Are Rastafarians misunderstood in Africa?

Yes, if Rastafarians are misunderstood, they have themselves to blame because a group is judged by what is observed. They promote smoking of marijuana which is an outlawed drug in many countries. In many cases they present themselves as a violent group and many people including me dont admire the dreadlocks they grow. Dreadlocks are associated with lunatics and here in Kenya we associate them with outlawed sects like Mungiki.

I have watched how estate gangsters are made when young boys team up from a particular locality and call themselves Rastafarians who claim that even the police is not a threat to them and they can do whatever they like. This is how hardcore criminals are hatched. I like reggae music because of the power of its lyrics. However, i know of a number of entertainment points in Nairobi who will never host reggae shows due to the unruly nature of reggae lovers who associate themselves with Rastafarians.

Thus, Bright Quaye-Sowah, have his fellow Rastafarians to blame for the image they have presented to the public. We dont dig into people's minds or hearts. We judge them by what we see.

I enjoy rastafaranism and their messages. But in Cameroon most of these guys take marrijuana or some other form of drug. if these guys could stop taking the stuff and then keep their hair and beards cempt, they will face no stigmatization, that is if they are realy being stigmatized.

Hi,
I believe in Rastafarianism. I don't have the dreadlocks, I don't smoke marijuana and I do not believe that our Emperor Hailesellasie I, is the messiah.

I do believe that Africa should not be poor any more, I believe in equal rights, I believe in 'One Love', I believe that we should all love one another and co-exist. I wake up every morning and promise that I shall be 'upful and right'. I pray that I do at least one good deed for my fellow man. And I love my reggae music - it gets me through rough days.

You see, Rasta is a way of life. Now tell me, how can you tell who is following a certain way of life...let alone hate them?

One thing for sure is, here in Ethiopia they, like any other person and seen with love and respetc [sic]!

One Love !!!
---

Greetings in d name of Jah rasta fa rai celesi i, eva livet, eva faithful. Jah bless d BBC fi dis a program. Respect fi al a dem people!

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The probplem with rastafari is that it is christianity in disguise eg rasta's claim they are different from christians but adhere to the christian bible. Some claim that Haile Sellasie is god in flesh while some don't while Hail Sellasie was himself an authodox christain who proclaimed jesus as the son of god as with all christians. Haile Sellasie crowned himself as the king of kings lord of lords & the conquering lion of judah, but what rasta's fail to undertstand is that for any African king to align himself to Adam & Eve and the garden of eden story (ie Queen of sheba & solomon story) is someone who dosn't know their history as black civilisations predated adam & eve (6000 years ago according to the bible). Also why would a king desert his people at a time of invasion by foreigners that is just not right.

I'm not really sure what Rastafarianism is about, to be honest. The interesting thing is that its adherents believe it is traceable to Africa; yet, we generally consider it an alien way of life...

The answer are yes, because in Africa? people's regard Rastafarian's as weed smoker,even some of them don't smoke but being part of the group you are.
# 1 There are some culture in Africa if peoples loss they are love one they turn in to that for some time before shave it,but I personally I love them , but they are not welcome in some part of Africa period.
G.K!!!!!!

When i hear the word Rastafarian, immediatelly i think of Bob Marley and the message he tried to convey to the world of love and peace for one another:)

Well, I'm not from Africa, nor have I visited Africa, but I do believe that Rastafarians are misunderstood in the U.S. and globally. Most, at least in the US, know little to nothing about Rastas, their practices, or their beliefs. Usually, people equate it with the usage of cannabis and forget to mention, or simply don't know, that Rastas believe they come from the people of Israel and practice/beleive a lot of the same things an orthodox Jew or Christian would believe. I'm always interested to hear anything about the people of Rastafari, and I hope to see some enlightening input in this blog.

Question: "How can this stigma that Bright talks about be overcome?"
Answer: Through Iducation.


Who shall be the Educator?
Answer: The Rastafari Movement

Praises be unto Life and to the Honourable Mighty Life Giver Of Life
Selah.

Yeah man, Growing in Mbare, Harare Zimbabwe was really tough. Worse being a dreadlocks man, which most people nowadays call Rasta. In most cases a Rastaman is seen as a dirty person, uneducated and ganja smoking person especially in Urban areas. In the rural areas a person with dreadlocks was seen to be a traditional healer, and a lot of kids are usually scared by the looks of traditional healers. So, anytime they see a Dreadlocks man they would run away calling them names. In Africa, a lot people don't really understand the difference between a Rastaman and a Dreadlocks man. Its complicated !!!!

Except for some fellows who bear the right minds in Africa, we misunderstand a lot of things--good or bad!

My elder brother like iniated me into Rastafarianism when he opened my eyes to Bob Marley's songs. Till today that happened to be one of the best things that ever happened to my childhood. Before posting this I was listening to Marley's number Africa Unite on Youtube.

To me, Rastafarianism is more than a religion. It is an enlightenment, it exposes you to the light. Alongside soulful music from great prophets like Marley et al, your soul is touched right inside your body and you are lifted on high.

The stigma has to do with their penchant to smoke weed incessantly and some do isolate themselves from society. They normally refer to people who do not look like them or smoke weed as Babylon. I think that many people with dreadlocks are spurious and the real ones do try to paint a good picture about their cult.


Over all Rastafarianism is an unfamiliar territory for the elites and those who feel that they're born with silver spoon.
One distressing thing about those who nurtured dreadlocks is that they have a disposition to be arrogant and comtemptuous.

I have a couple of questions for 'mzedman': First, where does the Bible give us a timeline of the origins of Adam and Eve? Is not the 6,000 years ago theory simply man's speculation on a timeless, eternal story? And what does that have to do with the Solomon and Queen of Sheba story? Secondly, where is the error or unjust approach to going into exile in order to raise awareness about the plight of an oppressed people? Did not the Almighty direct Mary and Joseph into exile during another tyranical, murderous spree? Perhaps this is a way to preserve those whom He has ordained for momentous changes in human history.

It is totally true,and our governments as long as religious denominations are contributing much to the stigma towards dreadrocked Rastas because they are not allowed to attend government schools or even work for the government unless their dreadrocks are shaved. Its a surprise that alot of visitors love the rastas because they are very polite and humble people.I would wish African countries especially my country Malawi to allow Rastas in government institutions while in dreadrocks.They are good people and they also must enjoy our freedom

Jah Rastafari. Selassie!

In reply to jnbright9....You are right when you make referance to the 6000 year timeline of Adam & Eve as been an eternal story because it is symbolic of the African timeline the first humans of the earth, however the bible gives a specific geaneology of the genrations of adam eg Adam had children and they had children and each lived for a specific time checkout the book of Genesis from Adam through to Noah and so on this is where the 6000 year time line comes from. The point i am trying to make is that all people around the world have had the Christian or Islamic version enforced upon them which includes their version on the hisstory of human beings i say as an African it is your choice to explore what your own generations have documented about their history because the problem for Africans at home & abroad is that they know everybodys his-tory apart from their own. On your second point checkout the Kebra Nagast the Ethiopian(Part of the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible) book of Kings where the story of Solomon &[Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator] Sheba is written this story affiliates Ehiopia to the linage of Adam & Eve doctrine. If you would like to ask me any questions my email is malachizedman@yahoo.co.uk

I may worryLess &[Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator] understand if the Western Government or a Non-Black-ruled Nation discriminate against the Rastafari. But It disturbs me a great deal to learn of a Black Ruler/government persecuting the Rastafari Community in their own Nation just because of them Locks and their beliefs in His Imperial Majesty Jah Rastafari Negusa Negast. It does not make sense to see African Rulers coming up with "Laws" that stifles the Rights of their Own people while The Arabs on the other Hand are Allowed to have those Long beards right here in Africa by those same Leaders. Some of us Africa is the only Nation that we can live in, We dont have any second place to call home.

Remember;

Jeremiah 13:23 The Leopard Cant Change its spots Neither the African the Color of his Skin

On the Question of His Majesty Emperor Haille InI Sellassie I being a Christian...
Ofcourse Sellassie I is of the Christian Judaic Solomonoid Ethiopian/Egyptian Orthodox/Coptic Church. Remember Jesus was never a Christian HimSelf, He was of Jew traditions.

Not Every Rasta is a Dread and not Every Dread is a Rasta.

I think bbc ahys must be honoured for showing that much love for rasta's. We are one people. Together we build. And that all may be one. Let's stop discrimination and be tolerant. Wan love !

The Rastafarian hair style existed in Africa before the colonial period. In order to grow this type of hair one’s hair was total shaved off the head. When the new hair was growing it was rubbed with the green raw contents of “matamba”/ wild orange with a hard shell. This style was done mostly by a “svikiro”/spirit medium. Due to their ability to foresee the future these people were highly respected in the community.
Today mostly among young men, Rastafarian seems to be a political statement with liberal political views. Some associate it with the West Indies style of music originated by Bob Marley. Is it misunderstood NO, controversial YES. When I look at my hairstyle I feel isolated and drained like an empty drum rolling on desert sand.

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