Who are rastamans, and what is the peculiarity of this subculture

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:55

Rastamans are a subculture that most people associate with drugs (mainly cannabis) and reggae music. In fact, this trend, which appeared at the beginning of the last century in the Caribbean, is something more than cannabis and music. But those who associate rastas with drugs and reggae are partly right.

Representatives of this culture, as a rule, stand out from the crowd with simple but bright attire. Their main symbolism is a hemp leaf, dreadlocks (according to legend, when the end of the world comes, it is by them that all rastamans on the planet will be recognized and saved), sometimes knitted hats in 3 colors: red, yellow, green.

The subculture is generally considered harmless, but still the world community treats its adherents with a certain fear because of their drug use. That is, in fact, a rastaman -this is a person who cultivates and uses cannabis, listens to (and promotes among the general public) reggae, tries to comprehend the meaning of life without causing harm to others. In other words, these people are peaceful, good-natured, but very peculiar.

Having asked the layman the question of who the rastamans are, it is difficult to get an unambiguous (and even more so - correct) answer. Most people perceive them as idlers and drug addicts who waste their lives in vain.

In general, this ideology originally appeared in Africa as a protest against American democratization. But over time, it has changed so much that only symbols remained from the former rastamans. Modern representatives of this trend are mostly doing nothing besides philosophizing, smoking marijuana and playing drums.

For those who do not know who Rastamans are and see them for the first time, they may seem quite aggressive (perhaps because of the bright colors in their clothes and provocative hairstyles), but this is a delusion. In addition to the indicated features, this culture, like any other, has its own prohibitions. In particular, its representatives are prohibited from smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol (they are limited to marijuana). In addition, real rastamans do not wear other people's things and do not eat food prepared by others. They don't drink cow's milk, they don't eat pork and s alt, and they don't eat peeled fish or shellfish of any kind.

In the post-Soviet society, they have recently learned who the Rastas are. Many representativesyoung people immediately tried to join this movement, but due to a rather superficial understanding of the values of the movement and its philosophy, the majority is limited only to dreadlocks, bright hats and smoking cannabis.

A real prophet for any rastaman is Bob Marley, not only because of his music, but also because of his position in life. The lyrics of his songs are often quoted by representatives of the culture, translated into various languages, paraphrased, etc.

In general, if we consider this trend as a religious one (there is even a corresponding religion - Rastafarianism), then it has its roots in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. For true Rastas, this is really not just a way of life or pastime, but a real religion.

In addition to drugs, reggae, bright clothes and dreadlocks, representatives of Rastafarianism have a lot of positive things: faith in a better future, getting the most out of life today (and not postponing all the good things for tomorrow, as many do). So for those who do not know who the Rastas are, the answer may be this: they are happy cheerful people with a peculiar philosophy, the cult of marijuana, reggae and Bob Marley.