46). Nowadays, Rastafarianism is a strong Jamaican tradition.
Reggae Music
Also tied to the experience of social oppression was the growing popularity for the emerging Reggae music. Reggae music came directly out of the religious fervor of the Rastafarians and their desire to remove themselves from the constraints of traditional society through forms of protest. Jamaica had long been experiencing tumultuous political tensions, which proved the perfect breeding grounds for Rastafarianism and the musical traditions which came with it. Early in the 1950s, a new musical sound named Ska came out of Jamaican indigenous music, American jazz, and rhythm and blues. According to research, "On the surface, ska was happy content -- even cheery -- music. But if one listened closely between the polrhythmic pulses of the music, ska was as deceptive as the government's attempt to paint the country with a color-blind palette of national unity," (King et al. 4). As a result of the truthful telling of political tensions, much ska was banned from Jamaican radios. Eventually, this paved the way for the birth of Reggae later in the 1960s.
Reggae is heavily influenced by both Western and African traditions. It is obvious that much of its roots comes from American musical traditions. Yet, "While reggae musicians were influenced by both American R&B and soul music, many of these musicians started to make a musical exodus to Africa," (King et al. 46). This signaled a look back to African traditions in order to show the driving force within Reggae as it is tied to the basic principles of Rastafarianism. According to research, "Reggae's slower, heavier, almost hypnotic rhythms harkened a return to Africa," (Barry & Foster 46). This was then a musical expression of the basic fundamental elements of Rastafarian teachings and practice.
Reggae came to fruition out of the tense political atmosphere of Jamaica in 1968.
In such socially oppressive times, "Reggae became a more explicit medium of political protest," (King et al. 46). It was a way to take the anger and protest from the religious traditions of Rastafarianism and move them into a more universally understandable medium that could then permeate outside the boundaries of the island nation into the global arena. According to research, "Reggae artists created a new, more aggressive image of Rastafarianism," (Barry & Foster 47). The popularity of this music worldwide then took the internal struggle of the Rastafarians in Jamaica and gave it a global spot light.
It has strong ties...
..the Rastas have now penetrated the middle class. At present, the overwhelming majority of members are African, but there are also Chinese, East Indians, Afro-Chinese, Afro-Jews, mulattoes, and a few whites. Rastafarians are predominantly ex-Christians. "(Barrett, 1997, p. 2-3) One of the early innovators and leaders of the movement, Leonard Howell, stated a number of principles that have been the hallmark of Rastafarianism and still apply to a large extent today. These
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Rastarfarian Movement The Rastafarian Movement started as a religion in the 1930s in Jamaica and the spread of the Reggae music in the 1070s transformed it into a political manifest as well as a social movement among those who were underprivileged young people who found in the Rastafari not just a way of life, but also a mean the express themselves in the a world that was governed by the rules
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