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Early Origins and Influences
During this time span, Rastafarianism was emerging as a combination of the original Abrahamic beliefs and African cultural traditions. Promotion of African pride and tradition was heavily influenced by Liberian preacher Edward Wilmot Blyden, and Jamaican political activist Marcus Garvey, who Rastas often view as a prophet because of his ideas. -
Haile Selassie (Ras Tafari) is Crowned Emperor of Ethiopia
In early 1930, Haile Selassie was crowned the "King of Kings of Ethiopia". He became the first Christian emperor of Ethiopia since 1889. Because of this fact, Jamaican Christian clergymen believed that he was the second coming of Jesus Christ in accordance with the scriptures of the Bible (Revelations 5:2-5). Since he became emperor, Jamaican preachers such as Leonard Howell and Archibald Dunkley started street preaching around the country that Selassie was the second coming of Christ. -
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West Kingston Rastafarians
In between the 1940s and early 1960s, Rastafari was spreading quickly through the Caribbean, the US, and the UK. However, in Jamaica the Rastas started to become more revolting than ever during this time. Members from West Kingston held Rasta conventions in unsuccessful attempts to take over Spanish Town and Back-o-Wall "in the name of Haile Selassie". Rastas and Jamaican law enforcement would eventually clash during the Coral Gardens riot in 1963. As many as 150 Rastas were killed and injured. -
Selassie's Visit to Jamaica
On this date, Haile Selassie visited Jamaica for the first time in front of hundreds of thousands of Jamaican citizens and fellow Rastafarians. This became the turning point for many Jamaicans that didn't believe in Rastafarianism, as many people converted to the religion after seeing him on his trip. For the movement, this day is recognized as a holiday called Grounation Day. -
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Huge Climax of the Movement to the Public Eye
During the entirety of the 1970s, Rastafarianism became global, and it gained a huge amount of popularity. The reason being is legendary reggae superstar and icon, Bob Marley. Reggae as a whole became very popularized in the decade. Fans who loved the genre started to adapt the Rastafarian lifestyle, but didn't actually believe in the religion (Pseudo-Rastafarians). -
Assassination of Haile Selassie
On this date in 1975, Haile Selassie was killed by armed forces in Ethiopia following the country's coup d'etat in 1974. -
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The Quick Decline of Rastafarianism
Because of Haile Selassie's assassination and Bob Marley's tragic death, Rastafarianism wasn't seen very highly from the public eye anymore. Many Jamaicans during this timespan started to convert from Rastafari to Christianity, with Bob Marley even converting to the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian church just days before his death. Another factor of the decline was the rise of the dancehall genre. It consisted of more violent and sexual lyrics, rather than the empowering religious lyrics in reggae. -
Death of Bob Marley
On this date in 1981, prominent Rastafarian figure Bob Marley passed away from melanoma that developed in his toe and soon spread to his brain. When he was diagnosed with the melanoma, he had the opportunity to amputate his toe, but declined because of his Rastafarian belief that the cutting of the flesh is an abomination. -
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Rastafarianism Now
Although there aren't as many public eyes on the movement as there was before, Rastafari is still a movement that is practiced in many places outside of Jamaica today, such as the UK, Trinidad and Tobago, the US, and even in many West African countries such as Ghana and Nigeria. There are still many Jamaican musicians that are still avid believers of the movement, such as Sizzla, Buju Banton, Capleton, Chronixx, and Bob Marley's sons and daughters.