Rastafari prayer can take the form of spoken praise, chanting, meditation or gatherings in which prayer accompanies discussion. Jah is the name used for God. The forms of devotion vary among Rastafari communities, including groups known as mansions. Accounts of Nyabinghi gatherings and of a practice called reasoning show how words, music and reflection can work together. Anna Waldstein’s fieldwork with Rastafari in Britain · John P. Homiak, “Jah Music” · History and religious practice of Rastafari
Scripture and the language of devotion
Biblical passages can give worshippers words and images through which to express hope and belonging. Psalm 68:31 in the King James Version pictures Ethiopia stretching out its hands to God. A Smithsonian exhibition essay traces the importance of that verse in Ethiopianism, the tradition that gave Ethiopia a central place in African and African diaspora readings of the Bible. This background helps explain why the verse can speak of collective dignity as well as praise. Smithsonian exhibition essay on Ethiopianism · Psalm 68:31 in the King James Version · Rastafari and the Bible
In her fieldwork with Rastafari in Britain, Anna Waldstein describes the expression I and I, also written InI. It can be used where ordinary English would say “I” or “we.” Waldstein relates it to connections among the self, other people and the divine in Rastafari thought. Its significance in devotion comes from that relationship, which it can express even in ordinary speech. Anna Waldstein’s fieldwork with Rastafari in Britain
Chant and drums at Nyabinghi gatherings
John P. Homiak’s Smithsonian festival account describes early Rastafari street meetings where participants adapted Christian hymns and used instruments such as rattles and scrapers. He traces the development of drumming in the camps and yards of West Kingston and distinguishes Nyabinghi ritual music from reggae’s role in carrying Rastafari themes to wider audiences. John P. Homiak, “Jah Music”
Waldstein’s account of London gatherings describes drums arranged around an altar, with singing, dancing, periods of discussion and sermons over the course of the night. The details show how people participate in different ways within one gathering. The ceremony may commemorate an occasion of religious importance, such as the birthday of Haile Selassie I. Anna Waldstein’s fieldwork with Rastafari in Britain
Reasoning and meditation
Reasoning is a shared form of discussion. Participants may consider a biblical passage, a question about daily life or an event in the news. In some settings the practice accompanies prayer, chanting or the sacramental use of cannabis, which some participants understand as an aid to reflection. The form also travels across settings. Christian Stokke’s study of the Rastafari Speaks forum documents written reasoning online, where people discuss interpretations without the music and other practices associated with an in-person gathering. Anna Waldstein’s fieldwork with Rastafari in Britain · Christian Stokke’s ethnography of reasoning
Conclusion
Rastafari devotion takes shape through spoken words, scriptural images, chant and collective reflection. Nyabinghi gatherings show how these practices can come together, while reasoning can also happen in smaller groups or online. Looking at particular communities and occasions explains both what participants share and how their practices vary.
Published by Ralf. About our editorial process.
