Ras Rootka Zebulun, "The 12 Tribes Lion"

From The Rastafari Expression,
A regular column by Kaya I IsesaJah, May 29, 2006         

Greetings in the Name of my Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ (Yahshua Ha Mashiach) who has this day revealed Himself to us in the personality of H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I, King of Kings, Conquering Lion of Judah, Elect of Jah, and Light of this World.

Greetings through the Twelve Tribes of Israel which were once lost scattered abroad but now founded on the island of Jamaica in 1968 by our dearly beloved Prophet Gad, Dr. Vernon Carrington, and now functioning worldwide repatriating to Shashamane, Ethiopia, until New Jerusalem is established.

Greetings in the Orthodox Faith which is not one of writs nor rites, vows, nor laws, but is an inward function of one's heart acquired through a mystical incorporation or unity in one with Jah, in plain words to be Born Again.

Greetings also through the Ethiopian Royal House of David, now being represented by our beloved Crown Prince, H.I.H. Zere Yacob Asfa Wossen Haile Selassie, our future King and Emperor of Ethiopia. I n I pray for the restoration of the Monarchy until Shiloh comes to reign forever on David's throne in Jah Kingdom! Selassie I!

Greetings, Peace, and Love to my fellow Twelve Tribes of Israel members worldwide, my Rastafarian brothers and sisters within the Movement, our Rastafari Elders who are still here holding firm I pray for their health and strength always. Also to our non Rastafarian brothers and sisters whom His Majesty told us we must show toleration to as Rastafarians. Remember there is only One Faith like the Bible says no matter how many faiths we have.

Give thanks Sister Kaya Isesajah for this online magazine called Rastafari Expressions, where Rastafarians like Iself can voice our thoughts and express our minds which is a good thing. Most of all Give Thanks to the Most High Jah RasTafari for the Inspiration and Guidance iverytime! All glory, praise, worship, and honor be to the Mighty One of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Mighty One of Yisrael and Ityopiya!

Kaya Isesajah : Where was the I born and raised?

Ras Rootka Zebulun: Yes well I man was born and raised in St. Croix Virgin Islands(St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and now Water Island) which as most of you know is located in the Caribbean among the Lesser Antilles(Greater and Lesser Antilles, Leeward and Windward Islands making up this Caribbean chain of islands). But I man originally from Ityopiya(Ethiopia) Africa, because that is where every black person since slavery are from, and all human beings evolved before being separated from one another. If you read the book of Genesis you will see the separation of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and the Tower of Babel incident, where the human population grew through. So I n I must forward to our roots again as Ityopiyans! I n I ah de root!

Kaya Isesajah: When did the I begin to sight and follow Rastafari?

Ras Rootka Zebulun: Well, Rastafari is an inborn concept, as many Rastas say," Rastafari is from Iration(Creation." True true. So this same inborn concept was regained to I n I again as a youth man spiritually by Jah RasTafari, our Father of Creation. Rastafari is cultural to I man since it was redeveloped in the Caribbean from Africa(the Root of Rastafari). This is nothing I got initiated in the essence was already there it just took me time to grow and manifest this righteous vibes within I n I, and share it with others!

Kaya Isesajah: Who were your major influences in your life trod?

Ras Rootka Zebulun: As a Rastaman I would say that King Selassie and Marcus Garvey are the two great leaders who inspired not only I n I but all Rastafarians to sight up the crucial vibes within the Movement, and the philosophy of Rastafari itself. At the same time I do have to thank the Elders(especially Prophet Gad) for showing us Rastafarians this Rastafari philosophy also.

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I would implement that Brother Gad the founder of the Twelve Tribes of Israel organization, was also an inspiration to I man as being my teacher in the Faith, along with King Selassie and Marcus Garvey. Yet as a youth man before ever hearing of His Majesty, Mr. Garvey, and Gadman, the Hon. Robert Nesta Marley O.M. Berhane Selassie,(Brother Joseph) truly influenced I man into Rastafari through the lyrics he sang carrying the message. Most Rastafarians in the Caribbean can admit that Mr. Marley had some kind of influence on them sighting up Rastafari. Rastaman Vibration yeah ah Positive! Yes I!

Kaya Isesajah: Were there any instances in your life where you experienced tragedy or life changes in being Rastafari? Ras Rootka Zebulun: Oh yes man as a Rastaman you have to face trials and tribulations and Jah know I faced them from since a child sighting up Rastafari through not only by my parents but people on the whole, who think that Rastafari is some religious cult which Babylon taught them. Most Rastafarians have endured brutality by Babylon just for identifying as Rastafari. There came times when I man just had to leave the City and go up in the Hills among the Rastaman up there. Being in the Hills to I is a more adaptable Rastafarian lifestyle. Though I man faced tribulations by certain baldheads, Natty never get weary! I still standing firm as a Rastaman with the Conquering Lion next to my side!

If you really check it out the Messiah had to been a Locksman, because He too faced persecution by devils. Yahshua is I n I perfect example in being a Rastafarian defending Good over Evil! Look how Him conquer the Devil by first being crucified, buried, and rising again, He conquer death and hell man so Him can't die no more! Baldheads didn't want me to locks up but Natty Dread deh ya an nah tun bak! Like Mr. Marley sang," Many people will fight you down when you see Jah Light. Let me tell you if you're not wrong then every thing is alright." Rastafari truly changed my life no matter what the heathen want to say! Rastafari show I righteousness and how to conquer evil with Word, Sound, and Power!

Kaya Isesajah: Why did you wish to follow Ras Tafari?

Ras Rootka Zebulun: I just knew Rastafari was for I man the spirit was there and still is! Though my parents wanted me to be a Christian, I had to make my own decision in being a Rastafarian for it is I way of life. Rastafari opened my eyes to certain truth it wasn't modern Christianity at all.

I'm not speaking against Christians but the fact remains that Rastafari revealed the real vibes right infront of my own eyes while present day Christianity and Christendom kept me in the darkness but I now in Jah Light. So I didn't wish to be Rastafari, Fari already been in I! Yes I! Rastafari deals with naturality man! I n I deal with life and nature. Most natural. I follow King Ras Tafari because it is he who opened my eyes to certain Biblical truth, and as a follower of the King, I n I accept his teachings and examples and I truly hail H.I.M. for what he has done for I n I!

Kaya Isesajah: Are you following an Ital lifestyle?

Ras Rootka Zebulun: Yes I man embrace an Ital lifestyle like most of my fellow Rastafarians do, because I feel it is more holistic. But ones need to know that there are Rastafarians who still eat dedders(meat) and it is not for them to judge those Rastas for what they eat. Vegetarianism is one of the basic principles of the Rastafari Movement and I chose it for specific health reasons. You know as a youth we grow up eating meat but later on we find out that flesh isn't really good for the body like we were taught. Rastafarians been showing people that Ital is Vital and they laughed(well some still foolishly do) at us, but now I see for myself that some of them choosing to be vegetarians too? Why? Because they know Rastafari speaks the truth man about being Vegetarians & Vegans! So who seh Rastafarians are mad or insane? No sah. Rastafari dealing wit de trut man!

Kaya Isesajah: How strict are you with your lifestyle, as far as food, drink, smoke, and garment?

Ras Rootka Zebulun: Well I do embrace the Rastafari principles, and there are certain Rastafarians, such as the Nyabinghi and Boboshanti who are very strict with these tenets besides other groups. Like I said before I prefer to be an Italist because it is healthier for me. I man don't drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes because both substances causes liver and lung cancer.

We as Rastafarians need to take care of our temples because the Scriptures say our bodies are temples of the Most High, Jah in us. So we cannot allow harmful substances to enter our temples and be detrimental to our structures. But again I am not opposing anyone who drinks or smokes this is just my decision as a Rastaman. As for garments well there were never a rule for the Rastaman to wear garments just only in certain houses you have to take off your crowns when praying and some allow it. But I do prefer looking royal in African garments because as a Rastaman I do see myself as an African King. Black People are the first Kings and Queens of this Earth. Yes I!