Roots Philosophy

After visits to Jamaica, I cultivated a strong passion (some may say obsession) for the culture, country and people. When traveling, I have to make a conscious effort to not be too obtrusive with my curiosity. I love to get off the “beaten” track a little and interview the people I meet. Most of what is included here was put together to share "Jamaica" with my high school English students. What started as a simple collection of song lyrics, poems and folktales, seems to continue to grow as I add more interesting materials I find mostly exploring the internet.

I also have been studying and researching Rastafarianism. Generally, it is a very intriguing and interesting way of life and faith. My curiosity has found that many of the tenants that govern Rasta faith parallel those of Christianity with the exception, of course, of Jesus as the Son of God. General similarities include spirituality and faith in the Almighty, protection and preservation of humanity and brotherhood, respecting and preserving Nature, and responsibility. Personally my interest grows as I explore the connections to “transcendental” qualities of American Transcendentalists, Emerson and Thoreau, chiefly, as both are strong personal passions. Both promote self-reliance, “marching to one’s own beat”, deep spirituality and love and respect for Nature. My favourite connection is the concept of “InI” and its obvious and consistent emphasis, especially in Reggae music and Jamaican Patois.

The “I”
The beautiful juxtaposition of the self pronoun with the unity of spirituality with the Almighty is especially impressive and intriguing to me. Emphasis on the vowel is easily identified in song, poetry and speech of Jamaican Rastafarians. Common examples include: “InI”, ITAl, Idren, RastafarI, Irie, Iration etc. It is not only a beautiful, but a poetic expression of spiritually—its brilliance is that it is concise and simple. Its beauty is in its simplicity—a simple vowel to express the wonder, majesty and magnificence of the spiritual power.


For My Students: I feel it is important to clear “The Greatest Common Misconception”
The Rastafarian Smoking of Ganja is absolutely not promoting or condoning drug use. Substance abuse is not only a serious concern of Western society but across the globe. Its abuses are devastating to human welfare. Rastafarian use of “ganja” (marijuana) is absolutely connected to spirituality. Rastas use ganja as part of Nyabinhi ceremonies. These ceremonies are deeply spiritual and important natural celebrations strictly tied to faith. In other words, where Western cultures misuse substances for entertainment and social purposes; Rastas use them as a spiritual connection to Jah, much like the use of communion services in Christianity.

“One Love”
Messages of Peace, Love and Respect dominate not only the music of Jamaica, but also the poetry and culture. One obvious example is their Pledge of Allegiance. It is poetic and a promise of unity and brotherhood for the world. For many the first impression of Jamaica is the “Respect” greeting (while bumping fists) between two people. The greeting is as ubiquitous as Bob Marley’s song “One Love” being sung by young and old as the unofficial anthem of the Jamaican people.

Reggae Music- The Sound That Defines A Culture
The music is rooted in clear ties to Rastafarianism and social injustice contrasted with messages of unity and world peace. Reggae’s beginnings are lead by legends such as Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff and Peter Tosh. Many are attracted to powerful messages of Freedom and Independence, and see the artists as defenders of humanity, fighters against oppression and abusive powers structure (VAMPIRES such as Babylon and Colonial Powers). Songs also promote tolerance and encourage positive vibrations. The Rastafarian connections to reggae are most obvious in the messages, and the uniqueness of its style and performance. Many songs sing the praise of Jah and express upfullness of a deep connection spiritually. Even the dreadlocks worn by many performers are tied to the Rasta culture and are symbolic of the Lion of Zion (the Lion’s Mane), the Conquering Lion of the Tribe Judah.
Any attempt for me to fully explain the Rastafari culture or the intricacies of the faith would be futile effort and an exercise in understatement. A wealth of resources is available on the internet for researching and learning about the Rastafari faith. I have found it well worth my time to try to satisfy my own curiosity and researching by letting my interests direct my learning. A good starting point is the essay written by Michael Katz (a former University of Vermont student).


It is my hope that sharing this collection with others will build unity and respect, if even in tiniest amounts, in the same spirit of understanding and passion for humanity that continues to live in Marley’s music. I truly hope to encourage further interest and study of a beautiful land, rich in culture.