Rastafari and Indigenous African Traditions

[Nazir]

I would like anyone, Rasta or Yoruba, whatever to reply to this. What bothers me about the way a lot of Rastas act is that they often curse and condemn many African religions as "pagan", "heathen" or whatever. They talk down about those traditions and act it a similar way to Europeans Indo-Euros that went through Africa introducing 'witch-hunts' and persecuting practitioners of Indigenous African Traditions. Didn't H.I.M. say that it was wrong to see only your faith as valid alone while being intolerant to all others? I think Rastafari and Ancient Judaic traditions have more connection to other Indigenous African, Afro-Asiatic, and Indus-Kush faiths than a lot of Rasta like to admit. Look at the Ethiopic script Geez for example. It is easily seen as an origin to the Naragri/Sanskrit of India.

I don't mean to cause any confusion or animosity, I just want some reasoning and overstanding. Thank you.

[SistaOracle]

Kaboh! Brother Nazir, I feel you. I have the same complaint of my Rasta's Bredren and Sistren too, I often hear then decry African customs and attempt to tell me an African (brought by a Sierra Leonean Mother and Guinean Father) how to be African and what Africa is about or should be about. I often laugh when I'm told that everything from Africa come out of Ithiopia, as thes two countries had distinct religions (before the invasion of the pirates), traditions and customs. It is indicative of us as a race however, instead of holding fast to each other irrespective of who or what nourishes our respective spirits we tend to decry each other whilst the enemy is busy get on with his business in his attempt to bleed us dry. This Blacker than Thou business is tiring to say the lest, lets get on with the real business of evolving Revolution and take the fight to the front -line.

[Nazir]

I often laugh when I'm told that everything from Africa come out of Ithiopia, as thes two countries had distinct religions (before the invasion of the pirates), traditions and customs.

We must remember though that originally, Ethiopia was much larger than today's political boundaries. It was not a country, but the name of a large region.Today new lines have been drawn due to colonialism, but in the times of ancient scriptures, much of Africa, even West Africa, was considered part of Ethiopia.

http://www.betzmaps.com/images/afs-183.jpg

See this map here.

[Kweku Mensah]

Its nice to see everyone trying to come to common grounds and striving for the truth, but what are we striving towards? Are we truly following The Sheppard or are we lost and seeking his kingdom? For me I was lost and seeked the kingdom wholeheartedly, and have found the most ancient of thrones and the one who sits on it.

www.imperialafrica.com

Kweku Mensah