The Sunday Mail
CLAIMS like “maRasta haaroore” or “yemaRasta haipotse” are not mainstream Ras Tafari teachings and principles. Where they originate from is not known to the author.
Rastafarians do marry; legal monogamous heterosexual marriages only.
Empress Yuajah, an expert on the subject, says:
“It is my firm belief that Rastafarian couples have some of the most sound relationships.
“Why? Because they have a commonality, love understanding, and commitment, which stems from their belief in God.
“Fifty percent of American marriages end up in divorce. This is what the statistics say.
This is a fact and maybe that percentage has grown since the last time I checked. This is often because the ingredients were not there in the first place to make the marriage a success. What are the ingredients of successful marriage?
“Which brings me to my next question. How many people actually fulfil their marital obligations? Now this is a tricky question.
“There are spiritual, social and unspoken marital obligations. This is why I personally don’t believe in marriage. There is so much that gets mixed up and things that shouldn’t be the priority are. Sometimes people feel pressured the moment they get married and a partner becomes disappointed because an obligation was not fulfilled.
“Many Rastafarians stay single for long periods of time between relationships and would rather be ‘picked up’ than do the picking up themselves. This I am guessing is because they see the world differently and rarely look at non-Rastafarians as someone to settle down with.
“Many of my views here are based on the fact that I am a female and that I am dread, and that I cannot be with a non-Rasta man. I know many Rastafarian men who are very willing to date women who are not dreads, however there too exists those who are not.
“In general, many Rastafarians like to date and settle down only with other Rastafarians. Marriage to us is the fact that we are with this person, committed to the relationship, and sharing ourselves with the person in a way we do not with others.
“Please note, I am a Jamaican Rasta, so my views are different from those of say, an American Rasta. I cannot date someone outside of my Rasta spiritual beliefs.
“It is difficult for me as a dread to date outside of my spiritual beliefs. I absolutely cannot do it! Even if I tried, I could not do it. As a Rastafarian woman, to have a Rastafarian man in my life is extremely important.
“Not because this is part of some written doctrine, but because I need to be with someone who understands me through and through. My spirituality is a very important part of who I am. I want to share this aspect of myself with another dread, and him sharing his self with me. Most Rastafarian women of Jamaican origin feel this way.
“Rastafarians can be and are pure love in human form. Not only that, chances are they see you the way God sees you. It doesn’t get better than that.”
Empress Yuajah is an author and has published best-sellers like “Rasta Way of Life or Rasta Livity”, “Life as a Rasta Woman”, “Rasta Bible”, “Jamaican Woman”, “How to Date a Jamaican Man”, “Convert to Ras Tafari”, “Ras Tafari Beliefs and Principles”, “African American Spirituality Ras Tafari”, “White Rastafarianism”, “Ras Tafari: A Short Introduction”, and “How to Become a Rasta”.
Gathering from what she says, it is fair to say the most ideal Rastafarian marriage is between a Rasta man and a Rasta woman.
Empress Yuajah stresses that many Rastafarians wait for nature to choose for them. Choosing where your private and personal choice is not presented is disheartening.
In Zimbabwe and Africa in general, there is not that much of a pool of Rastafarians eagerly anticipating holy matrimony.
Most brothers and sisters wait so long in vain for an angel from the sky.
An enormous gap exists between Rastafarians and non-Rastafarians, no doubt, and constructing a bridge to cover this distance does not easily occur.
Considering the spiritual obligations of marriage – intertwined with the concepts of living God and Goddess in human form (if you believe you are gods, Psalm 89) – such a responsibility only a fully equipped Rastafarian can accomplish.
As Jah Rastafarians, everyone is Jah which means and is God or Goddess accordingly. Take for instance the common prefixing of names like Jah Ibo, Jah Ranga.
This is fulfilled through marriage as a man and woman actually become creators of a glorious kingdom here on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Since we draw a lot of inspiration from Their Imperial Majesties and basically treat every aspect of our lives as an extension of this royal power and authority, Rastafarian marriages are more of coronations.
Husband and wife are actually King and Queen with the family which they create and maintain as the Kingdom they rule.
When a couple grows older and their children and grandchildren begin to marry and coronate as well, forming more Kingdoms, the two graduate to Emperor and Empress.
Through the benevolent will and grace of Their Imperial Majesties, may the wedding bells ceaselessly ring endless echoes into the Universe.
Blessed Love!
