Q Who is Haile Selassie I to Rastafari practitioners?
A To Rastafari adherents (Rastas), Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia is revered as the living God incarnate on Earth, often referred to as Jah. When he was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia in 1930, early Rastafari pioneers saw it as the fulfillment of biblical prophecies concerning a king from the Davidic line. He is viewed as the Messiah who will lead the African diaspora out of oppression and back to their homeland.
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A To Rastafari adherents (Rastas), Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia is revered as the living God incarnate on Earth, often referred to as Jah. When he was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia in 1930, early Rastafari pioneers saw it as the fulfillment of biblical prophecies concerning a king from the Davidic line. He is viewed as the Messiah who will lead the African diaspora out of oppression and back to their homeland.
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Who was Haile Selassie?Haile Selassie I (1892-1975) was Crown Prince and Regent of the Ethiopian Empire from 1916 to 1928. He is a defining figure in modern Ethiopian history. Among the Rastafari movement, whose followers are estimated to number between 700,000 and 1 Million, Haile Selassie is revered as the returned messiah of the Bible, God incarnate. Beginning in Jamaica in the 1930s, the Rastafari movement perceives Haile Selassie as a messianic figure who will lead a future golden age of eternal peace, righteousness, and prosperity. He was an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian throughout his life.
What is Rastafari?The religious movement of Rastafari began in the early 1930s among the blue collar workers of Jamaica. Followers of the Rastafari believe in Jah, their God who was at one time Emperor of Ethiopia. A Black separatist by the name of Marcus Garvey helped spread the word and teachings of the Rastafari. The religion developed from those trying to reclaim the culture that was stolen from them, as many of their ancestors came to Jamaica as slaves. The movement is known throughout the world, influenced by Bob Marley and others of reggae music fame.
What is Rasta?Rastafari, or Rastafarianism, is an Abrahamic religion that developed in Jamaica during the 1930s. Scholars of religion and related fields have classified it as both a new religious movement and a social movement. There is no centralized authority in control of the movement and much heterogeneity exists among practitioners, who are known as Rastafari, Rastafarians, or Rastas. Rastas refer to their beliefs, which are based on a specific interpretation of the Bible, as "Rastalogy". Central is a monotheistic belief in a single God - referred to as Jah - who partially resides within each individual. The former emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie, is given central importance. Many Rastas regard him as an incarnation of Jah on Earth and as the Second Coming of Christ.
