Today is Bob Marley‘s Birthday.
He is the only person whose song’s named song of the millennium by BBC – One Love! Bob introduced a new kind of genre to the world that he became very famous of it. But I am not writing about reggae here. But his very close relationship with Ethiopia, his Holy land and later what the Rastafarian called it is Zion.
While celebrating his 66th birthday. You might ask one question. If you could ask Bob Marley where he would have been living at the age of 66, he would have definitely speak out a single word – Ethiopia. His relationship to Ethiopia beyond the love of the land, but part of his religion movement. And Haile Selassie I was not just a king of an Old African nation, but rather a “God” of Rastafarian whom they call him Jah.
Number of Rastafarians are increasing in Ethiopia. Part of the reason could be if there are a group of people who firmly believe in this religion (movement), there is something cool about it. And Part of the reason people who love the music reggae and the life style of the Rastafarians becoming Rastas. It is a physical expression also. it is not too hard to identify a rasta person. Look at to the hair. I haven’t got a proper answer so far if you can be a Rastafarian without being a Rasta. I noticed that people who are balds tend to make their beard dreaded.
Another reason why Rasterfians are increasing in number in the country is following the movement of Marcus Garvey motivating black people to go to their promiseland – Ethiopia. This movement attracted considerable number of people to Shashemene, where they established Rastafarian society.
Rastas in Ethiopia considered as very open minded people by most foreigners. Many of the Rastas I know are in relationship with foreigners- both women and men. This trend also followed by tourist guides, they find being a rasta is very useful for their marketing. If you are a tourist guide in Ethiopia, you have to be a Rasta. It seems a bit sarcastic, but it is in the reality.
For most European girls (who are in Ethiopia), it is like a fashion to go out with Rastas. I am not a physiologist or relationship expert. But from what I observed, there is an interesting link.
Bob Marley once said,
I don’t have prejudice against meself. My father was a white and my mother was black. Them call me half-caste or whatever. Me don’t dip on nobody’s side. Me don’t dip on the black man’s side nor the white man’s side. Me dip on God’s side, the one who create me and cause me to come from black and white.
Though, It’s never been about Black and white. From my perspective, it is about Green, Yellow and Red!
Reggae translates the King’s music! If you ever listen to one of his songs, listen part of it. May be, just a term out of it – One Love! – white, black, green, yellow, red!
