"Roaring Lions"

Paper Summary:

The purpose of this paper is to introduce and analyze the documentary film "Roaring Lions" which chronicles the origins of the Rastafarian indigenous social movement in the Caribbean. It looks at how Rastafarianism is much more than reggae music and the tunes of Bob Marley, although those cultural items have introduced many people to Rastafarianism around the world. It contends that Rastafarianism is a social movement working to become an accepted religion in Jamaica and other Caribbean nations.

From the Paper:

"Essentially, the Rastafarian movement began in the 1930s, when Jamaicans discovered the black emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie I. One Rastafarian in "Roaring Lion" says, "In Jamaica, we always worshipped a white Christ, and a white king, and a white queen" ("Roaring Lion"), which helps the viewer understand how a black king would be such a strong, magnetic draw for these people. They raised Selassie to the status of God, (they call him "Jah") and believe he is part of a Holy Trinity foreseen in the Bible and destined to return to Earth. This movement, like many indigenous social movements, began in the poor communities of working and peasant blacks, and it has spread throughout the Caribbean and far beyond, to be embraced by people all over the world. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Barrett, Leonard E. The Rastafarians. Boston: Beacon Press, 1997.
• Dolin, Kasey Qynn. "Words, Sounds and Power in Jamaican Rastafari." MACLAS Latin American Essays (2001): 55+
• Editors. "Rastafari's Future." Jamaicans.com. 2004. 2 Oct. 2007.<http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/rasta/rasta_future.shtml>
• Parker, Jason. "From Garvey to Marley: Rastafari Theology." The Journal of African American History 91.4 (2006): 497+
• Roaring Lion. Dir. Ishmahil. Perf. Barry Chevannes. Rice N Peas Films, 2002.

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• Essay # 5286 : "Sea Lions"

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