Appendix:Glossary of Rastafari terms

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This is a glossary of terminology originating from, and pertaining to, Rastafarianism.

Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

B

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Babylon
an oppressive government or system; the police
beardman, beard-man
a male Rastafari who keeps a beard and long hair
baldhead
one who is not Rastafari; one who works for Babylon
Bobo Ashanti, Bobo dread
traditionalist Rastafarian group. Often wear their dreadlocks in a turban
bredrin
male comrade
bungo man
Rastafarian term of address

C

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chalice, wisdom chalice
cannabis pipe for ritual and spiritual use
churchical
Rastafarian culture that emphasizes traditional theocracy
clean-faced man, clean face man
an unbearded Rastafari with short hair
collie, cullie weed
highest grade of cannabis
Coronation Day
November 2 - holy day commemorating Halie Selassie's coronation

D

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dreadlocks, dreads
devotional hairstyle of matted locks, symbolic of the Lion of Judah. One with dreadlocks may be called a dread as a term of endearment
downstroy, downpress, downpressor, downpression
Destroy, oppress, oppressor, oppression. As the op- in these words rhymes with up-, it is changed to down- for emphasis

F

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Falasha
Ethiopian Black Jew, believed to be descended from the lost tribes of Israel and to be ancestors of some Rastafari

G

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ganja, herb, wisdom weed
cannabis, smoked sacramentally
grounation
meeting for the discussion of religious, social, and political topics
Grounation Day
April 21 - holy day commemorating Halie Selassie's 1966 visit to Jamaica

I

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i-
prefix pertaining to Rastafarian concepts
I and I, I n I
Rastafarian first person pronoun
Idren
ones spiritual brothers and sisters
Iman
first person pronoun
Inity
unity
ital, I-tal, Ital
healthy, organic, unsalted, or vegetarian
Ites Gold and Green
from Heights, Gold, and Green (red, yellow and green) the colors associated with Ethiopia and the Rastafari movement
itinually
continually
iration, irator
creation, creator
irie
alright, cool
Iyaric
dialect of English used by Rastafari

J

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Jah
God, from Jehovah
Jah love
used to acknowledge God's love
Jah Rastafari
Haile Selassie

K

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King Alpha
Haile Selassie. See also: Queen Omega
King Rasta
Haile Selassie

L

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Lion of Judah
Haile Selassie and his royal standard
livication
dedication
livity
harmony in a natural world and living faith

M

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Mansions of Rastafari
various groups of the Rastafari movement

N

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natty, knotty
the (dreadlocked) hair of a Rastafari; endearing term for Rastafari with dreads
Nyabinghi
  • (historical) A militant sect of the Rastafarianism
  • African deity and ceremony associated with her
  • Musical style association with her
Niyaman
a follower of Nyabinghi

P

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Pinnacle
first Rastafarian community (1940-1958), in St Catherine parish

Q

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Queen Omega
Menen Asfaw, Empress of Ethiopia and wife of Haile Selassie (King Alpha). Venerated by members of the Rastafari movement.

R

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rastacap
a round knit or crocheted cap, usually in pan-African colors, worn by Rastafaris
Rastafari, Rastafarian, Rastaman, Rasta, Ras
a follower of Rastafarianism. From Amharic ራስ ተፈሪ (ras täfäri), a title of Haile Selassie, from ራስ (ras, chief, head) + ተፈሪ (täfäri, revered)
roots
derived from the experience of the common people
roots people
individuals who preserve African ways of life
roots reggae
genre of reggae music with Rastafarian themes

S

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sensi
type of cannabis
Shashamane
Rastafarian town in Ethiopia
shitstem
(derogatory) oppressive sociopolitical system
sistren
female comrade
sufferation
suffering

W

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wombman
woman

Z

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Zion
Ethiopia, the Rastafarian holy land and Promised Land
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