Melville Cooke

We were chanting Africa before His Majesty come to Jamaica

- Calling Rastafari, Burning Spear

It never fails. Whenever there is a public event related to Africa the Rastafarians turn out in their numbers, the drums forming low background music and the red, green, gold and black clothing and flags making for a colourful presence.

By all reports it happened again on Sunday, when the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the trans-Atlantic trade in Africans was marked in a ceremony at the Kingston waterfront. They had an additional presence in the music provided by the Jamaica Military band as it played By The Rivers of Babylon and Marley's Redemption Song.

The former, done by the Melodians on the soundtrack of the 1972 film The Harder They Come, is an adaptation of a traditional Rastafarian chant, based on Psalm 137, while Redemption Song is Rastafarian to the core, including the quote from Marcus Garvey which begins the second verse. Garvey was certainly not a Rastafarian, but he is esteemed by them and his name has been kept alive largely through their efforts in song.

Debate on reparations

A brisk walk up from the waterfront, on Duke Street, in early February the House of Representatives started a debate on reparations for people of African ancestry. There was nary a dreadlocked head in sight among the elected representatives, but the influence was there. For has it not been Rasta that has advocated for reparations and repatriation for years?

Chances are these two 'rs' would have remained obscure words for many Jamaicans otherwise; I, for one, only knew the meaning of and difference between them as a teen because I had to look them up after the repeated references by Rastafarians.

Still, despite Rastafarians being vocal about Africa, slavery and reparations, as well as providing a critical mass of physical presence at related events, there is a very real danger of their role being minimised in the public imagination and at the government level.

We must note that government is different from the total official level, as I know there are those in the 'run tings' category though not in the political runnings who will never fail to point to the Rastafarian contribution.

I have seen the 'de-Rastarisation' process with Bob Marley and, if this can be done with a single man with locks who sang of the 'Rastaman Vibration', then it is so much easier with a group whose focal issue will be articulated by talking, shorn heads.

Being ahead of official efforts is nothing new for Rastafarians, as a group or individually, by action more so than petition. I have read where Peter Tosh was arrested for a street protest against the then Rhodesian regime in the late 1960s, before there were government sanctions against South Africa.

Normalising marijuana

By use of marijuana, they have been well ahead of the near legalisation efforts across Europe and sometimes I wonder if, 500 years from now, when its use has been normalised, there will be a brand of pre-rolled spliffs with a Rasta on the packet.

Sounds incredible, but possibly true.

The irony of the Jamaica Military Band playing 'Rasta music' does not escape me. The security forces raided the initial large Rastafarian settlement, Pinnacle in Sligoville, St. Catherine in 1954, effectively destroying it. Nine years later there was the so innocently named 'Coral Gardens Incident' on Good Friday, 1963, where the island's security forces had their merry, marauding way with Rastafarians who troubled no one.

But when this absolutely crucial moment comes around, there is only one spiritual force that has produced the relevant music which the men of arms can play.

Dem kill Lumumba for his owna rights. But dem cyaan kill de Rastaman at all.

- Bunny Wailer