By the Rivers of Babylon: The Bondage Motif in the Performing Arts, Life and Aesthetics of Rastafarians

Abstract

Background; Rastafarians (popularly called Rastas) are members of a black Caribbean cult, professing black supremacy and fighting for human rights and justice. Today, there are Rastas in many different parts of the world. Rastafarianism itself adopts the cultural aesthetics and revolutionary dimension of Pan-African ism. The name is based on the name of Ras Tafari, a great-grandson of King Saheka Selassie of Shoa, and the cult derives many of its characteristics from Ethiopianism. Ras Tafari was crowned Negus of Ethiopia in 1930 at a coronation attended by leaders and dignitaries from all over the world.