Moving Right Out of Babylon

The Rastafarian movement is perhaps one of the most popular Afro-Caribbean religious expressions globally. Bob Marley, undoubtably the most iconic musical genius produced by the Caribbean, helped to popularized the Rastafarian movement globally. Bob Marley’s universal appeal was attested to by the number of Europeans, Asians and members of other ethnicities who sympathized and identified with Rastafarianism even to the point of donning dreadlocks and sporting the colors of the movement.

Central to the Rastafarian faith is a critique of the Western civilization which is synonymous with the biblical system of Babylon. Prophet Bob Marley reminded the world that Babylon system is a vampire that builds churches and universities that deceive the people continually. Prophet Marley, like Prophet Garvey before him, called children of Africa and all others who were willing to listen, out of Babylon. Both Marley and Garvey advocated an exodus from Babylon back to ‘our father’s land.’

Rastafarianism like most Afro-Caribbean religious expressions borrowed heavily from the holy books of both Jews and Christians. Leonard Howell, who is credited with origins of the Rastafarian movement was heavily influenced by the book of Revelation in the New Testament. The writer of Revelation used the term Babylon to describe political and religious systems that had deviated from the right path.

Leonard Howell followed suit, calling the repressive powers of Europe and the religion system that worked hand in glove with Western imperialism, Babylon. Christianity and more specifically the Roman Catholic variety was castigated for its role in the Black Holocaust. In fine Reformation style the pope of Rome was labelled as the great antichrist who presided over Mystery Babylon the Great.

The call for an exodus from Babylon by the leaders of the Rastafarian movement and other pro-Black religious organizations stemmed from the reality that Babylon was on a collision course with the wrath of the Creator. The injustices practiced by both the political and religious arms of Babylon, coupled with the desecration of the earth by a program of ruthless exploitation of the earth’s natural resources, placed a bulls-eye on the system of Babylon.

Children of Africa and all others who were willing to listen, therefore, needed to flee Babylon spiritually, intellectually, and where possible, physically. Black people were encouraged to leave the European oriented religious denominations which were nothing more than local chapters of Babylon incorporated. Prophet Bob articulated this dissatisfaction with Christianity when he stated that he was sick and tired of their isms and schisms game. Prophet Bob affirmed that now Black people could see the light, they ought to stand up for their rights and move right out of Babylon.

The Rastafarian message resonated with hundreds of thousands of Black people in Jamaica, the rest of the Caribbean, Africa, South America, the US, Canada, Europe and Asia. The appeal of the Rastafarianism could also be seen in the number of Caucasian converts to the faith. Prophet Bob’s message of one love, that called for a coming together of all ethnicities, seemed to break down the wall of prejudice enabling members of other ethnic groups to identify with the Rastafarian movement.

Prophet Bob called for a racial harmony that would bring people of good will together to fight against what he called the holy Armageddon. The coming together of people of good will from all ethnicities would ensure that ‘when the man comes there would be no doom.’ This call for a united front was urgent because they would be no hiding place from the Father of Creation.

The other great theme at the heart of the Rastafarian movement and Pan Africanism was the great return of Black people in the Diaspora to the land of Africa. In 1955, in recognition of the support given to Ethiopia by Jamaicans and other Black people in the Diaspora, Emperor Haile Selassie I granted five-hundred acres of land to be used by Diasporan Blacks who supported Ethiopia in its war against Italy. The leadership of the Rastafarian movement longed for the day when the Black man would return to his Zion in Ethiopia.

Prophet Bob echoed prophet Marcus Garvey in his call for the unification of the African continent. As children of the Higher Man, Africans needed to unite. Prophet Bob demanded a united Africa so that Africa’s children might all be benefited for as he said, ‘Africa’s children want to come home.’ Prophet Bob reminded Africans that they needed to unite also because it is later than the leadership across Africa think. In this last thought Prophet Bob reiterated the dire warning issued by Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana who was adamant that Africa would either unite or perish.

Lenrod Nzulu Baraka is the founder of Afro-Caribbean Spiritual Teaching Center and the author of Out of Babylon: Why Black People Should Leave Most Churches.