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106-846: Palm Pictures is an American entertainment company owned and run by Chris Blackwell . Palm Pictures produces, acquires and distributes music and film projects with a particular focus on the DVD-Video format. Palm places an emphasis on such projects as music documentaries, arthouse, foreign cinema and music videos. Palm Pictures' entertainment properties include a film division, a music label, sputnik7.com, epitonic.com, Arthouse Films and RES Media Group , publisher of RES magazine . Palm Pictures has its own customised content channel on Audiotube . Films distributed by Palm Pictures include: See also Directors Label . Artists released/distributed by Palm Pictures include: Chris Blackwell Christopher Percy Gordon Blackwell OJ (born 22 June 1937)

212-504: A covenant with him and thus have a special responsibility. Rastafari espouses the view that this, the true identity of black Africans, has been lost and needs to be reclaimed. There is no uniform Rasta view on race . Black supremacy was a theme early in the movement, with the belief in a distinctly black African race that was superior to other racial groups. This has opened the religion to accusations of racism . While some Rastas still hold such beliefs, black supremacy has waned in

318-465: A literalist interpretation of its contents. Rastas regard the Bible as an authentic account of early black African history and of their place as God's favoured people. They believe the Bible to be key to understanding both the past and the present and for predicting the future, while also regarding it as a source book from which they can form and justify their beliefs and practices. Rastas commonly perceive

424-506: A new social movement , and a cultural movement. Many Rastas or Rastafarians—as practitioners are known—nevertheless dislike the labelling of Rastafari as a "movement". In 1989, a British Industrial Tribunal concluded that, for the purposes of the Race Relations Act 1976 , Rastafarians could be considered an ethnic group because they have a long, shared heritage which distinguished them from other groups, their own cultural traditions,

530-648: A "radical, even revolutionary" stance on socio-political issues, particularly regarding race, with a "profoundly traditional" approach on other issues. Rastas typically look critically upon modern capitalism, instead favouring small-scale, pre-industrial and agricultural societies. Some Rastas have promoted activism for socio-political reform, while others believe in awaiting change that will be brought about through divine intervention. In Jamaica, Rastas typically do not vote, dismissing politics as "politricks", and rarely involve themselves in political parties or unions. The Rasta tendency to believe that socio-political change

636-499: A Biblical prophecy. By the 1950s, Rastafari's countercultural stance had brought the movement into conflict with wider Jamaican society, including violent clashes with law enforcement. Early Rastafari often espoused black supremacy as a form of opposition to white supremacy, but this has gradually become less common since the 1970s. In the 1960s and 1970s, it gained increased respectability within Jamaica and greater visibility abroad through

742-489: A common language, and a common religion. Rastafari has continuously changed and developed, with significant doctrinal variation existing among practitioners depending on the group to which they belong. It is not a unified movement, and there has never been a single leader followed by all Rastafari. It is thus difficult to make broad generalisations about the movement without obscuring the complexities within it. The scholar of religion Darren J. N. Middleton suggested that it

848-491: A dogma", according to the sociologist of religion Peter B. Clarke . Some Rastas consider themselves Christian, and the religion has been deeply influenced by both Christian and Jewish thought; the scholar Michael Barnett called Rastafari "an Afrocentralized blend of Christianity and Judaism". Like Christianity, Rastafari treats the Bible as a holy book occupying a central place in its belief system, with Rastas often adopting

954-590: A major in the Jamaica Regiment . His mother's family, the Lindos , were of Sephardic Jewish heritage, originally from Spain, the family adopted Christianity and became New Christians . His parents divorced when he was 10 years old. Blackwell spent his childhood in Jamaica, and was sent to Britain to continue his education at Harrow . Deciding not to attend university, he returned to Jamaica to become aide-de-camp to Jamaica's Governor , Sir Hugh Foot . After Foot

1060-541: A man, that I am mortal, and that I will be replaced by the oncoming generation, and that they should never make a mistake in assuming or pretending that a human being is emanated from a deity." His grandson Ermias Sahle Selassie has said that there is "no doubt that Haile Selassie did not encourage the Rastafari movement". Critics of Rastafari have used this as evidence that Rasta theological beliefs are incorrect, although some Rastas take Selassie's denials as evidence that he

1166-544: A millennium of peace, justice, and happiness in which the righteous shall live in Africa. In the 1980s, many Rastas believed that the Day of Judgment would happen around the year 2000. A view then common in the Rasta community was that the world's white people would wipe themselves out through nuclear war , with black Africans then ruling the world, something that they argued was prophesied in

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1272-476: A network to plan movement events and form strategies. The term "grounding" is used among Rastas to refer to the establishment of relationships between like-minded practitioners. Groundings often take place in a commune or yard, and are presided over by an elder. The elder is charged with keeping discipline and can ban individuals from attending. The number of participants can range from a handful to several hundred. Activities that take place at groundings include

1378-512: A new operation. In 2001, Blackwell was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and bestowed the Ahmet Ertegun Award. During his acceptance speech he made a point of thanking Steve Winwood and acknowledged his importance in the development of Island Records. Blackwell said "Steve Winwood was really the cornerstone of Island Records. He’s a musical genius and because he was with Island all

1484-503: A pair of fundamental moral principles known as the "two great commandments": love of God and love of neighbour. Many Rastas believe that to determine whether they should undertake a certain act or not, they should consult the presence of Jah within themselves. Rastafari emphasises the idea of "living naturally". As an extension of this view, Africa is considered the natural abode of black Africans—a continent where they can live according to African culture and tradition, and be themselves on

1590-547: A performance in Birmingham, Blackwell focused on the rock acts that Island had signed. Island became one of the most successful independent labels of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s with an eclectic range of artists, including Traffic , King Crimson ; Emerson, Lake & Palmer ; Jethro Tull , Cat Stevens , John Cale , Free , Fairport Convention , Nico ; Heads, Hands and Feet ; John Martyn , Sparks , Spooky Tooth , Nick Drake , Roxy Music , Grace Jones , Ultravox , Eddie and

1696-581: A physical, emotional, and intellectual level. Practitioners believe that Westerners and Babylon have detached themselves from nature through technological development and thus have become debilitated, slothful, and decadent. Some Rastas also believe they should adhere to African laws rather than the laws of Babylon, potentially putting them at odds with the law of the countries in which they currently live. In emphasising this Afrocentric approach, Rastafari expresses overtones of black nationalism . The scholar Maureen Warner-Lewis observed that Rastafari combined

1802-475: A reclamation of their African heritage. Accordingly it decenters Europe and whiteness and emphasises Africa and blackness, seeking to purge from its followers any belief in the inferiority of black people and the superiority of white people . Rastafari is therefore Afrocentric , equating blackness with the African continent, and endorsing Pan-Africanism. Practitioners of Rastafari identify themselves with

1908-565: A recording home for his acts and other artists. Blackwell sold his stake in Island in 1989, eventually resigning from the company in 1997. In 2009, Blackwell was at the centre of celebrations held in London for Island's fiftieth anniversary. Each of Blackwell's companies was eventually sold to PolyGram and, in 1999, were part of the Universal Music Group conglomerate, but Blackwell left with

2014-515: A religion, meeting many of the proposed definitions for what constitutes a religion, and is legally recognised as such in various countries. Some scholars of religion have labelled it an Abrahamic religion , while other scholars have also classified it as a new religious movement , a sect , a cult , and a revitalisation movement . Having arisen in Jamaica, it has been described as an Afro-Jamaican religion, and more broadly an Afro-Caribbean religion. Although Rastafari focuses on Africa as

2120-415: A religion, instead referring to it as a "way of life", a " philosophy ", or a " spirituality ". Emphasising its political stance, particularly in support of African nationalism and pan-Africanism , some academics have characterised Rastafari as a political movement, a "politico-religious" movement, or a protest movement. It has alternatively been labelled a social movement , or more specifically as

2226-429: A reputation for looking after artists as diverse as Bob Marley, U2, Cat Stevens , Grace Jones , Steve Winwood, Melissa Etheridge , Tom Waits , The Cranberries , Richard Thompson and PJ Harvey . After selling these companies, Blackwell went on to found Palm Pictures , a media entertainment company with music, film and DVD releases. In the late 1990s, Blackwell merged Palm Pictures with Rykodisc to form RykoPalm,

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2332-453: A single artist yet released. " As Blackwell says, "Toots and the Maytals were unlike anything else...sensational, raw and dynamic." Blackwell had a strong commitment to the band, describing Toots Hibbert as "one of the purest human beings I've met in my life, pure almost to a fault." Blackwell appeared in the 2011 BBC documentary Reggae Got Soul: The Story of Toots and the Maytals which told

2438-611: A source of identity, it is a product of creolisation processes in the Americas, described by the Hispanic studies scholars Margarite Fernández Olmos and Lizabeth Paravisini-Gebert as "a Creole religion, rooted in African, European, and Indian practices and beliefs". The scholar Ennis B. Edmonds also suggested that Rastafari was "emerging" as a world religion , not because of the number of its adherents, but because of its global spread. Many Rastas nevertheless reject descriptions of Rastafari as

2544-584: A spiritual force. A third response within the Rastafari community was that Selassie's death was inconsequential as he had only been a "personification" of Jah rather than Jah himself. During his life, Selassie described himself as a devout Christian. In a 1967 interview, Selassie was asked about the Rasta belief that he was the Second Coming of Jesus, to which he responded: "I have heard of this idea. I also met certain Rastafarians. I told them clearly that I am

2650-464: A start-up investment of $ 10,000 provided by his parents. The business took its name from Alec Waugh 's novel Island in the Sun . Radio personality Graeme Goodall was his initial business partner. Blackwell received an allowance of £2,000 per year from his mother, which enabled him to have his own apartment at a young age and build on the low revenue that the business was bringing in. Island's debut release

2756-637: A state of mind. Rastas believe that Africa, as the Promised Land , will allow them to escape the domination and degradation they experience in Babylon. During the first three decades of the Rastafari movement, it placed strong emphasis on the need for the African diaspora to be repatriated to Africa. To this end, various Rastas lobbied the Jamaican government and United Nations to oversee this resettlement process. Other Rastas organised their own transportation to

2862-448: A symbol of their positive affirmation of Africa as a source of spiritual and cultural heritage. While he was emperor, many Jamaican Rastas professed the belief that Haile Selassie would never die. The 1974 overthrow of Haile Selassie by the military Derg and his subsequent death in 1975 resulted in a crisis of faith for many practitioners. Some left the movement altogether. Others remained, and developed new strategies for dealing with

2968-564: A tea, as a spice in cooking, and as an ingredient in medicine. Not all Rastas use cannabis; many abstainers explain that they have already achieved a higher level of consciousness and thus do not require it. In Rastafari, cannabis is considered a sacrament . Rastas argue that the use of ganja is promoted in the Bible, specifically in Genesis , Psalms , and Revelation. They regard it as having healing properties, eulogise it for inducing feelings of "peace and love", and claim that it cultivates

3074-637: A very classy delicatessen." Yet Blackwell has admitted to turning down some major names, most notably Elton John , whom he considered too shy to become a successful performer. Island and Blackwell himself became renowned for a relaxed, nurturing approach. Blackwell showed skill in spotting and creating trends, as well as a gift for finding talent. He had an imaginative flair for marketing, and Island's releases were often packaged in lovingly designed gatefold sleeves. Blackwell has said: "I really believe that if people see something that looks good, subconsciously they'll think maybe there's something going on inside, on

3180-423: A wide area, including from different countries. They establish and maintain a sense of solidarity among the Rasta community and cultivate a feeling of collective belonging. Unlike in many other religions, rites of passage play no role in Rastafari; on death, various Rastas have been given Christian funerals by their relatives, as there are no established Rasta funeral rites. The principal ritual of Rastafari

3286-501: Is a Jamaican-British former record producer and the founder of Island Records , which has been called "one of Britain's great independent labels." According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame , to which Blackwell was inducted in 2001, he is "the single person most responsible for turning the world on to reggae music ." Variety describes him as "indisputably one of the greatest record executives in history," while Barron's has described him as "a contender for most interesting man in

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3392-486: Is acknowledged as the first ska hit. It also made Small an international star at such a very young age. Blackwell later recalled his decision to license the release to Fontana, a part of Philips . It was a big hit all around the world, and I really wanted to look after Millie, so I went everywhere with her, which took me into the mainstream of the record industry... This whole new music was emerging. After discovering The Spencer Davis Group , featuring Steve Winwood , at

3498-488: Is an accepted version of this page Rastafari is an Abrahamic religion that developed in Jamaica during the 1930s. It is classified as both a new religious movement and a social movement by scholars of religion . There is no central authority in control of the movement and much diversity exists among practitioners, who are known as Rastafari, Rastafarians, or Rastas. Rastafari beliefs are based on an interpretation of

3604-932: Is considered the most exclusive of the Island Outpost resorts. Blackwell currently runs Island Outpost , which he set up to operate and market a group of elite resorts in Jamaica, including Strawberry Hill in the Blue Mountains (where Marley recovered after being shot in 1976), The Caves in Negril , and GoldenEye Hotel & Resort in Oracabessa . Island Outpost also owned The Tides and The Marlin in Miami Beach, Florida . The Miami Beach properties including The Tides, The Marlin and The Kent along with several other hotels in Miami Beach and The Bahamas have since been sold. Blackwell

3710-427: Is expected of them whenever in public. According to traditional Rasta discourse, this dress code is necessary to prevent the sexual objectification of women by men in Babylon. Rasta men do not usually have such a dress code. Some Rasta women have challenged gender norms by wearing their hair uncovered in public and donning trousers. Although men and women took part alongside each other in early Rasta rituals, from

3816-700: Is inevitable opens the religion up to the criticism from the political left that it discourages attempts to alter the status quo. Other Rastas do engage in political activism; the Ghanaian Rasta singer-songwriter Rocky Dawuni for instance was involved in campaigns promoting democratic elections, while in Grenada , many Rastas joined the People's Revolutionary Government formed in 1979. Rasta discourse has traditionally presented women as morally weak, susceptible to deception by evil , and impure while menstruating , citing

3922-783: Is involved in a number of philanthropic organizations. Among these are Island ACTS, the Oracabessa Foundation, the Oracabessa Bay Fish Sanctuary , the Mary Vinson Blackwell Foundation (established in honour of his late wife to whom he was married from 1998 till 2009), and the Jamaican Conservation Trust. In 2003, Blackwell launched the Goldeneye Film Festival, which ran for three years. In September that year, Blackwell received

4028-480: Is no need for a priest to act as mediator between the worshipper and Jah. It nevertheless has "elders", an honorific title bestowed upon those with a good reputation among the community. Although respected figures, they do not necessarily have administrative functions or responsibilities. When they do oversee ritual meetings, they are often responsible for helping to interpret current events in terms of Biblical scripture. Elders often communicate with each other through

4134-501: Is oppressed within Western society, or "Babylon". Many Rastas call for this diaspora's resettlement in Africa, a continent they consider the Promised Land , or "Zion". Rastas refer to their practices as " livity ", which includes adhering to Ital dietary requirements, wearing their hair in dreadlocks , and following patriarchal gender roles. Communal meetings are known as "groundations", and are typified by music, chanting, discussions, and

4240-441: Is that those who are righteous may undergo reincarnation . Rastas have traditionally avoided death and funerals, meaning that many were given Christian funerals by their relatives. This attitude to death is less common among more recent or moderate strands of Rastafari, with many considering death a natural part of life. Unlike other African diaspora religions , Rastas typically avoid ancestor veneration . Most Rastas share

4346-420: Is the norm, although many Rastas are legally married. Rasta men refer to their female partners as "queens", , "empresses", or "lionesses", while the males in these relationships are known as "kingmen". Rastafari places great importance on family life and the raising of children, with reproduction being encouraged. Traditionally, the religion emphasised the place of men in child-rearing, associating this with

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4452-458: Is the smoking of ganja, also known as marijuana or cannabis. Among the names that Rastas give to the plant are callie , Iley , "the herb", "the holy herb", "the grass", and "the weed". Cannabis is usually smoked during groundings, although some practitioners also smoke it informally in other contexts. Some Rastas smoke cannabis very frequently, something other practitioners regard as excessive. Many practitioners alternatively consume cannabis in

4558-416: Is unknown why the early Rastas adopted this form of Haile Selassie's name as the basis of the term for their religion. As well as being the religion's name, "Rastafari" is also used for the religion's practitioners themselves. Many commentators—including some academic sources and some practitioners —refer to the movement as "Rastafarianism". However, the term is disparaged by many Rastafari, who believe that

4664-569: The Kebra Nagast , a 14th-century Ethiopian text, as a source through which to interpret the Bible. Rastas are monotheists , worshipping a singular God whom they call Jah . The term "Jah" is a shortened version of " Jehovah ", the name of God in English translations of the Old Testament . Rastas believe in the immanence of Jah, who is inherent within each individual. This belief is reflected in

4770-541: The Bible . Central to the religion is a monotheistic belief in a single God, referred to as Jah , who partially resides within each individual . Rastas accord key importance to Haile Selassie , Emperor of Ethiopia between 1930 and 1974, who is regarded variously as the Second Coming of Jesus , Jah incarnate , or a human prophet. Rastafari is Afrocentric and focuses attention on the African diaspora , which it believes

4876-486: The Book of Daniel . Rasta views on death vary. Traditionally, many Rastas believed in the possibility of eternal life. In the 1980s, scholar of religion Leonard E. Barrett observed Jamaican Rastas who believed that practitioners who died had not been faithful to Jah. He suggested that this attitude stemmed from the large numbers of young people in the movement, who had thus seen very few Rastas die. Another common Rasta view

4982-739: The Book of Leviticus and the writings of Paul the Apostle . By contrast, Rastafari often espouses the belief that black men in the African diaspora have been emasculated by Babylon and that their manhood must therefore be restored. As a result, Rastafari often affirms patriarchal principles, including the idea that women should submit to male leadership. External observers—including scholars such as Cashmore and Edmonds —have claimed that Rastafari accords women an inferior position to men. Cashmore suggests Rastafari women accept this subordinate position and regard it as their duty to obey their men. The academic Maureen Rowe suggested that women were willing to join

5088-622: The Third World . Mango introduced Salif Keita , Baaba Maal , Gibson Brothers , Angélique Kidjo , King Sunny Adé and many others. Eventually, Island moved into movies and released The Harder They Come (1972) in the UK, which featured Jimmy Cliff . Produced and directed by fellow Jamaican Perry Henzell , the film marked the first time that Jamaican themes appeared in mainstream cinema. In 1977, Blackwell built Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas as

5194-699: The smoking of cannabis , the latter regarded as a sacrament with beneficial properties. Rastafari originated among impoverished and socially disenfranchised Afro-Jamaican communities in 1930s Jamaica. Its Afrocentric ideology was largely a reaction against Jamaica's then-dominant British colonial culture . It was influenced by both Ethiopianism and the Back-to-Africa movement promoted by black nationalist figures such as Marcus Garvey . The religion developed after several Protestant Christian clergymen, most notably Leonard Howell , proclaimed that Haile Selassie's crowning as Emperor of Ethiopia in 1930 fulfilled

5300-495: The "book within" which allows them to commune with God. Because of what they regard as the corruption of the Bible, Rastas also turn to other sources that they believe shed light on African history, including Leonard Howell 's 1935 work The Promised Key , Robert Athlyi Rogers ' 1924 book Holy Piby , and Fitz Balintine Pettersburg 's 1920s work, the Royal Parchment Scroll of Black Supremacy . Many Rastas also treat

5406-511: The "untold story of one of the most influential artists ever to come out of Jamaica." One of Blackwell's achievements was bringing Bob Marley & The Wailers to the attention of international audiences. Without a signed contract, Blackwell advanced money to The Wailers for their first Island album, displaying the trust which stemmed from his 1958 beach rescue by Rastas . Excerpt from an interview of Winston Grennan by Carter Van Pelt: Chris Blackwell say, 'Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. I give them

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5512-451: The African continent. Critics of the movement have argued that the migration of the entire African diaspora to Africa is implausible, particularly as no African country would welcome this. By the movement's fourth decade, the desire for physical repatriation to Africa had declined among Rastas, a change influenced by observation of the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia . Rather, many Rastas saw

5618-501: The African diaspora. Rastas believe Biblical scripture explains the Atlantic slave trade, and that the enslavement, exile, and exploitation of black Africans was punishment for failing to live up to their status as Jah's chosen people. Many Rastas, adopting a Pan-Africanist ethos, have criticised the division of Africa into nation-states, regarding this as a Babylonian development, and are often hostile to capitalist resource extraction from

5724-601: The American Labels Shelter Records whose roster included Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers , J.J. Cale and Phoebe Snow and also Sue Records , who produced Jimmy McGriff , The Soul Sisters and Ike and Tina Turner . Toots and the Maytals introduced the term " reggae " in song with their single " Do the Reggay " (1968). Having signed Bob Marley, Blackwell added Toots and the Maytals to his roster, and had

5830-501: The Bible . Cashmore reported that Rastas typically saw the growing acceptance of birth control and homosexuality in the 1970s and 1980s as evidence of the degeneration of Babylon and proof of its approaching demise. LGBTQ+ Rastas may conceal their sexual orientation because of these attitudes. Rastas refer to their cultural and religious practices as "livity". Rastafari does not place emphasis on hierarchical structures. It has no professional priesthood, with Rastas believing that there

5936-466: The Bible, where it refers to an idealised Jerusalem . Rastas use "Zion" either for Ethiopia specifically or for Africa more broadly. Many Rastas use the term "Ethiopia" as a synonym for Africa, following its usage in English translations of the Bible. Rastas in Ghana, for instance, describe themselves as already living within "Ethiopia". Other Rastas apply the term "Zion" to Jamaica or they use it to describe

6042-494: The Hot Rods , Robert Palmer , Jess Roden , Marianne Faithfull , The Buggles , Etta James , Melissa Etheridge , Julian Cope , The Cranberries , Womack and Womack , U2 , and others. Blackwell also signed artists in non-English speaking countries such as French singer Charlélie Couture whose album, Poèmes rock , was released on Island. "The bigger labels are supermarkets," Blackwell remarked. "I like to think of Island as

6148-601: The Jamaican Musgrave Medal , which is awarded to Jamaicans who excel in the arts, music and public service. In 2004, the Order of Jamaica was bestowed upon Blackwell for philanthropy and outstanding contribution to the entertainment industry. In April 2009, the UK magazine Music Week named Blackwell the most influential UK music executive of the past 50 years. Blackwell revisited his family's legacy in Jamaica's banana, coconut, and rum export industries in 2009, when, at

6254-612: The James Bond film Dr. No (1962). Blackwell's mother, Blanche, had been original Bond author Ian Fleming's mistress. After the film wrapped, producer Harry Saltzman offered him a full-time position. Conflicted between music and film, Blackwell visited a psychic, who told him that he would be successful if he stayed in the music industry. By the following year, the fledgling record producer had released 26 singles and two albums on Island. Blackwell returned to England that year and continued to grow his business. He began having success with

6360-546: The Maytals band... And then we hit the road in 1975...we were the opening act for the Eagles , Linda Ronstadt , and Jackson Browne . We were the opening act for The Who for about two weeks. The first Toots and the Maytals album released and distributed by Island Records was Funky Kingston . Music critic Lester Bangs described the album in Stereo Review as "perfection, the most exciting and diversified set of reggae tunes by

6466-687: The Spider Woman and Stop Making Sense , among others." In 2022, he published a memoir, The Islander: My Life in Music and Beyond . Christopher Percy Gordon Blackwell was born on 22 June 1937 in Westminster , London , the son of Joseph Blackwell, an Irish member of the family responsible for the Crosse & Blackwell brand, and Blanche Lindo Blackwell , a Costa-Rican-born Jamaican heiress. The family moved to Jamaica soon after his birth where his father became

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6572-485: The age of 72 years, he introduced his own brand of rum, " Blackwell Black Gold ," onto the market. The beverage is made from Jamaican sugar cane, water and yeast, and aged in American oak barrels. Blackwell also produces a Bond-themed, limited-edition rum, featured in the 2021 film No Time to Die . His rum was also featured in the 2023 reality competition show 007: Road to a Million . Rastafari movement This

6678-581: The ancient Israelites —God's chosen people in the Old Testament—and believe that black Africans broadly or Rastas more specifically are either the descendants or the reincarnations of this ancient people. This is similar to beliefs in Judaism , although many Rastas believe that contemporary Jews ' status as the descendants of the ancient Israelites is a false claim . Rastas typically believe that black Africans are God's chosen people, meaning that they made

6784-464: The aphorism, often cited by Rastas, that "God is man and man is God", and Rastas speak of "knowing" Jah, rather than simply "believing" in him. In seeking to narrow the distance between humanity and divinity, Rastafari embraces mysticism . This idea of connecting to a singular divine force within differs from the forms of spirit possession found in other African diaspora religions, such as Kumina and Convince , where external spirits are invited into

6890-664: The black African diaspora are exiles living in " Babylon ", a term which it applies to Western society . For Rastas, European colonialism and global capitalism are regarded as manifestations of Babylon, while police and soldiers are viewed as its agents. The term "Babylon" is adopted because of its Biblical associations. In the Old Testament, Babylon is the Mesopotamian city where the Israelites were held captive , exiled from their homeland, between 597 and 586 BCE; Rastas compare

6996-428: The body. Jesus is an important figure in Rastafari. However, practitioners reject the traditional Christian view of Jesus, and particularly the depiction of him as a white European . They believe Jesus was a black African, and that the white Jesus was a false god. Many Rastas regard Christianity as the creation of the white man; they treat it with suspicion out of the view that the oppressors (white Europeans) and

7102-422: The careers of Bob Marley , Grace Jones and U2 among many other diverse high-profile acts. He has produced many seminal albums, including Marley's Catch a Fire and Uprising , Free 's Free and The B-52's ' self-titled debut album in 1979. Having sold Island in 1989, Blackwell embarked on ventures in "hotels, real estate, resorts, another record company, rum, and his Island Films released Kiss of

7208-401: The continent. Rastas seek to delegitimise and destroy Babylon, something often conveyed in the Rasta aphorism "Chant down Babylon". Rastas often expect the white-dominated society to dismiss their beliefs as false, and when this happens they see it as confirmation of the correctness of their faith. Rastas view Zion as an ideal to which they aspire. As with "Babylon", this term comes from

7314-509: The correctness of their beliefs. Rastafari meetings are opened and closed with prayers. These involve supplication of Jah, the supplication for the hungry, sick, and infants, and calls for the destruction of the Rastas' enemies, and then close with statements of adoration. Princes shall come out of Egypt, Ethiopia shall stretch forth her hand unto God. Oh thou God of Ethiopia, thou God of divine majesty, thy spirit come within our hearts to dwell in

7420-536: The exile of the Israelites in Mesopotamia to the exile of the African diaspora outside Africa. Rastas perceive the exile of the black African diaspora in Babylon as an experience of great suffering, with the term "suffering" having a significant place in Rasta discourse. Rastas view Babylon as being responsible for both the Atlantic slave trade , which removed enslaved Africans from their continent, and ongoing poverty in

7526-406: The fallacies in any arguments presented. Those assembled inform each other about the revelations that they have received through meditation and dream. Each contributor is supposed to push the boundaries of understanding until the entire group has gained greater insight into the topic under discussion. In meeting together with like-minded individuals, reasoning helps Rastas to reassure one another of

7632-775: The final book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation , as the most important part, because they see its contents as having particular significance for the world's present situation. Contrary to scholarly understandings of how the Bible was compiled, Rastas commonly believe it was originally written on stone in the Ethiopian language of Amharic . They also believe that the Bible's true meaning has been warped, both through mistranslation into other languages and by deliberate manipulation by those seeking to deny black Africans their history. They also regard it as cryptographic, meaning that it has many hidden meanings. They believe that its true teachings can be revealed through intuition and meditation on

7738-423: The final word in their lineup. In November 2016, Jackie Jackson described the formation of the group in a radio interview for Kool 97 FM Jamaica. Accompanied by Paul Douglas and Radcliffe "Dougie" Bryan in studio, Jackson explained, We were talking about reggae is going international now. We kept on meeting and he (Blackwell) decided that the backing band that back all of the songs, the recording band, should be

7844-418: The guys...If I leave, I feel it would be a bad vibes." Blackwell's gesture led to the longterm success of both Marley and the label. Of his experience with Marley, Blackwell has said: He trusted my instincts, which were that he should go after being a rock star, rather than a star on black American radio. His music was rough and raw and exciting, but all black American music at the time, other than James Brown,

7950-431: The idea of returning to Africa in a metaphorical sense, entailing the restoration of their pride and self-confidence as people of black African descent. The term "liberation before repatriation" began to be used within the movement. Some Rastas seek to transform Western society so that they may more comfortably live within it rather than seeking to move to Africa. There are nevertheless many Rastas who continue to emphasise

8056-456: The idea that Selassie was the Second Coming, arguing that this event has yet to occur. From this perspective, Selassie is perceived as a messenger or emissary of God rather than a manifestation of God himself. Rastas holding to this view sometimes regard the deification of Haile Selassie as naïve or ignorant, in some cases thinking it as dangerous to worship a human being as God. There are various Rastas who went from believing that Haile Selassie

8162-507: The late 1940s and 1950s the Rasta community increasingly encouraged gender segregation for ceremonies. This was based on the belief that women's menstruation made them impure and that their presence at the ceremonies would distract male participants. As it existed in Jamaica, Rastafari did not promote monogamy. Though it is not especially common, Rasta men are permitted to engage in polygamy , while women are expected to reserve their sexual activity for one male partner. Common-law marriage

8268-416: The money to make this record.' But at that time they was forming the band. Bob (Bob Marley) came to me, figure it was me, Gladdy, Winston Wright, Jackie and Hux to be the band. That was the band that Bob did really want, but those guys didn't want to get involved. You know that the situation around Bob was pretty hectic...They turned it down. So right away, I couldn't get involved, because I didn't want to leave

8374-632: The most prominent of which are the Nyahbinghi , Bobo Ashanti , and the Twelve Tribes of Israel , each offering a different interpretation of Rastafari belief. There are an estimated 700,000 to one million Rastafari across the world. The largest population is in Jamaica, although small communities can be found in most of the world's major population centres. Most Rastafari are of black African descent, and some groups accept only black members, but non-black groups have also emerged. Rastafari has been described as

8480-419: The movement since at least the 1970s, and non-black Rastas are now widely accepted. Some Rastas citing a 1963 speech by Haile Selassie in support of racial acceptance. Some sects maintains that white Europeans can never be legitimate Rastas but others believe an "African" identity is not inherently linked to black skin but whether an individual displays an African "attitude" or "spirit". Rastafari teaches that

8586-565: The name of a mythical African queen. Nyabinghi Issemblies are often held on dates associated with Ethiopia and Haile Selassie. These include Ethiopian Christmas (7 January), the day on which Haile Selassie visited Jamaica (21 April), Selassie's birthday (23 July), Ethiopian New Year (11 September), and Selassie's coronation day (2 November). Some Rastas also organise Nyabinghi Issemblies to mark Jamaica's Emancipation Day (1 August) and Marcus Garvey 's birthday (17 August). Nyabinghi Issemblies typically take place in rural areas, being situated in

8692-411: The need for physical resettlement of the African diaspora in Africa. Rastafari is a millenarian movement, espousing the idea that the present age will come to an apocalyptic end. Many practitioners believe that on this Day of Judgment , Babylon will be overthrown, with Rastas being the chosen few who survive the upheaval. With Babylon destroyed, Rastas believe that humanity will enter a "new age",

8798-461: The news. Some Rastas believed that Selassie did not really die and that claims to the contrary were Western misinformation. To bolster their argument, they pointed to the fact that no corpse had been produced; in reality, Haile Selassie's body had been buried beneath his palace, remaining undiscovered there until 1992. Another perspective within Rastafari acknowledged that Haile Selassie's body had perished, but claimed that his inner essence survived as

8904-508: The niche market of Jamaican music, and progressed to bringing in licensed master tapes. One of these contained a performance by Jamaican singer Millie Small , who Blackwell brought over to England. In 1964, he produced and recorded Small's cover of the 1956 Barbie Gaye song " My Boy Lollipop ," which was one of the first songs recorded in the ska style. Small's version was a massive hit in 1964, selling over 7 million copies worldwide. It launched Island Records into mainstream popular music, and

9010-606: The nineteenth chapter of the Book of Revelation. By viewing Haile Selassie as Jesus, these Rastas also regard him as the messiah prophesied in the Old Testament, the manifestation of God in human form, and "the living God". Some perceive him as part of a Trinity , alongside God as Creator and the Holy Spirit , the latter referred to as "the Breath within the temple". Rastas who view Haile Selassie as Jesus argue that both were descendants from

9116-530: The open air or in temporary structures—known as "temples" or "tabernacles"—specifically constructed for the purpose. Any elder seeking to sponsor a Nyabinghi Issembly must have approval from other elders and requires the adequate resources to organise such an event. The assembly usually lasts between three and seven days. During the daytime, attendees engage in food preparation, ganja smoking, and reasoning, while at night they focus on drumming and dancing around bonfires. Nyabinghi Issemblies often attract Rastas from

9222-699: The oppressed (black Africans) cannot share the same God. Some Rastas take the view that the God worshipped by most white Christians is actually the Devil , and a recurring claim among Rastas is that the Pope is Satan or the Antichrist . Rastas therefore often view Christian preachers as deceivers and regard Christianity as being guilty of furthering the oppression of the African diaspora , frequently referring to it as having perpetrated "mental enslavement". From its origins, Rastafari

9328-467: The other talent really wanted to be with Island." Blackwell has long owned Goldeneye in Oracabessa , the previous home of Ian Fleming , where the author wrote all the James Bond books. Until his death, Fleming was the longtime lover of Blackwell's mother, Blanche. Blackwell developed the property into a community of villas and beach cottages, each with its own private access to the sea, and Goldeneye

9434-449: The parts of righteousness. That the hungry be fed, the sick nourished, the aged protected, and the infant cared for. Teach us love and loyalty as it is in Zion. — Opening passage of a common Rasta prayer The largest groundings were known as "groundations" or "grounations" in the 1950s, although they were subsequently re-termed "Nyabinghi Issemblies". The term " Nyabinghi " is adopted from

9540-514: The playing of drums, chanting, the singing of hymns, and the recitation of poetry. Cannabis , known as ganja, is often smoked. Most groundings contain only men, although some Rasta women have established their own all-female grounding circles. One of the central activities at groundings is " reasoning ". This is a discussion among assembled Rastas about the religion's principles and their relevance to current events. These discussions are supposed to be non-combative, although attendees can point out

9646-404: The popularity of Rastafari-inspired reggae musicians, most notably Bob Marley . Enthusiasm for Rastafari declined in the 1980s, following the deaths of Haile Selassie and Marley, but the movement survived and has a presence in many parts of the world. The Rastafari movement is decentralised and organised on a largely sectarian basis. There are several denominations, or " Mansions of Rastafari ",

9752-580: The record. There were times when somebody came out with a cover which was actually better than the record itself, so I'd have to send them back to remake the record." In 1968, Blackwell was the first record executive to offer a distribution deal to the newly formed Led Zeppelin . Zeppelin manager Peter Grant reneged on the handshake deal. Island Records was also the first distribution home for Trojan Records , Chrysalis Records , Bronze Records , Stiff Records , Virgin Records , ZTT , Gee Street Records and

9858-580: The recovery of African manhood. Women would often work, sometimes while the man raised the children at home. Rastafari regards procreation as the purpose of sex, and thus oral and anal sex are usually forbidden. Both contraception and abortion are usually censured, and a common claim in Rasta discourse is that these were inventions of Babylon to decrease the black African birth-rate. Rastas typically express hostile attitudes to homosexuality, regarding homosexuals as evil and unnatural; this attitude derives from references to same-sex sexual activity in

9964-549: The religion despite its restrictions because they valued the life of structure and discipline it provided. Attitudes to women within Rastafari have changed since the 1970s, however, with a growing " womanist " movement, and increasing numbers of women in leadership positions at local and international levels. Rasta women usually wear clothing that covers their head and hides their body contours. Trousers are usually avoided, with long skirts preferred. Women are expected to cover their head while praying, and in some Rasta groups this

10070-590: The royal line of the Biblical king David , while Rastas also emphasise the fact that the Makonnen dynasty, of which Haile Selassie was a member, claimed descent from the Biblical figures Solomon and the Queen of Sheba . Other Rastas see Selassie as embodying Jesus' teachings and essence but reject the idea that he was the literal reincarnation of Jesus. Members of the Twelve Tribes of Israel denomination, for instance, reject

10176-456: The shore in searing temperatures. Collapsing on the beach, Blackwell was rescued by Rasta fishermen who tended his wounds and restored him to health with traditional Ital food. The experience gave Blackwell a spiritual introduction to the Rastafarian lifestyle, and was a key to his connection to the culture and its music. Only in his early 20s, Blackwell formed Island Records in 1958 with

10282-437: The status of a catechism or creed . Rastas place great emphasis on the idea that personal experience and intuitive understanding should be used to determine the truth or validity of a particular belief or practice. No Rasta, therefore, has the authority to declare which beliefs and practices are orthodox and which are heterodox . The conviction that Rastafari has no dogma "is so strong that it has itself become something of

10388-449: The use of -ism implies religious doctrine and institutional organisation, things they wish to avoid. Rastas refer to the totality of their religion's ideas and beliefs as "Rastalogy". Edmonds described Rastafari as having "a fairly cohesive worldview"; however, the scholar Ernest Cashmore thought that its beliefs were "fluid and open to interpretation". Within the movement, attempts to summarise Rastafari belief have never been accorded

10494-470: The world." Having formed Island Records in Jamaica on May 22, 1959, Blackwell was among the first to record the Jamaican popular music that eventually became known as ska . Returning to Britain in 1962, he sold records from the back of his car to the Jamaican community. His label became "a byword for uncompromised artistry and era-shaping acts." Backed by Stanley Borden from RKO , Blackwell's business and reach grew substantially, and he went on to forge

10600-406: Was a piano and vocal album by Bermudian jazz pianist Lance Hayward along with his band members, who all played at Half Moon resort in Jamaica as part of the resort’s in house band. Blackwell began recording Jamaican popular music in 1959, achieving a number one hit there with Laurel Aitken 's "Boogie in my Bones/Little Sheila." In 1961, Blackwell was a location scout and production assistant for

10706-466: Was appropriate to speak of "a plethora of Rasta spiritualities " rather than a single phenomenon. The term "Rastafari" derives from "Ras Tafari Makonnen", the pre-regnal title of Haile Selassie , the former Ethiopian emperor who occupies a central role in Rasta belief. The term " Ras " means a duke or prince in the Ethiopian Semitic languages ; "Tafari Makonnen" was Selassie's personal name. It

10812-505: Was both God incarnate and the Second Coming of Jesus to seeing him as something distinct. On being crowned, Haile Selassie was given the title of " King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah". Rastas use this title for Haile Selassie alongside others, such as "Almighty God", "Judge and Avenger", "King Alpha and Queen Omega", "Returned Messiah", "Elect of God", and "Elect of Himself". Rastas also view Haile Selassie as

10918-502: Was indeed the incarnation of God, based on their reading of the Gospel of Luke . According to Clarke, Rastafari is "concerned above all else with black consciousness, with rediscovering the identity, personal and racial, of black people". The movement began among Afro-Jamaicans who wanted to reject the British colonial culture that dominated Jamaica and replace it with a new identity based on

11024-512: Was intrinsically linked with Haile Selassie, the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. He remains the central figure in Rastafari ideology, and although all Rastas hold him in esteem, precise interpretations of his identity differ. Understandings of how Haile Selassie relates to Jesus vary among Rastas. Many, although not all, believe that the Ethiopian monarch was the Second Coming of Jesus, legitimising this by reference to their interpretation of

11130-401: Was transferred to Cyprus, Blackwell left King's House to pursue a career in real estate and other businesses, including managing jukeboxes across the country, which brought him into contact with the Jamaican music community. In 1958, Blackwell was sailing off Hellshire Beach when his boat ran aground on a coral reef. The twenty-one-year-old swam to the coast and attempted to find help along

11236-530: Was very slick and smooth. Bob trusted me on that, he was as keen as I was. Blackwell also pioneered reggae to wider audiences the UK and the US beginning in the mid 1970s with releases from Burning Spear , Augustus Pablo , Inner Circle , Dillinger , Black Uhuru , Third World , Aswad , Max Romeo , Justin Hines , Sly and Robbie and Lee Perry . He also formed Mango Records , which featured Jamaican and other artists from

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