Title: Yes Rasta Photographs by Patrick Cariou
Reviewed By: Jennes Anderson
THIS book is a "must have" for anyone with an interest in photography, Rasta art and Jamaican culture.
This is a magnificent book of uncaptioned black and white photographs. As the name suggests, the subject is the Rastaman quite literally, the Rastaman; and this is one of my few negative comments about the book. In the 102 absolutely gorgeous photographs which comprise this book, females, whether in the form of children or women appear in only seven of these photographs. The book also shows children but in only six photos.
The photographs are mainly portraits, but there are also some beautiful landscapes. The inside covers, back and front, show close up photographs of ganja or "herb" plants growing in lush green profusion. These are the only colour photographs in the book.
Original Rastas
The book begins with a short introductory essay by Perry Henzell. The imprint page appears at the back of the book. Also appearing at the back of the book is a page outlining a short list of acknowledgements, and another with one sentence explaining that names and captions have been omitted out of respect for the privacy of the Rastas. These, together with the writings found on the jacket of the book, constitute the only written content.
Mr. Henzell's essay explains that the subject of the book has its basis in the original Rastas who were part of the first community established at Pinnacle in the hills of St. Catherine in the 1940s. When that first Rasta community was raided and destroyed by the state, many of the brethren moved into the mountains and continue to this day to live an "ital" lifestyle of non-commercialism and living off the land. These Rasta communities and their inhabitants are the subject of Patrick Cariou's magnificent photography.
If one is armed with some knowledge of early Rastas one can read between the lines of the introductory essay and it perhaps becomes understandable why the female is not the subject of more of the portraits. But it still fails to satisfy the query of why not more children. Children would indicate that with the "globalisation" of Rasta, it continues to exist and is set to continue to survive in Jamaica in its original manifestation.
Tribute
The artistry and professionalism of the photography is striking and reminds us of the works of Sabastiao Salgado. Like Mr. Salgado's works, Yes Rasta is a book which goes way beyond mere image making. It is a tribute, as well as a lasting documentation, of the Jamaican phenomenon the Rasta.
As Mr. Henzell writes "I have lived to see Rasta spread around the globe. Rasta music, Rasta hairstyle, Rasta food, Rasta religion, Rasta flag, colo(u)rs, and concert. Rasta satellite broadcast. Rasta as a worldwide movement. I've seen all of the above spread from Jamaica to the other islands of the West Indies, to England, to North America, to Japan, to France, Germany, Italy, West Africa, Southern Africa, Brazil. Rasta is now all over the world."
With the entire world embracing Rasta, this book rises above the aesthetic to being documentary and because it consists of images, it has true universal appeal to all ages and cultures.
A wonderful book. I recommend a copy for every coffee table, all waiting rooms and all our libraries.
Published by: Powerhouse Books, New York
