| In
this two-part documentary, we are being
treated with the history of the Movement of
Rastafari, from the start to the situation
in contemporary Jamaica.
Some elements in the video might be hard
to follow for non-Jamaicans, as there is no
subtitling. That's why this in-depth review actually
contains a description of the whole two-part
video.
It is a must-see for everyone, if
only to get a better look on just how the
music we all love so much actually came into
existence.
The video opens with a central theme
within the Movement. We see Fillmore
Alvaranga of the Mystic Revelations of
Rastafari group, asking how it comes that
countries like England are so rich. They
might have officially abolished slavery, but
the fruits continues until this very day.
Stolen from Africa, in order to be used as
richness over here in Babylon.
We are then taken to a Bobo Shanti camp,
where a groundation or gathering is ongoing.
The Bible is open and the drums are played.
A Rasta explains what they are doing, after
which we are taken into the study of Barry
Chevannes, a well known professor who speaks
about the tremendous influence of Rastafari
in the culture of Jamaica and beyond.
The "dread combination" of
Reggae and Rastafari is usually seen as a
minor influence, but this video actually
shows a different story. We are being
introduced to Mortimer Planno, one of the
founders of the Movement. He speaks about
his initial contacts with Bob Marley and his
influence in Marley's spiritual development
and lyrical expressions.
The legendary "One Love Peace
Concert", wherein Bob Marley called the
two main political rivals on stage in order
to make them shake hands and stop the
violence that terrorized the island, turns
out to be a the result of Marley's contacts
with Mortimer Planno, too. The concert
almost got him killed, as anonymous gunmen
tried to shoot the King of Reggae before he
could perform.
After a few clips from the One Love
concert, fast forward a few decades into the
ghetto's of Kingston. The music changed, but
how about the situation? It turns out, that
it is still Rastafari who appeals to the
needs of the poor people. Poor people who
are being kept poor while being forced into
political violence that only serves the
interests of the power elite.
But still, it remains hard for a Rasta to
be a Rasta in that society. Even though the
positive influence of the Movement is
obvious, there's still too much discrimination
and prejudice against the Rastaman. Part of
this is caused by people who do wear
dreadlocks but only for the looks. "We
call them fashion dread", as
Rasta spokesman Ras Dago says in the video.
However, Rastafari may be fought against,
the fact is that the Movement has gone
globally in the mean time. In every nation
and continent you can find Rasta
people.
And in the same time, the Jamaican
government is just too happy with the financial
income that the island generates from
tourists who want to have a "Rasta
Holiday". Still, the Movement is still
not officially recognized. Many try to have
it officially recognized as a religion so
that a Rasta can do his thing in peace, but
it has yet to come in Jamaica.
Ras Dago continues to explain, just where
the name Rastafari comes from. It was the
name of the Ethiopian Emperor before he was
crowned Haile Selassie. The significance of
a Black King is then explained, for why is
there always a White Jesus and a White King
and a White Queen? Rastafari shows the people
of Jamaica that Black is Beautiful, that the
Creator has nothing to do with this colonialist
thing.
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