Report on the Rastafari Movement in The Bahamas
1. Introduction: Defining Rastafari and Its Origins
Rastafari is a religious and cultural movement that originated in Jamaica in the 1930s. It is rooted in the teachings of Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican political leader and activist, whose philosophy emphasized black empowerment and the repatriation of people of African descent to their ancestral homelands. The movement venerates Haile Selassie I, the former Emperor of Ethiopia, whom Rastafarians believe to be the incarnation of God (Jah) and the messiah who will lead people of African descent to liberation.
The name "Rastafari" is derived from Haile Selassie's pre-regnal title, "Ras Tafari Makonnen." The movement combines aspects of African spirituality, Old Testament teachings, and a rejection of Western (or "Babylonian") societal structures, which they see as oppressive.
