Roots Archives Forum

how do you know if an artist is rastafari or not? is it the dreadlocks, the lyrics...?

You'll see some artists singing about Jahovah, even mentioning Haile Selassie by name, but alot of times its just as a sign of respect (or going along with the popular fad). Real rastafarian music is obvious with its lyrics regarding religious topics.

ok, but is there something that makes one rastafari? i dont know...is there some ceremony like baptism or others?

jackie mittoo is one,it's probably close to 50% alton and hortense ellis aren't rasta

alot of people stoppedbeing rasta when it wasn't making money anymore.

people like dennis brown,gregory isaacs,lee perry,i roy andmany others were rasta in name but fell into a very conflicting lifestyle.

if you look to dancehall thelist ishuge

sanchez,super cat,ninja man,shabba ranks,cutty ranks,lt.stitchie,nitty gritty etc. etc.

as far as people discussed toots hibbert is definitely muslim,yellowman is christian, jimmycliff too is muslim although he loves all spiritual ways.

"yes i am a muslim, if you asked if i was rasta i'd say yes to that too." -jc

Ken Boothe & Bob Andy are Rastaman

what is a rasta

A rasta is a rastafari and a rastafari well you can see what that is on wikipedia.

If the wikipedia info is the absolute thruth then there are only a very few rastas on the scene.
The thing is that many people think that being rasta is smokin herb, or listening to reggae music, or just using dreadlocks, etc... but we must realize that the message of the rasta prophets, specially in reggae, is to be honest with yourself without following others patterns.
The doctrine of love and brotherhood that H.I.M. teached the world cannot be suitable with some actitudes of racism, hate and intolerance of some called "rastas".Personally I find it very hard to say if someone is this or that, I prefer to leave their work speak for them.
Even the same Bob Marley a member of the Twelve Tribes of Israel sect, the king of reggae, was baptized into the Ethiopian Orthodox Church; religious movement that believes in Jesus Christ as the only redeemer, so did he died has a rasta or has a christian?

^^^ no need to argue what a rasta is, alot of artists identify themselves as christian and muslim,i think it's safe to say that's what they are.

another muslim is prince buster

Reggae musicians come in all shapes, sizes and have different beleifs, there are loads of reggae musicians who aren't rastas, there's hundres of white reggae musicians also who aren't rastas, u have reggae bands in most countries in the world so i think reggae artists come from all religions. Just coz the artist has dreads doesn't mean he's a rasta, and if the artists don't have dreads it doesn't mean he's not a rasta either, rastafari is how u live your life and abiding by natural law rather than man made law.
I think this topic has been covered in depth before on this forum if u do a search.