Let Us Start With Africa ― Foundations of Rastafari Scholarship

Having its origins in the 2010 Rastafari Studies Conference held at the University of the West Indies, this volume provides what is probably the first major scholarly look at the Rastafarian movement. It includes the opening controversial address by Roy Augier, one of the original thinkers in this area, along with the closing one from Barry Chevannes, a former professor of social anthropology at the University of West Indies. The longest piece, however, covers the unlikely anthropological work of Carole Yawney, a white woman with straight blonde hair of Ukrainian descent. Although reggae music and the associated culture is mostly associated with Jamaica and the Caribbean as a whole, this collection of three addresses from this conference, along with other presentations made elsewhere has a special focus on the origin of Rastafarian culture in Africa and its association with the Ethiopian leader Haile Selassie. It includes coverage of the associated spirituality, along with more practical concerns such as the call for reparations to Africa for slavery and historical repression. Annotation c2014 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)