Rastafari

Abstract

Rastafari originated in the 1930s in Jamaica. Aspects of the movement are both messianic and millenarian. The Ethiopian King, Haile Selassie I (1892-1975), is identified by Rastas as the messiah, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the redeemer of God’s chosen people. In the early days of the movement, black people were identified as God’s chosen people who would be saved because they were special to God; it was they who, as the ‘true’ Israelites referred to in the Bible, were in a covenant relationship with God.