Rastas

Dreadlocked faith followers

Rastas is the plural of Rasta, a follower of Rastafari—a religious movement that emerged in Jamaica in the 1930s.

Rastas typically regard the late Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie as divine, follow dietary restrictions, and often wear dreadlocks as a spiritual practice.

The term is informal but not disrespectful: The Rastas gathered for a reasoning session.

religion

Jah

Rasta term for deity

ZionBiblical promised homeland
BabylonAncient Mesopotamian capital
repatriationFormal return to homeland

Haile Selassie · Ethiopia · Lion of Judah · Rastafari · covenant · prophecy · divinity · Marcus Garvey · King of Kings · spiritual awakening

culture

reggae

Jamaican offbeat music style

dreadlocksRopelike matted hair strands
ganjaCannabis, island style
lionManed African feline

Bob Marley · roots music · reasoning · chalice · spliff · herb · meditation · chanting · Peter Tosh · conscious lyrics

people

dreadlocks

Ropelike matted hair strands

JamaicansCitizens of Kingston's nation
brethrenFellow group members
eldersSenior community members

dreads · natty · baldhead · lion mane

style

dreadlocks

Ropelike matted hair strands

locksSecurity fastening devices
tamSoft Scottish cap
natural hairUnchemically treated locks

beards · ankh · Star of David · earth tones · hemp clothing · crown

Opposites

religious/spiritual identity

Rastasatheists

Those without religious faith

secularists · materialists · Catholics · Protestants · agnostics

cultural-political orientation

RastasBabylon

Ancient Mesopotamian capital

colonialists · imperialists · white supremacists · conformists · assimilationists

lifestyle practices

Rastasmaterialists

Prioritizers of physical possessions

prohibitionists · baldheads · yuppies · consumerists · teetotalers

Family

Rastafarian, Rastafarians, Rastafarianism

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