The "noise" made by Robert Nesta Marley (1954-1981) was sweet music. The cult of Rastafari or Rastafarianism which began in Jamaica in the 1930s was a key element of the development of reggae.
Bob Marley played a central role in introducing Rastafarian culture and beliefs to a global audience through his reggae music and charismatic personality. It is impossible to overstate his impact on the global exposure of the religion, but towards the end of his life, Bob adopted the Ethiopian Orthodox faith and received the name Berhane Selassie/The Light of the Trinity.
Reinaldo Marcus Green’s latest film, Bob Marley: One Love, is based on the life of reggae singer and songwriter Bob Marley, from his rise to fame in the mid-1970s to his death in 1981. It was Rita Marley, who was his anchor and conduit into his journey as a Rastafarian.
Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia, a central figure in Rastafarianism.
The Roots of Rastafarianism and the Significance of Haile Selassie
The belief that Haile Selassie, crowned Emperor of Ethiopia in 1930, was the returned Messiah prophesied in the Bible and led to the birth of the Rastafari movement in Jamaica in the 1930s. The movement regarded Haile Selassie I, the former Emperor of Ethiopia, as its Messiah. Rastas adopted Haile Selassie’s imperial name and saw his coronation fulfilling a prophecy in the Book of Revelation. They believed that Africa, and Ethiopia in particular, was the Promised Land and that black people were God’s chosen people, destined to be liberated from white oppression.
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In 1966, Haile Selassie visited Jamaica, which Marley and other Rastas saw as hugely significant, helping to cement their belief that he was the returned Messiah. Although Marley never met Selassie in person, his philosophy of non-violence and his activist legacy against oppression deeply inspired him. The emperor represented a messianic figure for the Rastafarian movement, which Bob Marley devotedly followed and helped to popularise worldwide through the lyrics and themes of his music praising the Ethiopian Emperor.
The Complex Relationship Between Haile Selassie and Rastafarianism
One must wonder how the emperor felt about the Rastafarian religion and his role in it. Emperor Haile Selassie I had an ambiguous and somewhat complicated relationship with the Rastafarian movement, which saw him as the returned Messiah. On the one hand, he did not openly accept or endorse the Rastafarian belief in his divinity. As the head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, it went against his own Christian beliefs to be deified as God incarnate.
However, he did not outright condemn or reject the movement. According to some reports, he found the Rastafari fascination with Africa and its repatriation efforts interesting. However, he disagreed with their belief that he was a messiah. When asked about the Rastafarian movement, he said: “True salvation can only be attained through this upright way and through hymns of praise and thanksgiving to the Almighty”. At other times, the emperor tried to downplay the divine status accorded him, saying, “I’ve told the Rastas many times that I’m not the Messiah.
So, while Haile Selassie did not endorse Rastafarian worship of him as a god, he did not forcefully denounce or attack the movement, probably not wanting to alienate the substantial Rastafarian presence in Jamaica and other areas of the Caribbean.
Following the abolition of the monarchy in 1974, the new Marxist regime in Ethiopia made it illegal to promote Rastafarian beliefs about the divinity of the emperor. This caused a rift, as Rastafarians wanted to continue worshipping Selassie’s legacy. At the same time, the royal family had to publicly distance itself from these beliefs. Since then, the relationship between the Rastafari movement and the descendants and remaining members of the imperial family in contemporary Ethiopia has been complex and varied.
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Rastafarians still revere Haile Selassie as a messianic leader and regard his lineage as sacred. Prince Ermias has walked a fine line between embracing the positive philosophical links between Rastafari and his grandfather’s positions while stopping short of endorsing the spiritual deification of Haile Selassie as the Messiah.
Finally, in 2017, authorities granted identity cards to Rastafarians who have been living in Ethiopia since the 50s. These cards address their statelessness, provide them with residency, and most legal privileges in the country, although they do not grant citizenship.
Bob Marley's Influence on Rastafarianism
Bob Marley influenced Rastafarianism through his incredible music and powerful lyrics, referencing Rastafarian concepts, principles, and figures. Songs such as ‘Exodus’, ‘Redemption Song’, ‘Rastaman Vibration’ and ‘Buffalo Soldier’ contained Rasta imagery and teachings about peace, love, unity, repatriation to Africa, and rejecting oppression. His music introduced Rastafari ideas to millions around the world.
As one of the most famous performers of his era, Marley used his celebrity platform in interviews and live shows to educate people about Rastafarianism. He was one of the most high-profile converts to Rastafarianism in the 1960s, lending credibility to the movement. His adherence to the Rasta principles of non-violence and living a natural, righteous life resonated deeply with his ideals. He supported repatriation, a core tenet of Rastafarianism, the belief that believers should return to Africa, the ancestral homeland.
The 1978 book and documentary ‘Catch a Fire’ provided an in-depth look at Marley’s life and belief system and introduced Rastafari to a new demographic worldwide. He was the embodiment and ambassador of Rastafarian culture internationally through his art, lifestyle and principles throughout his life and career.
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Unpacking "Iron Lion Zion": Lyrics and Meaning
Written in the early 70s and recorded either in 1973 or 1974, “Iron Lion Zion” was raw but alluring. Sources date the first recording of “Iron Lion Zion” to April 1973 at Harry J’s studio, the facility Marley and The Wailers used most at this time. There was certainly the beginnings of a gem here, but the original tape made it clear the group was still working on it; this song was not ready to take its place on the Natty Dread album it was probably intended for.
Feeling the song had more potential, and with the full consent of the Marley estate, Trevor Wyatt at Island, along with the company’s engineering stalwart Ingmar Klang, remixed the song. Errol Brown’s original Jamaican engineering proved its lasting worth by standing up brilliantly alongside overdubs which included the work of the superb jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine.
“Iron Lion Zion” can be taken at face value: I’m on the run, I’ve got to move to save my life; it’s a lyrical theme that Bob had utilized before in “I Shot The Sheriff” and The Wailers’ thrilling 1972 cover of Curtis Mayfield’s “Keep On Moving.” But it can also be interpreted a deeper way: iron refers to strength; lion represents Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, the living God of Rastafarianism known as the Lion Of Judah; and Zion represents the Rastas’ holy land of Ethiopia.
You can find hints of the country’s struggle against an invasion by Benito Mussolini’s Italian fascist regime, which began in 1935. It is celebrated today as a moment of African triumph over western imperialism, as the annexation was heroically resisted against overwhelming odds, and the occupation was short-lived, ending in 1941. This chapter in history is the subject of the brilliant Ethiopian-American writer Maaza Mengiste’s latest novel, ‘The Shadow King’. In it she celebrates the role of female soldiers in their fight against a grotesquely superior, technologically and militarily, Italian army and air force. It also highlights the charismatic power of Selassie even while in exile (“the Shadow King”).
You can take it as a catchy pop hit (it made No.5 in the UK in 1992) or seek a more profound meaning; like most of Marley’s music, “Iron Lion Zion” worked on more than one level. Recorded in the early 1970s, ‘Iron Lion Zion’ is close to half a century old, but still sounds as vibrant as ever.
Ethiopia as Zion: A Promised Land
The Rastafarian movement gave the Black people something to believe in: themselves. As Barrett notes, " . . . past" (77). One of repatriation. They must return to their homeland, return to Africa. As Barrett notes, " . movement" (78). He gave Black people a reason to feel dignified and proud. Take pride in it, and reclaim power of the world that was once theirs.
When biblical King Solomon, was crowned the Black King of Ethiopia. (Ethiopia) again" (Jamaicans Of Ethiopian Origin And The Rastafarian Faith). The promised land of Ethiopia is a source of pride and identity to the Rastafarians. On April 21, 1966, His Imperial Majesty was invited to visit Jamaica. Of life for the Jamaican people, specifically the Rastafarians, the visit showed them, ". . . Rastafarians . . . for social transformation in Jamaica" (70). They should unite, and keep it" (4).
Ethiopia as Zion is the biblical history and reference that justify their claims. Ethiopia and its people are mentioned throughout the Bible more than forty times. The Rastafarians view Ethiopia and its people as holy and biblical people, as God’s children.
The Ethiopian flag, a symbol of pride and identity for Rastafarians.
The Enduring Legacy of Bob Marley and Rastafarianism
Bob Marley influenced Rastafarianism through his incredible music and powerful lyrics, referencing Rastafarian concepts, principles, and figures. Songs such as ‘Exodus’, ‘Redemption Song’, ‘Rastaman Vibration’ and ‘Buffalo Soldier’ contained Rasta imagery and teachings about peace, love, unity, repatriation to Africa, and rejecting oppression. His music introduced Rastafari ideas to millions around the world.
Even when he was no longer with us, his music still did the work. As a Rastafarian, an adherent of an Abrahamic religion and social movement that developed in Jamaica during the 1930s, Marley was a student of the second book of the Torah, among other Jewish sacred writings.
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