀愀爀琀椀挀椀瀀愀琀攀 椀渀 渀漀 瀀漀氀椀琀椀挀愀氀Ⰰ 渀漀 最漀瘀攀爀渀洀攀渀琀Ⰰ 洀愀渀⸀ 一漀 最漀瘀攀爀渀洀攀渀琀 昀漀氀氀漀眀 琀栀攀 氀愀眀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀 䄀氀洀椀最栀琀礀 䜀漀搀Ⰰ 渀漀渀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀洀℀∀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ Marley, Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh (of Bob Marley and the Wailers) condemned Babylon's evil, and Marley sings in "Chant Down Babylon": "Come, we go burn down Babylon...Come, we go chant down Babylon." And in his song, "Babylon System," Marley represents Babylon as a vampire who is "sucking the children day by day...sucking the blood of the sufferers."

਍吀栀攀猀攀 ∀娀椀漀渀 爀椀搀搀椀洀猀∀ 爀攀氀愀琀攀 琀漀 琀栀攀 猀攀渀琀椀洀攀渀琀猀 漀昀 䌀愀爀椀戀戀攀愀渀 猀氀愀瘀攀猀 眀栀漀 漀渀挀攀 猀漀甀最栀琀 猀愀氀瘀愀琀椀漀渀 昀爀漀洀 戀爀甀琀愀氀 漀瀀瀀爀攀猀猀漀爀猀⸀ 吀栀漀猀攀 漀瀀瀀爀攀猀猀漀爀猀 ሀ•猀氀愀瘀攀 洀愀猀琀攀爀猀 ⴀ椀渀琀爀漀搀甀挀攀搀 䨀愀洀愀椀挀愀渀猀 琀漀 琀栀攀 䬀椀渀最 䨀愀洀攀猀 䈀椀戀氀攀 戀甀琀 琀眀椀猀琀攀搀 椀琀猀 洀攀猀猀愀最攀 琀漀 猀甀椀琀 琀栀攀椀爀 最爀攀攀搀⸀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀 ഀ In a Journal of Religious Thought article concerning the connection of the English Bible to Rastafari, Laurence Breiner, Ph.D., wrote: "We can assume that Jamaicans heard, though they did not often repeat, Paul's exhortation, ‘Servants, be subject to your masters.' Even the great myth of heavenly reward was exploited to keep the slaves manageable."

਍吀栀攀 刀愀猀琀愀昀愀爀椀愀渀猀 渀漀眀 爀攀最愀爀搀 琀栀攀 䈀椀戀氀攀 愀猀 愀 挀漀爀爀甀瀀琀攀搀 琀攀砀琀⸀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ Smiley said, "Many people use the Bible as a manipulation ting." Angered by the way "Christians always point to Paul instead of the black man, Simeon!" he referred to Acts 1-3 and 13 as examples of "trickery" from English translators and viewed most Scripture in a figurative sense.

਍匀洀椀氀攀礀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ 爀攀最愀爀搀椀渀最 琀栀攀 䔀砀漀搀甀猀 愀挀挀漀甀渀琀 漀昀 䴀漀猀攀猀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 戀甀爀渀椀渀最 戀甀猀栀Ⰰ ∀吀栀攀 戀甀猀栀 眀愀猀 琀栀攀 栀攀爀戀 嬀洀愀爀椀樀甀愀渀愀崀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 猀洀漀欀攀 琀栀愀琀 爀椀猀攀 昀爀漀洀 椀琀 眀愀猀 愀 栀漀氀礀 猀洀漀欀攀⸀∀ 㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ "Bob Marley," Smiley said, "is manifestation of Matthew; Peter Tosh is manifestation of Revelation 11, and each of the apostles represent 13 tribes of Rastafari."

਍吀漀 刀愀猀琀愀猀Ⰰ 戀椀戀氀椀挀愀氀 琀攀愀挀栀椀渀最 椀猀 氀攀猀猀 愀甀琀栀漀爀椀琀愀琀椀瘀攀 琀栀愀渀 眀椀猀搀漀洀 最愀椀渀攀搀 昀爀漀洀 氀椀昀攀 攀砀瀀攀爀椀攀渀挀攀 愀渀搀 挀漀渀瘀攀爀猀愀琀椀漀渀 眀椀琀栀 攀愀挀栀 漀琀栀攀爀⸀ऀ㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀 ഀ With circular vortex-like arm motions, Kara, a Rastafarian from Boston, said, "It is the wisdom from around and above, a wisdom that fills circles where Jah people come together--that is Rastafari." She said, "All have Rasta in them, every person is Rasta."

਍匀洀椀氀攀礀 愀最爀攀攀搀 愀渀搀 猀甀洀洀愀爀椀稀攀搀 琀栀攀 挀漀渀挀攀瀀琀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 琀攀爀洀 ∀䤀ⴀ渀ⴀ䤀∀Ⰰ 琀栀愀琀 椀猀Ⰰ ∀᠀䨠愀栀ⴀ愀渀搀ⴀ䤀✀ 愀爀攀 漀渀攀 眀椀琀栀 攀愀挀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 愀渀搀 愀氀氀 䨀愀栀 䤀搀爀攀渀 嬀挀栀椀氀搀爀攀渀崀⸀∀ 䈀攀挀愀甀猀攀 漀昀 琀栀愀琀 甀渀椀琀礀Ⰰ 刀愀猀琀愀猀 愀瘀漀椀搀 琀栀攀 挀漀渀猀甀洀瀀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 洀攀愀琀Ⰰ 愀渀椀洀愀氀 瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀猀Ⰰ 愀氀挀漀栀漀氀Ⰰ 挀漀昀昀攀攀Ⰰ 琀漀戀愀挀挀漀 漀爀 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀最 愀爀琀椀昀椀挀椀愀氀⸀ 㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ Smiley said "I-n-I seek to preserve the soul and don't take not'ing that cause destruction to the temple." (Marijuana is considered a sacred gift from Jah.)

਍∀刀愀猀琀愀 椀猀 樀甀猀琀 氀漀瘀攀㬀 琀栀攀爀攀✀猀 渀漀琀✀椀渀最 攀氀猀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 椀琀Ⰰ∀ 匀洀椀氀攀礀 猀愀椀搀⸀ ∀䤀琀 椀猀 洀愀渀椀昀攀猀琀愀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 氀漀瘀攀 琀漀 搀攀 昀甀氀氀攀猀琀 愀渀搀 欀攀攀瀀椀渀最 搀攀✀攀愀爀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀爀瘀攀 愀渀搀 瀀甀爀攀 昀漀爀 䄀氀洀椀最栀琀礀 䨀愀栀㬀 洀礀 猀漀甀氀 戀攀氀漀渀最猀 琀漀 䠀椀猀 䤀洀瀀攀爀椀愀氀 䴀愀樀攀猀琀礀ሀ䨢愀栀 䴀漀猀琀 䠀椀最栀⸀∀ 㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ

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