Emperor of Ethiopia, October 1928-August 1975
Born 17 July, 1891, died August 1975.
The word 'Ras' is titular - the equivalent of 'Duke' or 'Count'. After Ras Tafari was crowned in October 1928, he took the name "Haile Selassie," meaning "Might of the Trinity."
Rastafarians believe that Ras Tafari is the "black redeemer" prophesized by pivotal black leader Marcus Garvey, and Rastafarianism began in Kingston, Jamaica shortly after Tafari's coronation. According to the Rasta faith, Ras Tafari was supposed to lead Jamaicans back to Zion, a biblical paradise akin to Eden that the Rastas believe to be Ethiopia.
Ras Tafari deferred the reverence of the Rastafarians, encouraging them to study the Bible.
Update:
Finally, Rainfire explained how pot fits in to all this: the fugue state of a good marijuana high supposedly helps a dreadlocked Rasta decode the Good Book. |
