Roots Archives Forum

I'm reading this book Ruthless (aka Yardies mentioned by Ites in the Ranking Dread discussion) and was wondering: were the Rastas in the seventies principally supporters of the more left PNP party and if so, how come I've never heard any mention in song of Manley and the PNP(besides obliquely as Joshua and his Rod of Correction etc)?.. I'm assuming because mentioning political affiliation would incur the wrath of the armed gangs... It's quite intersting as background to read the reasons for all the songs about gunmen, peace treaties, etc (another good book on this is Born Fe Dead)..anyone have any insights into this, and am I incorrect in assuming all Rastas were for the PNP ? It seems each party was/is actually the same in the end
(as Hitler said: "The bigger the lie, the more people will beleive it"...)

May I add a small point to your reasoning.
The basic philosophical point of the Rastafari movement, was its social cohesion and its idealogical base of coming together for the good of the group.
Based on this emperic mode, one could argue of the fact of whether Rasta copied socialismn or vice-versa, or the fact that Rasta never adopted a principle of being Capitalistic in its base foundation.
The fact that the PNP might have reflected some of the ideas of Rastafarianism, is wholly then a by product of a general shared idea.

from what i know rasta prefer to keep away from politics all together, but the place/street where u lived in kingston usually decided which party u supported from what i heard.

Yes, I can't imagine how so much great music came out of such small quarters in such troubled and violent times...

To cite from the past 'Rasta a rasta, politricks a politricks, seen.'
Rasta didn't deal with any parties at all and all the 'sufferation lyrics' from the 70s is a whole reflection of this rivalling 'shit-stem' controlling the whole of Jamaica.
It became even worse during the 80s and the 90s.
Try and look beyond or like a (thrilling) movie title from 1980 said, Jamaica is 'The Land of Look Behind' (when will this footage be made available again ???)
Selah.
Greetings

Rasta brought manley to power. Manley used the words and thought of rasta to build up support from the people. He used rasta's teaching of self reliance, and self govern to come to power. And what did he do to show his gratitude? He turned his back on the locks and even riduculed them saying a proper jamaica needs a proper man that is clean shaved and cut. Look at max romeo song one step forward next step backwards .... one day you are dreadlock well dread next day you a ballhead clean shaved... After this lesson rasta no deal with no politricks.

Take a look at Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/ ... dition=all
This is a great movie.

In the early seventies, many artists were supporting PNP, even tough rasta is essentially apolitical. One example I can think of is Max Romeo. I think Bob Marley was also supportive of Manley, but I can't be 100 % sure on this.
But there were also JLP supporters, such as Tappa Zukie, and Ranking Dread.
The Hoo Kim brothers were PNP supporters (that's probably why a lot of their dub albums flirt with left wing symbols - the Revolutionaries, Che Guevara etc), Joe Gibbs was a JLP man.

The PNP was clearly on the left side of politics in the late 60's. The JLP was seen, at the time, like the old colonialist type of governement that failed to provide the economical prosperity promised by the 1962 independance.
Lots of books were banned from Jamaica, including the autobiography of Malcolm X and Soul On Ice (Eldrdige "Black Panther" Cleaver). Penalties for smoking a mere spliff were very heavy (ask Bunny Wailer) and you could get a fine if seen in the streets with your shirt out of your trousers. Though the condition of Rasta had improved since the University Report (1962) and the coming of Haile Selassie (1966), the JLP was still associated to its historical "godfather", Bustamante. The one who called the army to capture and shave all Rastas in the island after the Coral Gardens Incident.

When Manley, handsome, using the "I-words", lifting his "rod of correction" (he said was given to him by Haile Selassie in 1971)came on the map, he was like the young and willing opponent to an old system. He was more incline to help the "sufferers" and to put forward some social ideas already developped by Marcus Garvey in his time. He even said that Rastas were the people in Ja. who knew the best who they were (never heard about "clean shaved man").

IN the 1971 campaign, Manley, his wife, Buddy Pouyatt and Clancy Eccles, set up a "victory bandwagon tour" across the island (see Natty Dread # 31) featuring Bob & The Wailers, Ken Boothe, BB Seaton & The Gaylads, the Chosen Few, Max Romeo, Judy Mowatt etc. Manley never stopped using reggae music in his campaign (Better Must Come, Let The power Fall On I or Beat Down Babyloin were official anthems of the PNP).

Lots of artists understood that politics was the order of the day and many "post-elections tunes " came out to celebrate his victory like Pharaoh Hiding (Jr BYles), Power Skank (W. Scotland), Power Version (D. Alcapone) etc... As The Ethiopians once sang, "everybody jumped in the socialist bandwagon". Some artists were openly taking side like Max Romeo (officialy introducing his tune Socialism Is Love to Manley). But soon, being associated to a party became very dangerous. Max Romeo got shot and left the island, like many others, including Bob who got shot in 1976 (elections year)...

It is a cliché to say that Rastas ideas are closer to "socialism". But even the most enthousiastic have learnt a lesson in the 70's and try to remain far from the dangerous game of politics. In Jamaica today, it is still very hard to remain far from politics as both parties rule the every day life of any ghetto. But Rastas never really took part and - apart from one or two attempts - has never tried to become a political force in Jamaica.

www.nattydread.fr

Read the inlay
Clancy Eccles Joshua's Rod of Correction.
Jamaican Gold cd.1996.
Preface by Michael Manley himself.
a lot of info in Natty Dread come from in inlays Ja.Gold Cd's.

M.Lion