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I remember when as a teenager I started reading
the Bible in English, I recognized many sentences.
I heard them before, over drum and basslines, but
I never knew them to be Bible quotations.
We're not talking about a few quotes here and
there by some obscure artist, in fact we're
talking about just about everyone. In Cyberspace,
you can even find a website
livicated to Bible Quotes and Reggae Lyrics
where you can verify for yourself just how
important the Bible is for many,
many Reggae artists.
Even in Dancehall music, where you will find a
strong objection against the homosexual lifestyle,
it is not uncommon to quote the Bible, or to
express a personal faith in the Creator. In
itself, this rejection of the homosexual lifestyle
is also based on what many would call
"religious beliefs" that drives many if
not the majority of Reggae artists.
It is fair to say, that there is more than just
a superficial connection with the music that is
Reggae and the fact that many, if not most artists
who play the music do have some kind of faith in
the Creator and usually call Him by the Name JAH.
And therefore, this connection must be visible in
more than one aspect, which it is.
There's one aspect in particular which exposes
this connection, and how it works out practically
within Reggae Culture. I always look at
this aspect as a small fulfillment of a prophecy, which
says that every tongue will tell and every knee
will bow for Jah Almighty.
There are many, many people actively involved in
Reggae Promotion and do not consider themselves to
believe in Jah. They could be self-proclaimed
atheists, agnostics, and what have you. These
people usually will tell you all about the
"non-religious" parts of Reggae to make
the point that they too can be involved in Reggae
Promotion and they are absolutely right when they
do so.
Still, there's a funny side to that, when you
see just what some of these people are doing. You see them
using the African Tricolor of Red, Gold and
Green, you see them using the Ethiopian symbol of
the Lion of Judah, you will even see them using
the Name of JAH in order to "create that
Reggae vibe", so to speak.
However you want to look at this, it is clear
that when you are involved in Reggae Music on an
active level, there's a couple of things you can
and cannot do in Reggae Culture, a Culture so much
connected with the worship of the Creator under
His Name JAH and the Bible as a source of
reference, the reading of which is driven by a
personal faith, not a religion.
Ras, Reggae, Religion? I don't think so.
Ras-Reggae Relation? Definitely so.
Who feels it knows it. Come mek we reason!
One Love, Give Thanks,
Messian Dread
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