The Sunday Mail
Rastafarians in Zimbabwe are increasing in population at an alarming rate. I have heard people saying, “maRasta awanda kupfuura vanhu.”
Ranging on a splendid rainbow spectrum, brothers and sisters come in different shapes and sizes. Not restricted to one age, gender or race; the “one love” family is forever growing.
With special thanks to Reggae music which is signature and inseparable to the movement of Jah People, masses are continuously tranquillised by melodies emanating from humbled saints and messengers.
But not all of it is necessarily holy, polite, kind and constructive. The sexually explicit, violent and offensive type is not related to the spiritual movement but more or less personal artistic impressions and freedom of expression in action.
The “Movement” of Jah People is conservative, decent, moral and uplifting. Take heed of the lyrics and the dances demanded by the tone and tune. Echoes that resonate a soothing meditational effect inside the head define the extent to which the art is aligned to an eternal cause.
Basically, Rastafarians in Zimbabwe can be grouped into the casual and the cultural.
Let us imagine an atom surrounded by several concentric rings and a nucleus at the centre. Members occupying the casual lot comprise the last rings and largest numbers.
This group does not necessarily ‘worship’ Haile Selassie. The theological aspects henceforth do not worry their being. Since they do not indulge doctrine and teachings of His Imperial Majesty, reggae is their ‘god’ and Jamaica is heaven.
Legal or illegal, these brothers and sisters engulf a host of drugs and night clubs dominate their lives. They drink alcohol and smoke tobacco as well as cannabis and perhaps an array of pharmaceutical psychoactive substances as well.
The wisest ones take the first three and condemn the rest as Babylon and brainwash. Alcohol is identified as fire water. Cannabis is used more for recreation instead of meditation. They usually listen to the controversial sexually explicit “Jamaican influenced” rhythms and watch when they dance.
Some of the ladies work at night. They are “night nurses” and they cure as well as give diseases all at once. Basically, morals are low. However, “chiRasta chiri mumoyo” and hence no one can judge them.
They wear Rasta colours and represent Rastafari nonetheless. Zimbabwean musicians do not necessarily sing about Rastafari as much compared to the Jamaicans. Perhaps I have compared David to Goliath.
However, it is important to be a “true Rasta”. The Nyabihghi Ras Tafarians have plenty of churches scattered in the capital city, Bulawayo, Mutare, Kwekwe, Beitbridge, you name it.
This class is dreadful. Hair is regularly washed and maintained. The cutting off hair is discouraged and willingly members vow to never cut their “lions” mane.
Brothers and sisters call one another lions and lionesses and identify with the Conquering Lion of the tribe of Judah. Members are serious and fierce in conduct, not that they are scary. They are usually humble like lambs. The secret is not to cross their path.
With the Nyabingi (Nyabinghi), the consumption of animals and animal products such as milk, eggs, and in some cases honey, is prohibited. This is considered as mankind’s insincere treatment to Jah’s creation. Due to their animate behaviour, animals are not commodities. Their lives are arranged in families; mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters just as ourselves. Their flesh, milk, eggs and honey for their babies is not for us to rob.
Strict adherents abstain from bloodshed behaviour. They are non-violent and do not engage in criminal activities. Education, enlightenment and righteousness is of paramount importance.
Right and wrong, love and hate determine their day to day conduct. The Ras Tafari Code of Conduct is known by heart. The Nyahbinghi Guidelines comprise everyday practice. The Ethiopian Creed is recited whenever the opportunity arises and the flag of the Conquering Lion of the tribe of Judah waves where ever the Royal Family gathers.
Electrons dwindle in number as we head towards the central Ras Tafari.
Africa is revered as the apple of God’s eye. In caricature, the continent is styled as a face or head and is really the motherland. The colonial boundaries and borders maintained even to this date are frowned at and condemned as sources of boredom (boderation).
Slavery, apartheid, colonialism and neo-colonialism are cruel methodologies that must be vanquished as soon as possible. Africa must unite and remain united so as to incarcerate these evils because Africans have suffered immensely due to these vices.
As kings and queens of our lives and the rest of life on the planet, we must all join hands to conserve our planet through a peaceful and harmonious existence with all the elements of nature at our disposal. Destroying the environment and wildlife which is otherwise civilised is ridiculous and reckless.
The various mansions of the Movement of Jah People have functional members living in our beautiful country between two mighty rivers – the Limpopo and the mighty Zambezi rivers. Members of the Bobo Ashanti, Twelve Tribe, Melchezidek and so forth are scattered throughout the sovereign.
The Bible says, “In my Father’s house there are many mansions” and hence brothers and sisters of Ras Tafari’s royal family shun hate and division amongst one another.
In the religious sense, the Nyahbinghi theocratic order of Melchezidek is the most organised and centralised.
All “wannabe” Rastafarians can make use of their nearest Binghi.
