The First Rasta: Leonard Howell and the Rise of Rastafarianism - Hardcover

Lee, Helene

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1556524668 ISBN 13: 9781556524660

Publisher: A Cappella Books, 2003

Synopsis

Going far beyond the standard imagery of Rasta--ganja, reggae, and dreadlocks--this cultural history offers an uncensored vision of a movement with complex roots and the exceptional journey of a man who taught an enslaved people how to be proud and impose their culture on the world. In the 1920s Leonard Percival Howell and the First Rastas had a revelation concerning the divinity of Haile Selassie, king of Ethiopia, that established the vision for the most popular mystical movement of the 20th century, Rastafarianism. Although jailed, ridiculed, and treated as insane, Howell, also known as the Gong, established a Rasta community of 4,500 members, the first agro-industrial enterprise devoted to producing marijuana. In the late 1950s the community was dispersed, disseminating Rasta teachings throughout the ghettos of the island. A young singer named Bob Marley adopted Howell's message, and through Marley's visions, reggae made its explosion in the music world.

About this title

Review:

"A journalistic detective story." -- Ugly Things

"Absolutely fascinating . . . a compelling must read for anyone who even pretends to be a reggae or ska fan." -- Dirty Linen

"An ambitious project and an unqualified success." -- All About Jazz

"Exacting and lushly written, the book is worthy of the highest esteem." -- Relix

"Gets to the roots of what would become Jamaica’s two greatest exports: reggae music and Rastafarianism." -- Global Rhythm

"Written with careful verve, The First Rasta reads like a novel-fitting for the story of such a fantastic figure." -- Caribbean Beat

Synopsis:

Going far beyond the standard imagery of Rasta-ganja, reggae, dreadlocks -- this book offers an uncensored vision of a movement with complex roots, and the exceptional journey of a man who taught an enslaved people how to be proud and impose their culture on the world. In the 1920s a handful of Jamaicans had a revelation concerning the divinity of Haile Selassie, king of Ethiopia, and founded the most popular mystical movement of the 20th century. This is the astonishing tale of Leonard Percival Howell and the first Rastas. Although jailed, ridiculed, and treated as insane, Howell, also known as the Gong, established a Rasta community of 4,500 members, the first agro-industrial enterprise devoted to producing marijuana. In the late 1950s the community was dispersed, disseminating Rasta teachings throughout the ghettos of the island. A young singer named Bob Marley adopted Howell's message, and through Marley's visions, reggae was ready to explode.

About this edition

• Publisher: A Cappella Books
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 1556524668
• ISBN 13: 9781556524660
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 306