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DUBROOM
ARTICLE SECTION |
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YOURSELF |
Reggae
Music in 2006 is part of a world-wide
culture, which started on Jamaica. It is
obvious, that Jamaican Culture stands at the
root of Reggae Culture. And it is obvious,
how the Movement of Rastafari continues to
play a central role within Reggae Music
until this very day.
Just like music in itself cannot really be
"religious", it is absurd to state
that Reggae Music in itself is to be a Music
for religious purposes. Personally, however,
for me, it is. Reggae for me is a way to
praise JAH.
And I am not the only one!
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Reggae is known to have many artists who are
deeply believing in JAH, the Creator of all. And
these artists express their feelings and believes
in a way which appeals to many people, even
out-spoken "non-believers". In fact it
can be said that the most succesfull Reggae
Artists are predominantly Rastafarians who are
faithfull in their believe in the Most High, with
all variations one can find within the Movement of
Rastafari.
This success has it's negatives sides...
We have seen, how world wide people were starting
to wear the colours Red Gold and Green without
actually knowing anything about the meaning of the
colours.
The tri-colour (Green, Yellow, Red) has become a
commercial trademark for anything related to
Reggae, and in the Netherlands where I live, the
coffeshop (where you can buy a very little bit of
weed) often has the colours as well.
Dreadlocks is another issue. Ever since Rastafari
became popular, dreadlocks became popular. People
started to imitate and this has gone so far, that
Rastafari has a difficult time presenting itself
because of the many imposters and
"adaptors".
I have written quite extensively about "Christafari",
a "Gospel Reggae" group and
organization, who deliberatly used a lot of
Rastafarian expressions, transformed it according
to their own ideas and purpose and simply (quote)
"created a new culture with our
fan-base".
By expressing how "God" would not want
you to buy any other music than what they approve
of (this is really true and no exaggeration), they
have made a nice business for themselves, over the
back of the true believers in JAH.
Christafari are consciously working on this. They
know what they are doing, in fact Christafari's
main man Mark Mohr learned it at his school, where
they call it the "imitator method". (see
provided link
for all info and documentated evidence).
But it goes further.
Reggae Music allways had place for everyone,
regardless of their religious views or
(dis)beliefs. In relative peace and overstanding.
This makes Reggae kind of special, for there is
hardly any other musical style wherein people who
believe in the Creator can express themselves
without (too much) ridicule and insults from
"anti-religious" folks.
In fact, it is predominatly the believing artist
who made Reggae so popular: Bob Marley, name dem
all...
And so, many people think that if they imitate
elements from Rastafari, that they will increase
their popularity in some way. And in the case of
Christafari, the concept works.
But you don't have to be a part of the Christian
Right in order to do such things. On the other
side of the spectrum it's happening as well.
I myself have spoken with an artist who sings
about "Rastafari", but he said to me he
only used that word because he likes the tone...
And something tells me, that artist who told me
how he didn't believe anything but said
"Rastafari" just for the sound of the
word is not the only one.
I think, that if ones do not believe in JAH, then
they should not present themselves in their
musical appearances and works as if they do. If
ones do not believe that there is a Rastafari
(Head Creator), then ones should not pretend that
they do just because they know it appeals to
people.
There is one positive aspect, though: even though
there are many who simply pretend to be different
than they are in reality, the message of JAH will
allways ring through. Even though people use the
Name of JAH in vain for their own purposes, His
Name is so strong that people will allways be
driven towards Him.
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DISCLAIMER |
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In
case the article on this page was quoted from
another source, the two following statements
apply:
-1- Fair Use policy applies since the quote is for
non-profit educational and research purposes only.
For more information, go to: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html
-2- The DUBROOM has no affiliation whatsoever with
the originator of the articles nor is The DUBROOM
endorsed or sponsored by the originator.
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