Rastafarianism

1. The name Rastafari comes from the original name of His Imperial Majesty Halie Selassie Emperor of Ethiopia – Ras Tafari Makonnen, who was considered God and possibly a reincarnation of Jesus Christ

2. The Rastafarian colors signify – Red for blood of all those who were killed for the black community, Gold represents the wealth of Ethiopia which is considered as heaven or promised land, Green signifies Jamaica’s vegetation and hope against suppression, Black is for the Africans who initiated Rastafari

3. Rastafarians believe that blacks or indigenous Africans are the chosen people of God that have been suppressed because of colonization and the slave trade.

4. Rastafarians have no social custom for marriage, if a man and woman are living together they’re considered married. 

5. Women in Rastafarian culture are considered subordinate to men and cannot be called Rastafari except through their husbands/ mates.

6. Rastafarians ritually inhale marijuana to increase their spiritual and mental awareness but abstain from alcohol completely.

7. Rastafarians believe that marijuana is sacred and that biblical texts support its use. Therefore they never refer to it as marijuana, they call it the ‘wisdom weed’ or ‘holy herb’

8. Rastas also avoid consuming meat especially pork.

9. Reggae is not really Rastafarian music; the traditional Rastafarian music is Nyabingi which consists of chanting and drumming to induce a trance-like state.  Reggae is only associated because of Bob Marley.

10. Bob Marley became a Rastafarian in 1966 when he was 21yrs old, after he had a dream where Haile Selassie put a ring on his finger. Before that he wasn’t very interested in religion or social upliftment.