Peaceable Rastafari Lioness

From The Rastafari Expression,
A regular column by Kaya I Isesajah, Aug 04, 2005         

KI. How did the I come to trod Rastafari/How long has the I been trodding the path?

ICV. About 1989-90 InI was blessed to have met a Rastafarian sistrens , in fact they were my neighbors. Now InI have been always a spiritual and inquisitive person from childhood. InI believe rather "know" that there was "God" or Jah. One of the most important things my mother taught I was to pray.

Then I was exposed to African history though the family nights that I's parents would organized in den, this time was when we would turn off the TV and read about the kings and queens of the Motherland. We would talk about what black people who contributed to Amerikan history beside the usual people like Harriet Tubman, and Sojourner Truth, I mean this were great people but there were so many more that just those "white America" felt safe to expose to African children in the inner city schools.

We never heard about the Maroons, or Nat Turner or those who rebelled against their slave capturers. And the only inventor we knew about was George Washington Carver because he had a colonized name...all I know is that my family had a love to learn and educate ourselves beyond what was taught in school.

In time InI was impressed with Elias Muhammed and "Muhammed Speaks" publication and for the first time InI heard of "white devils"...wow! Now my parents really and carefully tried to teach history without prejudice but, that is next to impossible in Amerikkka. But, during this whole learning experience, still no real connection to Ithopia nor Haile SelassiI, this was to come later.

The funny thing about Ia's connection to SelassiI is that even when the youth study the history of world war I or II , SelassiI is never mentioned though InI later learnt that John F. Kennedy and SelassiI were very close friends and the importance of H.I.M. is the creation of the United Nations. Nor did InI know that at the corination of H.I.M. ALL nations bowed to SelassiI or even pictures of Negast even though H.I.M. was the most photographed man in the world. No.. InI connect to SelassiI was a long trod. But, when the "student" is ready, the teacher will appear at least in InI case.

First, Idawta was exposed to the music of roots reggae and of course Bob Marley and the Wailers and Ia was blown away. Then these sistrens actually took Idawta under them "wings" and reason with the InI and the Ible which the second chapter of Genesis, Chapter 2verse 13.."and the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia".

Though my family practiced Christianity, there were no real mindset to connect that Adam or Yahsua(Je-sus) were BLACK PEOPLE who lived in AFRICA. Especially with all the European images of Yahsua on the cross or praying on the stone or knocking on the door.. yah know those images.. but, these beautiful Rasta sistren reasoned with di I about that and the lineage of SelassiI the only one crowned king of kings like in Revelations another mind blower!!

This gave InI an incrediable sense of spiritual overstanding and who I was on the planet. This was so uplifting to InI and there is still so much more to learn.

InI will always be committed to study and learn. InI always grateful to them who lovingly show di I and to Prince Imsley a Bobo Shanti priest who reason with di I about livity and Nyabhinghi, its been a beautiful trod. Jah Bless!

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KI. What is your opinion of the Internet, in terms of the Rastafari experience

ICV. Excellent, Isistren loves reasoning with Idren from Iverywhere.

KI. How does the I find the governing factors of Rastafari presently?

ICV. On earth there is struggle..its alway been that way. Jahovah Most High is always in effect regardless of the ways of humanbeings. Some tradition changes and others remain but one thing always certain is Jah is always in effect.

KI. Does the I have any suggestions to the Rastafari community in achieving Inity?

ICV. Inity can be only achieve when we raspect each other. We might not agreed on everything but, there needs to be a level of raspect to get things done.

KI. INI know that it has been said that the Babylon system is a vampire? Can you interpret this for INI?

ICV. Vampire system...hmmm...since Babylon is more than a place, it is a state of mind. It about seduction, it artifical and wanting what is here and now but, caring about cause and effect.

Vampirism applies InI feels when one takes and takes never put back or replenish. It robs one of their creativity and distance Iselves from InI true nature and from livity and harmony of Jah. That is why there is so much needless suffering in the world, this is not Jah Jah doing.

KI. Is the I married? If married, does the I have Children being raised in the Rastafari Traditions...and how does the I view marriage in the sense of Rastafari tradition. INI know some Bredrin and Sistren in the Livity do not marry in the conventional sense of marriage, often times opting to live together rather than obtain a license. What is your view on this and If the I is of this view, how does the I justify this action with the 10 commandment law thou shalt not commit fornication?

ICV. Yes I, Isistren is married but not in the state, been there done that! InI feel that InI do not fornicate because both Isistren and Kingmon are truely committed to each other in fact its been 12 (twelve) years InI never looked back.

InI overs that the state wants we to marry because of taxes and property it has very little to do with Jahovah. The preacher don't interfere with who is going to be faithful.

InI totally committed and I kingmon to our relationship and family. Jah knows our hearts and intentions once again..Raspect.

KI. Education was always stressed by King Selassie I, how does the I see Education in these times, how important, and what should INI be doing to educate our youth, to supplement the Babylonian Education which the system provides?

ICV. InI always been and will be a student of life. InI love to read and reason. Isistren know that education is or rather should be a life time event.

There is always more and more information in the world and different mindset and ideas, and of course education is to be shared and reasoned. Who better than our children who are our future and immortality.

When I look into my children eyes who are adults and now their children, my grandchildren eyes InI see InI's ancestors and the future.

InI share Iwombmon's life experiences and knowledge and of course read to them and reason with them. Its our rasponsibility to do so.

KI. What is the idea behind ‘not every dread is a Rasta, and not every Rasta dread’?

ICV. Yes I, not every dread supports or acknowledge Rasta. For some it's a cultural expression of freedom and acceptance of our hair which has been a source for contention especially straight hair vs nappy and still is to this day.

But, InI can appreciate that the "locs" are coming to the fore front of society and in time for some will come to spirituality and livity.

KI. What is your opinion about the different ‘houses’ or ‘mansions’ within Rastafari? and does the I belong or align your self with any house?

ICV. InI reconize the need for fellowship and community. We are each other keepers because we need each, that is the difference between Babylon and Jahovah's system. Babylon stress the individuality while Jahovah is wholistic.

Presently InI don't belong to a house and sometimes I miss that connection but, on the flipside, InI have the freedom to move and reason with all the idren.

One day soon..maybe JahJah will bless Iwombmon with a house or maybe Idawta can establish a house based on the principles of Jah and Love and Inity and Raspect. Jah Bless.

" We can bomb the world into pieces but, you can't bomb it into peace"