rastafarians
Rastafarianism is one of the peculiar exports of Jamaica. Known in Jamaica as mostly law abiding often deeply religious and regarding Ganja as a sacred instrument of their faith, they are not feared but often respected.
Commonly referred to as 'dreads', 'knotty dreadlocks' and other colloquialisms they wear their hair in a motley knot of clean but uncombed locks. The influence of Rastas in Jamaica has always outweighed their numbers estimated to be between 75-100,000.
Whether Rastafarianism was born out of Marcus Garvey's black consciousness of the 1930s or this allowed it to grow and prosper is not known. But is is generally agreed that sometime during the 1930s poor black Jamaicans created this movement out of the upheaval of the times.
Most Rastas see their redemption in Haile Selassie as did some Garveyites. They see Selassie as the King of all Africans. They trace his lineage back to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba and title him as he did himself 'King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the tribe of Judah'.
The locked hair is thought to be a symbolistic representation of an actual Lion. Rastafarians also believe that they are one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Ganja is thought to facilitate communication with their deity, 'Jah'. There are a number of different Rastafarian sects that adhere to greater or lesser degrees to the tenets of the Orthodox Rastafarians.
Rastafarians have also developed a peculiar dialect known for regarding the self as 'I', a reflection of the belief that God exists in each person.
The Herb, Sensie, Splif
Ganja or marijuana as it is popularly called is everywhere in Jamaica. Make no mistake, to use, sell, buy or in anyway posses Ganja is illegal in Jamaica. And though the authorities have been known to wink at a casual user smoking one spliff as the cigarettes are known, their are also some misguided tourist in our jails who hoped to take a bit of weed with them. Many Jamaicans see Ganja as medicinal and for religious purposes. Jamaicans across all economic classes have been known to enjoy the use of The Herb at one time or another. But be warned, it is illegal.
