Rasta Community Video

This community of Rastas shared some characteristics with the Rastas we discussed in class; however, they seemed somewhat different. They obviously share the beliefs with other Rastas such as equality and justice for all and goodness over evil. They also identify well with Africa and Ethiopia. They perform a ceremony several times a day. It is similar to the Rastas’ casual meetings where they smoke ganja and discuss their beliefs and current events. However, the Boboshanti didn’t smoke ganja during these meetings and they didn’t mention whether they discussed their ideas and lives; nevertheless, the meetings had similar purposes. The purposes of the meetings were to promote unity and their spirituality, which would eventually help them to gain repatriation just like the Rastas in the book. In addition, they relied on nature to survive, which agrees with the book as well.

There was also some difference I wasn't expecting. The Boboshanti observe religious days such as the seventh day Sabbath. Unlike the Rastas in the reading, the Boboshanti wrap their dreadlocks in turbans, which I think they said resemble the Ethiopians’ appearance.

In short, the book clearly describes the fundamental beliefs of the Rastas, which are summarized in the video of the Boboshanti. But I don’t think this community contradicts the book because they seem to be just a slight variation of the Rastas.