The Religions Book

314

THE LION OF

JUDAH HAS

ARISEN

RAS TAFARI IS OUR SAVIOR

U

nlike the Creole religions

that developed among

the black slaves in

the Caribbean (pp.304–305),

Rastafari has little to do with

traditional African religions.

Instead, the movement is largely

based on the Christian Bible.

It nevertheless emphasizes its

binding links to Africa.

Rastafari (followers dislike the

term Rastafarianism, and indeed

all “isms”) is as much a political

or social movement as a religious

faith. It emerged during a period

of increasing awareness of the

“African-ness” of the black

population of the New World.

Pan-Africanism—the movement to

unite and inspire people of African

descent—was also on the rise. This

movement had begun in the 19th

century, but gained momentum in

the 1920s and 1930s, particularly

through the work of the political

activist Marcus Garvey (1887–1940).

He was especially influential in his

native Jamaica, which at that time

was still under British rule.

Garvey’s denunciation of

oppression and exploitation

chimed with many Jamaicans,

especially as large numbers lived

in poverty. The vast majority of

IN CONTEXT

KEY FIGURE

Haile Selassie

WHEN AND WHERE

From 1930s, Jamaica

BEFORE

18th–19th century Creole,

or syncretic, religions arise

among slave communities,

fusing African beliefs with the

Christian faith that slaves are

forced to adopt by their masters.

1920s Written in Anguilla, the

Holy Piby identifies Ethiopians

as God’s chosen people, and

Marcus Garvey as a prophet;

it becomes an influential

Rastafari text.

AFTER

Mid-20th century In the US,

the Nation of Islam movement

proclaims W. Fard Muhammad

to be the messiah predicted

by both Judaism and Islam.

While fighting for African–

American and black Muslim

rights, the movement becomes

heavily politicized.

The black peoples of Africa

have been exploited for

centuries by “Babylon,”

the white men...

The savior appeared in

the form of Ras Tafari,

God’s chosen king on earth...

...but it was prophesied that

a savior from the family of

Judah would come to “Zion”

(Africa) to free them

from oppression.

...who became Emperor

Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia,

the Holy Land for Rastafarians.

The Lion of Judah

has arisen.