**NOTE THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL SITE NOT CONNECTED TO THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE IN ANY WAY
This site was created for People
who have seen the exhibit to post
photos and comments about their
experience as well a place for those
who are planning to attend this coming
year or cannot attend, to see what it's all about.
November 2, 2007 - November 7, 2008
Featuring rare photographs, artifacts, and ephemera, this exhibition moves beyond the popular Jamaican music known as reggae to explore the origins and practice of the Rastafari religion in Jamaica and
the movement's subsequent spread across the Caribbean and around the world. Video footage featuring male and female Rastafari of different ages, nationalities, ethnicities, and socioeconomic classes highlights the unity of the movement. An overview of the three major "mansions" (organizations) reveals the diversity of Rastafari and the core of sacred practices that guide the daily lives of its practitioners.
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Museum Hours and Info
**NOTE Many Of The Photos In this Show that appear in some of the
Slideshows Below are by Sis Susanne Moss
Photographer and Filmmaker (RAS CUBA) from
The Hudson Valley in NY
Please support her works
by visiting her site & purchasing her prints and DVD http://www.selahphoto.com
Haile Selassie's Grandson Prince Ermais Sahle Selassie with Rastafari Elders and Idrins
Ras Michael & The Sons Of Negus Perform
Bro Asher and Junior "I-sta J" Manning with Jamaican Rastafari Elders
EABIC BoboShanti Idren at Howard University
Mama Farika Berhane teaches Howard about Empress Menen
Elder Irice Clarke at Howard University
Tireless Co-worker Bredda Jakes Homiak
Iyahbinghi Yants at Howard University
January 2008 Smithsonian Magazine Article Photo
RASTA FEST ARTICLE From The Jamaican Gov Website http://www.jis.gov.jm/foreign_affairs/html/20080226T090000-0500_14357_JIS_SMITHSONIAN_INSTITUTION_HIGHLIGHTS_RASTAFARIAN_CULTURE.asp
Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade Smithsonian Institution Highlights Rastafarian Culture
WASHINGTON, (JIS)
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Visitors looking at exhibits at the opening of the Rasta Marketplace
this past weekend at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.
The global impact of Rastafarianism and the attendant influence of the Jamaican culture were on full display this past weekend in Washington, D.C., with the opening of the Rasta Marketplace on Saturday (February 23),
at Washington's historic Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History (NMNH).
The marketplace drew thousands of adherents
of the Rastafarian movement, local supporters,
as well as regular visitors to the museum who
were able to view sculptures, paintings, crafts, music, graphics and jewellery, which focused on
the symbols of Rastafarianism as well as its beginnings in Jamaica.
A familiar theme depicted in several of
the paintings which were featured, focused on
life in the country of Ethiopia, which is
recognized by Rastafarians as their ancestral homeland.
A special feature presentation at the marketplace also sought to highlight and explore the ties between Hebrew symbolism in the Old Testament and its
strong influence on contemporary Rasta culture.
The exhibit, which depicts the life and religious practices of Rastafarian elders in Jamaica, as well
as adherents living in Israel, highlights the significant commonality between Rastafarian
artistes in both countries, and is underscored
by the similarities in lyrics and performance styles.
The Smithsonian also featured a special screening entitled, 'Coping with Babylon', which looks at the diverse cultural landscape of contemporary Rastafarianism
and emphasises the many voices and ethnicities that constitute the global movement. The film focuses on foundation leaders in Jamaica, scholars who have focused
on the Rastafarian culture, as well as an array of performing artistes, including reggae luminaries, such as Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.
The Rasta Marketplace is a component of a year-long exhibition spotlighting Rastafarianism and features several artifacts and rare photographs from other established collections. It focuses on the history of Rastafarianism and also highlights the life of Emperor Haile Selassie I and, in addition to Bob Marley, highlights other major Jamaican political and cultural icons, including National Hero, the Right Excellent Marcus Garvey.
In addition to the mounted exhibits, the museum has also provided information on the origins and religious practices of the movement in Jamaica as well as the roots of the Rastafarian culture.
In order to provide the American public with
a range of perspectives on Rastafarian life and institutions, the exhibition has also provided several video depictions of current Rastafarian communities both
in Jamaica and in Shashemene, Ethiopia.
The NMNH, which is hosting the exhibition, is
part of the Smithsonian Institution and was opened
in 1910. The green-domed museum was among the first Smithsonian buildings constructed exclusively to house
the institution's collections and research facilities.
Who I'd like to meet: Rastafari Idren from around the Globe especially who have visited the exhibit and would be willing to post comments and photos.
BLESSED LOVE FAMILY, INI RASTA APRECIATE DI LINK AND INITY....NUFF RASPECT! KEEP ON KEEPIN JAH LOVE FLOWIN ITINUALLY....MO LIGHT! JAH RASTAFARI.... HAILE SELASSIE I NA MAMA MENEN I
One Love Greetings My Friend,
I Just Pass Threw To Hail You Up From Far.
Everything Here Is Bless And I Give Thanks For Life.
When You Have A Second Let Me Know How You Are Doing?
Till The I wish You Nothing But Love And Abundance:-)
Jah Is Love,
MERU MATU
The sun shall be noh more thy light by day; neither fi brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an iverlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall noh more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: fi the LORD shall be thine iverlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land fi iver, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. Selah.... Ises and Thanksgiving to InI FATHER in ZION everytime fi his Itinual blessings, fi being InI Rock and InI Salvation. Fi teaching InI LOVE, Patience,Wisdom and Ovastanding. fi LOVING InI Itinually RASTAFARI LIVE Satta amassagana ahamlack, ulaghize 'Igzee'abihier Yimmesgen Peace,LOVE,Guidance,Light,Livity,Inity and Strength.... Bless-ed LOVE,Royal Empress Maria...Fiyah Ingel.
Nice to see the new additions to the page. I took several of my friends to the event this past weekend and they had a great time. Did you get any pictures from this weekend?
