Rastafari ranks among the newest of the global religions. Its roots go back to the 1930s, when Jamaican philosopher and activist Marcus Garvey and others advocated for the self-determination of people of African ancestry. The name of the tradition comes from the personal name of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie (Ras Tafari), one of the only independent Black leaders in Africa at the time. The vast majority of Rastas are of African descent today. In spite of its small following, the Rastafarian tradition has developed many unique…
