Rastafarian music

Rastafarian music - Nyabingi

The traditional music of the Rastafarian religion is Nyabingi.

Nyabingi music is used during reasoning sessions and consists of chanting and drumming to reach states of heightened spirituality.

The chants contain ideas of black redemption and repatriation. They help people to participate and feel included in the Rastafarian community.

Nyabingi music consists of a blend of 19th century gospel music and African drumming.

A Rastafarian man drumming at a reasoning session ©

19th century gospel music

The music of early Rastafarians was not specific to their religion alone. Early Rastafarians used music and hymns created by Sankey and Moody, two very influential 19th Century American evangelists who travelled throughout the world. The Rastafarians took such hymn tunes and set them to their own words, usually reflecting the importance of Africa.

African drumming

An early African musical influence was Burru Music. This type of music was sung by African slaves to keep their spirits up whilst working. As the slaves had no religion and the Rastafarians had no music, it seemed natural for the Rastafarians to adopt Burru music, while welcoming slaves as new converts into their religion.

Spread and development of Rastafarian music

In the 1950s, Count Ossie began using drumming during reasoning sessions. He realised that this drumming intensified the spiritual effects and heightened people's sensations.

Count Ossie began developing rhythmic patterns that spread throughout the Rastafarian community. Count Ossie played this music publicly, resulting in the spread of the Rastafarian message.

This type of music requires the use of three types of drum: the bass, fundeh and peta (repeater).

Reggae

In the last thirty years Rastafari has become commonly associated with Reggae music, especially following the worldwide success of Robert Nesta Marley.

Bob Marley

Bob Marley, as he was commonly known, helped spread awareness of the religion among outsiders through his appearances and his lyrics.

Many people believe that Bob Marley was the main factor in the spread of Rastafari to the USA, Canada, most of Europe, Africa and Australasia.

His lyrics were influential in the spread of political and social ideas of the Rastafarian movement. He spoke out against the inequality experienced by the black community and the negativity they were subjected to.

Marley's lyrics expanded the Rastafarian teachings:

These lyrics re-state the Rastafarian teaching of the suppression of blacks by whites, and the understanding that Haile Selassie is the Living God who will eventually redeem the Rastafarian community.

This refers to the repatriation themes of Rastafari and the return, from Babylon and its suppressors, to the promised land of Africa.

Find out more

• Bob Marley
• Nyahbinghi Order