ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at important concepts and symbols that are central to the Rastafari movement. Among the concepts that are considered are the ‘I and I’ concept, the ‘Babylon’ concept and the ‘Zion’ concept. The key symbols that are considered are the diet of the Rastafari, the sacramental use of marijuana (ganja)—referred to as the “holy herb” by its adherents—the lion symbolism that permeates the movement, the Ethiopian/Ghanaian and Marcus Garvey flags that adorn Rastafari establishments and that are carried by its membership on important occasions and ceremonies, and the dreadlocks that have come to be popularly associated with the movement. Despite the many differences that exist among the various branches and mansions of the movement, there are some commonalities in terms of particular conceptions and symbols that hold for Rastafari as a whole. In this chapter, we will examine these characteristics of the movement more closely.
