An analysis of the cultural and theological relationships between Ethiopian christianity and the RastafarI movement

Coltri, Marzia (2012). An analysis of the cultural and theological relationships between Ethiopian christianity and the RastafarI movement. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

In 1930, Ras Tafari was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia, assuming the title of Haile Selassie I. This coronation had an impact on African-Caribbean people who began to identify the Emperor of Ethiopia as a symbolic figure for African consciousness, redemption and unity. RastafarI emerged as a socio-political and anti-colonial movement of the Caribbean, and then later progressively expanded as a trans-cultural and religious phenomenon across the world. RastafarI is a new religious movement which traces its roots to Ethiopia, but it is also a liberative-resistant movement for people who live in subalternity and still face the effects of colonialism. This study has three goals. The first and primary one is to develop reflection. How is RastafarI connected to Ethiopia? Ethiopia with its cultural and religious traditions, symbols and rituals is the perfect place for a new deification of King-God (human-divine) for RastafarI. The second is to rehabilitate RastafarI to its original vision as an Afrocentric, liberative and postcolonial movement of the Caribbean. A third related goal is to identify the theme of emancipation and gender through the key figure of a female leader, the Queen of Sheba, who had a significant impact on Ethiopian and Rasta self-consciousness (autocoscienza).

Type of Work:	Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)
Award Type:	Doctorates > Ph.D.
Supervisor(s):	Supervisor(s) Email ORCID Chryssides, George UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Cartledge 1962-, Mark J. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Parris, Garnet UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Sugirtharajah, R. S. (Rasiah S.) UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
Licence:
College/Faculty:	Colleges (2008 onwards) > College of Arts & Law
School or Department:	School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion, Department of Theology and Religion
Funders:	None/not applicable
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity
URI:	http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/3817

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