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Beginning Of Rastafarian Movement
The Rastafari movement began in Jamaica during the 1930s following a prophecy made by Marcus Garvey, a black political leader. Garvey led an organization known as the Universal Negro Improvement Association, whose intention was to unify blacks with their land of origin. Garvey preached "Look to Africa where a black king shall be crowned, he shall be your Redeemer." Following this statement, Haile Sellasie I was crowned Emperor of ethiopia. He was seen as the Black Messiah. -
First Rastafarian Branch Established in Jamaica
The first branch of Rastafari is believed to have been established in Jamaica in 1935 by Leonard P. Howell. This paved the way for the future of the movement, bringing hope for repatriation to Africa and freedom for the black race. -
Black Messiah Visits Jamaica
In 1966 Haile Selassie visited Jamaica, where he was greeted with vast enthusiasm. He was worshipped and motivated the rastafarians even more. -
Haile Selassie Deposed
In 1974 Haile Selassie was deposed by a Marxist revolution. He died mysteriously the next year. The removal of a divine figure by an atheist secular political group was initially discouraging to Rastafarians, and undermined any suggestion that he had been anything more than a human representation of God. -
Death of Bob Marley
Bob Marley, another important figure in the Rastafarian movement, passes away in 1981. His music was influential and inspiring among many Rastafarians. -
Modern day
With the loss of two important figures, Rastafarianism faced struggles in finding its political influence once again, with new laws that inhibited many practices of Rastafarian people such as the criminalization of smoking weed. Today, there are still over 1 million Rastafarians around the world with less restraining laws being put into place.