Roots Archives Forum

Anybody know what "mantrols" means? As in "Dread at the Mantrols" by Mikey Dread...i wonder if it is one of those dopey Rasta puns on the word "Controls". You could probably figure out the sound of the word that they were trying to change to a more "positive" connotation (the "c-word"). Maybe my mind is in the gutter, but knowing about some of the misogynistic tendencies of the culture I would wouldn't be surprised. Anyone have any thoughts on the subject?

I think you are right. I remember hearing that the Rasta's liked to change words that had a negative - or even colonial - connotation. And of course, control has the word 'con' - which means to cheat - in it.

So it seems they've changed it to man-trols because they are operated by man, or is it 'mano' that's Latin hands?

I like it. I think we should all do this and start to make language more positive and more spiritual.

yeh Mantrols is just Controls, i guess abreviation of
Man At The Controls, and thats exactly right what u said about them not liking the word con! and any similar negative words.
There is actually some sense of order as to how they change the words like this, i'm not exactly sure what it is but people have written about it.

Ras Pidow was one of the central figures in the development of something called 'Higes Knots', i have no idea what it's all about but would love to know more if someone can elaborate on what this is?? some kind of rasta patois development or system i guess.
It was talked about in one of Barry Chevannes books back in 1995. But i don't have that book...

Ites Bwoy!

Here yu cyan know someting more bout Great I&I Bredrin RAS PIDOW:


http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu ... =131795642

http://groups.msn.com/UNIONRASTA/enmemo ... pidow.msnw


JAH BLESS

Yes he was a great character, i have seen him on video a few times.
Thanks for the links..

HIGES KNOTS = NATURAL ATTIRE

But do you know what Higes Knots is all about? apparently Ras Pidow was the creator of it, i'd like to know more about his work and what this is all about....

"Others again marked their rejection of Babylon by "trodding in Higes Knots" (walking barefoot in the middle of the street clad only in crocus bags and wielding a rod or staff)."
"Knots" refers to "Bags Knots" or crocus bags worn by the bredren. "Hige" being an archaic term in Jamaican English meaning "to torment".

Excerpts from **["Afro-Creole: Power, Opposition and Play in the Caribbean"](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Afro-Creole-Pow ... 747&sr=1-1)** - Richard D.E. Burton

thanks for the info, i wonder what part Ras Pidow played in it's creation then? maybe he coined the phrase? i firdt heard of a the link between Higes Knots and Ras Pidow from Jake Homiak who is the guy who ran the rasta exhibition at the smithsonian and was told that pidow was responsible for 'higes Knots', but i thought he was refering to something different than a term used to describe clothing.
Nice to eventually find out what the term means and where the 2 words originate.
Thanks for the info...

@chapmanra,
"Mantrols" is an innovative term. Don't over think it.