Reggae Music & Zionism: Connection??!

34 Responses to “Reggae Music & Zionism: Connection??!”

1. TheRaccoon on June 4th, 2006 1:16 pm

   It’s got to do with the RasTafarian religion. IIRC, the Rastafarians see Ethiopia as Zion - a kind of a weird spiritual heaven on Earth, the birthplace of their founding father. From Religious Movement Homepage:

   - “Zion” is used to describe heaven or Ethiopia, in contradiction to the generalized association of the term with European religious cults.

   http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/rast.html

   The Rastafarians are really weird people - but they sure do make good music

2. halalhippie on June 4th, 2006 3:22 pm

   H.I.M Haile Selassie Ras Tafari was alledgedly descending from the Biblical king Solomon, thus the title “Lion of Juda”.

   But Zionist conspiracy ? c’mon
   Mostly you can translate Zion=heaven.
   look up Marcus Garvey @ wikipedia for the historical background.

   I wonder why Rastafari hasn’t struck more in Africa, it being the most “afro-centric” religion.

   Know Alpha Blondy of IC ?

   “Some call him Allah
   Some call him Adonaï
   Some call him Jehovah
   JESUS, HIAVE, Buddha, Krishna
   But he is one, yes He’s ONE
   Like a tree with many branches
   Many in ONE…
   Alleluja God is Great
   Alleluja God is ONE ”

   I could go on and on Marley rules !

3. Drima on June 4th, 2006 8:23 pm

   Aaaah… Thank you both for sharing your wisdom with me. How can I be a music freak and not know that piece of information.

   Long live the legend of Bob Marley!

4. Tsedek on June 5th, 2006 2:47 am

   Rastafarians are NOT “really weird people” - unknown is unwelcome I suppose for whoever writes those things. I mean, hey c’ome on: how do you think it looks like for rastafarians if you tell them that i.e. in judaism you can not simply turn the light switch on Shabbath because then you’re overstepping the religious rules? Huh?

   Okay, they promote smoking spliffs (marihuana) and their holiness is a human being (Haile Selassi) but also: they promote peace. It is, in their religion forbidden to get angry! “Always be positive because then positive things come to you” a rastafari on msn once wrote to me is their principle.

   I love Marley (and Cocoa Tea) the most…

   Tse.

5. The Raccoon on June 5th, 2006 6:12 am

   Tsedek - did I ever say that Jews are not really weird people?
   In fact, they are indeed, along with most other religious followers… all except for the Discordians. We are sane, not weird at all, and give away free apples and ganja!

   And BTW, there are many Rastafarians who are black supremacists. Or so I hear

   PS

   Never take a Raccoon very seriously, because the Raccoons are notorious liars and tricksters

6. Drima on June 5th, 2006 10:19 am

   Hey come to think about it. A secular state must respect the religious beliefs of people right? I guess that should probably mean that it’s legal to smoke marijuana if you’re a Rastafarian since it’s part of the Rastafari religion. In Malaysia the punishment is death for possession but a friend told me it’s perfectly legal if you smoke it in the Jamacian embassy.

   ” i.e. in judaism you can not simply turn the light switch on Shabbath because then you’re overstepping the religious rules?”

   Koooool, save electricity lol =P

7. Tsedek on June 5th, 2006 1:29 pm

   Drima, they found a solution to the light switch thing: timers! Hahahaaa….

   You’re joking about smoking spliffs in the Jamaican embassy in Malaysia are you?

   Raccoon, you’re a discordian? Good to know, hahahahaa….

   ^^
   Tse.

8. The Raccoon on June 5th, 2006 3:57 pm

   Me, a follower of Eris? Preposterous! Who told you that? Who sent you? *fnord* It’s all a lie! I have nothing to do with Discordia her Apple or anything else! *fnord* And my eyboard is bloody well falling apart too! The letter is not woring and the godsdamn comma *fnord* is buggered as well. How’s a Raccoon supposed to write lie this eh?

   Pfffffft. This is a bloody lesson on why not to buy stolen laptops from dodgy Aussie fences. Lucily my new one should be arriving soon. Yei! All hail Eris!

   /drivel
   /doggrel
   /rant
   /rave
   /Erisian

   (hehehe)

9. Drima on June 5th, 2006 11:25 pm

   God this is so deeply moving. I’m actually having a peacefull and fun chat with 2 Jewish people. I hope don’t get killed by an extremists. If I do, then Tsedek & Raccoon, MY BLOOD IS ON YOUR HANDS… LOL =p

10. Tsedek on June 6th, 2006 3:22 am

    Don’t worry Drima, I’ll revenge you -LOL-

    Tse.

11. Drewcatt on June 6th, 2006 11:35 am

    Wow, finally something I know a bit about.
    Let me start by clearing up some misconceptions.

    1. Rastafarianism does not bar its members from getting angry nor does it bar anger. It promotes livity, healthy living and peace. The two are different.

    2. While it is afro-centric, it’s as fringe a religion as they come. You find any Jamaican parent and they’ll tell you that their greatest fear is that their child decides to become a Ras. It’s barely taken hold in its country of origin, much less in Africa.

    3. There is NO set theology or beleif in Rastafarianism. Different rastas will follow different things. The only real thing they all have in common is the beleif that Emperor Haile Selassie is (or was) the living God.

    There is some link to Judaism in that, most Rastas will follow their own version of Jewish law. References to Zion, etc, mostly hail from readings of the Torah and King James version of the Bible.

    The other key writings include ‘The Royal Parchment Scroll of Black Supremacy’, the Holy Piby and the Kebra Negast.

    I hope this helps somewhat. If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

12. Miss Carnivorous on June 6th, 2006 12:55 pm

    Descendants of slaves have always identified with the Israelites. The long struggle for freedom from American and Carribean slavery, paralleled the struggle of the Jews under Pharoah. “Tell Old Pharoah, let my people go!”

13. Tsedek on June 6th, 2006 1:09 pm

    Drewcatt yes
    Can you recommend any nice reggae (that is not so popularly known)? Preferably a download link….. (I’m a real musicfreak, so I don’t notice it if I’m impertinent asking this from you)

    B.t.w. the Jamaican rastafarian I spoke with on msn, really, really, really said that positivism is an ingredient of the religion.

    Thx, Tse.

14. Drima on June 6th, 2006 2:11 pm

    “Descendants of slaves have always identified with the Israelites.”

    Is that why they follow their own version of Jewish law?

    “There is some link to Judaism in that, most Rastas will follow their own version of Jewish law. References to Zion, etc, mostly hail from readings of the Torah and King James version of the Bible.”

    I really do strongly believe that reggae has a strong connection with Judaism. I’m just really desperately curious to find out how. It’s kind of a very cool topic. Maybe it has to do with the big number of Jewish Ethipians who moved to Israel. BTW in some reggae videos believe it or not the Star of David is always portrayed in the famous reggae colors of yellowm green and red. It’s even drawn on the clothing of the singers with those colors. Also notice the reggae style dread locks. They look very simple to the hair style and braids of religious Jews.

    I’m gonna update this post and put up a video of Damian Marely (son of Bob Marley) feat Nas. The song is called The Road To Zion.

15. Drima on June 6th, 2006 2:24 pm

    Here is a link to the video… Check it out towards the end. They’ll show the Star on his sleeve

    http://www.urbanvideoz.com/home/plugins/p61_media_player/play.php?categoryid=2&p61_sectionid=&p61_fileid=691&kal_player=1

16. Tsedek on June 6th, 2006 3:08 pm

    It’s a nice video… Drima, thank you. You’ve uncovered “our” plan to control the world by music… hahaa

    http://www.irielion.com/israel/jewishreggae.html

    Here you’ll find more israeli/and other reggae - jewish/chassidic reggae is represented by Matisyahu for example
    Did you hear of them?

    Tse.

17. halalhippie on June 6th, 2006 3:25 pm

    Drima et al. have you ever smoked ganja and listened to reggae ? it’s a spiritual thing. Way above common conspiracies.

18. The Raccoon on June 6th, 2006 5:24 pm

    Drima -

    The dreadlocks thing has a lot of connection to Judaism. Cohens (the priest caste of Judaism) are forbidden to cut their hair or to comb it. They found ways around it - but they are not supposed to “pass iron through their hair”

    Halalhippie - ever listened to Grieg or Bach when you’re stoned? “In the Hall of the Mountain king” is totally INSANE when you’re high - not to mention Fugata Tocatta And Carmina Burana is also incredibly good for those high times - but only if you are stoned enough to last through the whole of it.

19. Drewcatt on June 6th, 2006 8:16 pm

    Drima, you hit the nail on the head. Most rastafarians believe that Ethiopians are the lost tribe… a group of Jews that moved (or where exiled) from the holy land… if I’m remembering correctly. In fact, I remember participating in a discussion way back when I was a wee tot that was on the roads of claiming that black Ethiopians were part of the original Jews.

    Tsedek, I can recommend anything… just tell me where to do the recommending to or where to send the files.

20. Drewcatt on June 6th, 2006 8:58 pm

    Ok, some more info on the Rasta-Jew link. Rastafarians compare their exile from Africa with the Israelites exile to Babylon. There is also a comparison to the Israelites who were enslaved in Egypt before they went to the Promised Land.

    Generally, Rastafarians believe that they are the original Lost Tribes of Israel that were once scattered by Babylon until the appearance of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I. It was the appearance of Selassie that was to signal the reinvigoration of the tribes of Israel (that, of course, didn’t happen).

    Raccoon is close to the mark with the locks. There may be some links to judaism, but as for Jamaican rastas, the locks are a part of the Nazarite Vow (”They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard nor make any cuttings in their flesh”). Samson, of biblical fame, is believed to be a Nazarite with dreadlocks. Many Rastafarians believe that like Samson, their hair is their strength and also their weakness if it is cut off.

21. Tsedek on June 7th, 2006 4:31 am

    Do you want my e-mail address Drewcatt for sending any music-files to, if you’d be so kind? Thing is I’m a bit apprehensive about puting my e-mail-address in public, because my msn got hacked 2 months ago (had to make a new account after that) through my former email address. Is there any other way I could give you the address? Else, maybe you could put links or recommendations on my blog and I’ll download from limewire or so?

    Btw: nice explanation about the jewish/rasta connection
    Tse.

22. Drima on June 7th, 2006 9:08 am

    Yaaaaaaaaay! Yes we have finally confirmed and established a connection. It’s time for me to dig deeper and understand the essence of reggae music, undoubtly superbly amazing music…

    BTW Halalhippie,

    “Drima- have you ever smoked ganja and listened to reggae ? it’s a spiritual thing.”

    Mmmm… What’s ganja… What’s stoned? Mmmm… What’s smoke?? Dude, I have no idea what you’re talking about LOL =P

23. The Raccoon on June 7th, 2006 10:29 am

    Interestingly, it would appear that before the Diaspora, Jews used Cannabis as a sacred herb. To my ancestors it was known as “Kne Bosem” - translated loosely as “aromatic cane”, and was a regular part of worship.

    Let’s start a new organization called “Jews for Ganja”

24. Drewcatt on June 7th, 2006 7:44 pm

    Tse, I’ll find a way to get what I have to you. For now though, you can start by checking out anything by Burning Spear. It’s always good to start with the basics.

    And what’s all this talk of ‘Jews for Ganja’? Ya’ll should be smoking all ready! Marijuana is the ‘holy’ herb for a reason folks…

25. The Raccoon on June 8th, 2006 4:40 am

    Drewcatt - we ARE all smoking. Ganja is about as popular in Israel as alcohol (even though Green Leaf party didn’t make it into the government yet - we’ll make it in the next elections!

26. Tsedek on June 8th, 2006 7:37 pm

    I’ll do just that, Drewcatt thanks for the tip !

    Raccoon!! I’m NOT smoking or doing drugs at all, hahaha… Whadda’ya talking ’bout? I know it’s around though.

    B.t.w. Drewcatt, I forgot to say: I like also like Tanya Stephens a lot. Heard of her?

    Tse.

27. Drewcatt on June 8th, 2006 8:17 pm

    Tanya Stephens…? Actually I’ve seen her live twice.

28. The Raccoon on June 8th, 2006 11:25 pm

    Tsedek -

    I guess it depends on who’s in your circle of friends. But brother - in my age group (say, early 20s to late 30s), practically everyone I know smokes. And those that don’t are either allergic or immune to it
    How can you get through the military service and not smoke? And don’t forget the reserves service
    The drugs paranoia is keeping a powerful recreational and sacred intoxicant from the people for no reason at all; not to mention the loss of industrial hemp (for which places like the Negev are perfect, and which could net billions of envimentally friendly dollars) to PC hysteria.

    Ganja to the people!

29. Drima on June 9th, 2006 3:53 am

    Ganja to the people!

    *tsk *tsk, Raccoon

    Haram haram… Very sinfull my friend =p

30. The Raccoon on June 9th, 2006 4:37 am

    Cannabis is less harmful than tobacco, alcohol or coffe. It has numerous unique medicinal properties, used to be the basis of the economic system (like oil today), can be made into pretty much anything (from food to clothing to plastics to fuel to intoxicant) and revitalizes the soil it is grown in.

    I smoke weed for three reasons - it helps me deal with stress, it helps with my insomnia, and it serves as my only form of recreational intoxication (I am allergic to alcohol).

    I don’t remember seing a prohibition of cannabis in the Koran… as a matter of fact, it was so common back during Muhammad’s time, I wouldn’t be surprised if the man was privy to a bit of the good smoke himself
    Yes, I am an evil Ganja Advocate. Kne Bosem to the masses!

31. Tsedek on June 9th, 2006 6:14 am

    Raccoon: you’re crazy, hahahahaaa :)I’m against drugs fullstop. But I know I’m being hypocrite about it to, because I really like my cigarettes LOL

    Drewcatt: I’m ever so jealous of you!
    Tse.

32. Drima on June 9th, 2006 9:45 am

    The word “khamr” in the Koran doesn’t only refer to wine. It refers to intoxicants in general. Anything that can majorly alter your state of mind is an intoxicant.

33. The Raccoon on June 9th, 2006 6:54 pm

    Drima - uhm. So any type of food and/or drink is an intoxicant? Not to mention coffee, tobacco, sugar, etc?

34. Connecting the Dots: Rastafari, Reggae, Jews and Zionism : The Sudanese Thinker on January 9th, 2008 5:29 pm

    […] more than a year ago, I wondered about the connection between reggae and Zionism. Occasionally you hear the word “Zion” […]

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