Rastafari, which became popular in the 1960’s, was born out of a recognition that the religion, philosophy and beliefs Jamaicans were taught under colonial rule were not authentic to their ancestry. Through their desire for political and spiritual liberation they created a new belief system that reflected their experience as displaced youth of the African diaspora. That new philosophy, Rastafari, made its way into pop culture through “Rastafari music,” which we know as Reggae. Rastafari became a cultural phenomenon due to the vibrant talent of musicians like Bob Marley that amplified it into a global youth revolution.
The Filmmaker’s Family Story
The filmmaker’s great-uncle Brother Mack was a leader in the Rastafari movement and founded a Rasta camp that birthed the iconic Jamaican group, The Skatalites. He helped to orchestrate the last emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie’s visit to Jamaica in 1966. Selassie was greeted by thousands of Rastafarians who believe Selassie is the 2nd coming of Christ (Brother Mack is the man on the thumbnail of the video). Brother Mack was knighted by Selassie and founded a repatriation town in Ethiopia called Sheshemane. The filmmaker’s Grandmother was a pioneer of the town.
