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Rastafari: Roots and Ideology (Utopianism and Communitarianism)
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Average Rating:  out of 9 Reviews
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Price: $19.95
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Sale: $10.00
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Manufacturer: Syracuse University Press
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EAN (European Article Number): 9780815602965
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Number of Items: 1
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Binding: Paperback
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Author: Barry Chevannes
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Publisher: Syracuse University Press
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Dewey Decimal Number: 299.67
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Publication Date: 1994-09
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Reading Level: 298
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Description: Interviews with 30 converts from the 1930s and 1940s are a component of Barry Chevanne's book, a look into the origins and practices of Rastafarianism. From the direct accounts of these early members, he is able to reconstruct pivotal episodes in Rastafarian history to offer a look into a subgroup of Jamaican society whose beliefs took root in the social unrest of the 1930s. The little that most people know about Rastafarianism has come through the Jamaican music, Reggae, which resonates with the contemporary social and political struggle of the poverty-stricken cities of Trenchtown and Kingston. Bob Marley and the Wailers, for instance, with their politically charged lyrics about the ghetto, became emissaries for the Jamaican poor. Here Chevannes traces Rastafarianism back to 1930's prophet Marcus Garvey and his mass coalition against racial oppression and support of a free Africa. Before Garvey, few Jamaicans, the overwhelming majority of whom had been brought to the island from Africa and enslaved by Europeans, held positive attitudes about Africa. The rise of black nationalism, however, provided the movement with its impetus to organise a system of beliefs. Likewise, Chevannes explores the movement's roots in the Jamaican peasantry, which underwent distinct phases of development between 1834 and 1961 as freed slaves became peasants. The peasants established themselves in the recesses of the island and many eventually moved to cities, where the economic and social hardship already inherent in Jamaican society, was even more desolate. Between 1943 and 1960, detrimental social changes transformed Jamaica's rapidly expanding cities. Kingston's population grew by 86 percent, and crime and disease were rampant. It was under this severe social decay that Rastafari became a hospice for the uprooted and derelict masses. As a spiritual philosophy, Rastafarianism is linked to societies of runaway slaves or maroons and derives from both the African Myal religion and the Revivalist Zion churches. Like the revival movement, Rastafarianism embraces the 400-year-old doctrine of repatriation. Rastas believe that they and all Africans who have migrated are but exiles in "Babylon" and are destined to be delivered out of captivity by a return to Zion or Africa - the land of their ancestors and the seat of Jah Rastafari himself, Haile Selassie I, the former emperor of Ethiopia. "Rastafari" is a work with an historical and ethnographic approach that seeks to correct several misconceptions in existing literature - the true origin of dreadlocks, for instance. It should be of interest to religion scholars, historians, scholars of Black studies, and a general audience interested in the movement and how Rastafarians settled in other countries.
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Customer Reviews
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Review Summary: COMPLICATED BUT VERY THOROUGH |
Date: 2007-05-06 |
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Details: THIS BOOK IS A VERY DETAILED LOOK INTO THE LIFE OF RASTAFRIANISM. AT TIMES IT SEEMS TO DRAG ALOT ALMOST TOO MUCH WHICH TAKES MY ATTENTON AWAY FROM WHAT IM READING. YOU HAVE TO BE VERY PATIENT WITH THIS BOOK IN ORDER TO READ IT. IT ALOST SEEMS MORE OF LIKE A TEXT BOOK ON RASTAFARI. I WOULD SUGGEST THE BOOK RASTA HEART BY ROBERT ROSKIND OVER THIS ONE BECAUSE IT IS MORE READER FRIENDLY AND YOU DONT WANNA PUT THE BOOK DOWN. BUT OVERALL THIS BOOK HAS ALOT OF LUCRATIIVE INFORMATION THAT CAN CAPTIVATE THE WELL READ MIND JUST DONT TAKE TOO MUCH INFO IN BECAUSE YOU MIGHT GET A HEADACHE.
ONE LOVE
JAH BLESS |
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Review Summary: origins and framework....but apparent lack of understanding. |
Date: 2004-06-30 |
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Details: Chevannaes provides a very in-depth look at the societal situations that gave rise to Rastafari. While discussing those situations, however, it seems to me that his mind did not come to the same conclusion as the Rastafarians. To write on Rastafari without understanding the mindstate leaves the reader with much to be desired. To his credit though, Chavannaes never really attempts such an interpretation. He is a social antropologist, and writes this book in an occupationally fitting academic manner. To better understand Rastafari as a mentality...listen to Bob Marley. To better understand Rastafari as you would an American history course....read this book. Both forms of learning are legitimate, and i think my overall disappointment in this book came from me expecting the former while receiving the latter. It's a good history book....but thats just not what i was looking for. |
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Review Summary: Read this and understand... |
Date: 2004-05-03 |
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Details: Back in college, I decided that I was going to major in Ethnomusicology, concentrating specifically on Caribbean Rhythm and Culture. While trodding this enlightening path (I grew up in a small, white-bread town on the Connecticut shoreline), I came across this piece of literature. Naturally, I originally checked it out for a research project concerning Rastafari. A few years (and nearly a dozen check-outs) later I have decided that it is time for me to purchase this book. I have read it cover to cover multiple times and never fail to pick up something completely new and exciting in each chapter. It needs to have a home in my permanent collection. The strength of thought and culture displayed within this book, coupled with the sounds of groups like The Abyssinians, Steel Pulse, Gondwana (the one from Chile not Austrailia), and the honorable Bob Marley and the Wailers, have done a great deal to change my life. I HIGHLY reccomend this book for pleasure / research / a deeper look into the world of Rastafari. I have read multiple books either written or edited by Barry Chevannes and this may be the best. It strikes a memorable chord in that it balances readability with a wealth of information. Also, every chapter is nearly a new book in that this volume covers a breadth of Rastafarian topics, from music to I-story to culture to politricks. I hope I enjoys this as much as I do. |
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Review Summary: Interesting and informative! |
Date: 2004-04-21 |
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Details: I first got interested in Rastafarianism by way of William Gibson, who had several characters who were Dreadlocks. My ignorance of what that was all about was, well, somewhat shocking for me at the time. So, I started poking around. Quite a few years ago, I found Rastafari: Roots and Ideology by Barry Chevannes. It followed me around, unread, in a box for several years. Well, I finally read it this past week. What a shame I waited so long!
This was a very good book about the history and origins of a relatively new religion. Among other things, it was fascinating to track the birth of a new faith from its very start through the modern day. As a sociological look at a small, but growing, religious or spiritual movement, this is a great book. It is, however, a rather schollarly look at this movement and, as such, is somewhat dry at times. Still, it presents not only a well-rounded look at the religion, but also the socio-economic forces that shaped it. One of the main "pillars of faith", for instance, is the concept of "repatriation" to Ethiopia. This would never have come about if not for the practice of black slavery in the New World.
I'll not attempt to describe the intricacies of Rastafarianism in a short message, but, if you're interested in knowing more, this book is a great place to start. |
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Review Summary: Excellent, Targeted Study-- not a beginner's book |
Date: 2001-09-02 |
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Details: Chevannes is a well-known contemporary scholar of Rastafari culture. In this book, he presents several different papers and studies he has done, in the form of chapters. What must be noted is that this is not a general book for people who are just getting interested in Rastafari--but rather an advanced text for people already familiar with the basics of this religio-cultural movement---like its myths, symbols, rituals, and so on. Having said that, the book covers the history and development of Rastafari, from its roots in Myal religion and West African traditions to its development from Revivalism, another religious movement preceding Rastafari. Chevannes also covers Marcus Garvey, early Ethiopianism, and idealizations of "Africa" that inform Rasta ideology. Religious usage of Ganja and Dreadlocks is also covered, providing a helpful correct to racist right-wing myths about the Rasta. An especially important chapter called "Word, Sound and Power" details the use of Rasta language. In-depth coverage of concepts such as "Babylon," "I-and-I," as well as the tendency of Rasta's to literalize word parts around the meaning of words is helpful. This chapter will also help explain why Rastas shy away from vocalizing oppresion language in there own usage---while making it explicit in the language of those from Babylon.. Thus, "oppressor" becomes "downpressor"--conjuring up pictures of active political suppression. Certainly few understand better than the Rasta the power of language to control and direct thought and action. In addition to this volume, check out the work of Leonard Barrett, and the book "Chanting Down Babylon:The Rastafari Reader" for more, informative, insightful information about this minority religio-cultural movement. |
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