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The Rasta Prophet
A trip through the life of the Jamaican legend
I saw a T-shirt in a hipster boutique in NYC not long ago that said: LISTEN TO MORE BOB MARLEY. This latest fashion statement seemed apropos. The sublimely handsome and stylish Rastafari was such a ladies' man that he is rumored to have once romanced Vogue's imperious Anna Wintour (that's the coolest thing I've ever heard about her).
Outside of Jamaica, you're likely to hear Marley's music as the default soundtrack of beach towns and surf bars, but in Jamaica, Marley is like the scent of ganja: He permeates the very air. There's a Bob Marley Museum in Kingston and people often travel to see his mausoleum in St. Ann Parish. There's even a line of Bob Marley candles and incense sold in touristy gift shops with fragrances named after his hit songs. I half expected to see a monument to Marley in the shape of a giant eternally burning spliff perched up on the Blue Mountains: He clearly is a beloved national hero, and the country's most recognizable export. His song "One Love" is even used in television commercials promoting travel to Jamaica.
So I was surprised to find that Rastafaris are actually a minority, less than 5 percent of the population in Jamaica. Sure, you'll see many dreadlocked men who say they are Rastas to be cool, but don't live it.
The religion is defined by its principles: Rastas don't eat meat or fish or add salt to their food. They try to live naturally, thus the dreadlocking of the hair. The women don't wear make-up, and they resist the trappings of "Babylon," the modern world. They can be of any skin color, though the religion is Afro-centric. It also follows the teachings of the Old Testament and is in ways both sexist and homophobic, but the true Rastas are peacemaking, and live simply and graciously.
Outside of Jamaica, you're likely to hear Marley's music as the default soundtrack of beach towns and surf bars, but in Jamaica, Marley is like the scent of ganja: He permeates the very air. There's a Bob Marley Museum in Kingston and people often travel to see his mausoleum in St. Ann Parish. There's even a line of Bob Marley candles and incense sold in touristy gift shops with fragrances named after his hit songs. I half expected to see a monument to Marley in the shape of a giant eternally burning spliff perched up on the Blue Mountains: He clearly is a beloved national hero, and the country's most recognizable export. His song "One Love" is even used in television commercials promoting travel to Jamaica.
So I was surprised to find that Rastafaris are actually a minority, less than 5 percent of the population in Jamaica. Sure, you'll see many dreadlocked men who say they are Rastas to be cool, but don't live it.
The religion is defined by its principles: Rastas don't eat meat or fish or add salt to their food. They try to live naturally, thus the dreadlocking of the hair. The women don't wear make-up, and they resist the trappings of "Babylon," the modern world. They can be of any skin color, though the religion is Afro-centric. It also follows the teachings of the Old Testament and is in ways both sexist and homophobic, but the true Rastas are peacemaking, and live simply and graciously.
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10:25 EDT, 24.Oct.07