Rasta culture key to fighting crime, say Bobo priests

Jamaica would be free of crime and violence if more citizens embrace Rastafari, according to Bobo Shanti priests Christopher Morant and Shimron Davidson.

Jamaica averaged four murders per day in the first 42 days of the year. That figure jumped to five during a during a bloody six-day stretch, which started on January 29, when 30 persons were killed, including 10 on January 31 alone.

The Government has budgeted to spend about $88 billion on national security this year.

Morant and Davidson, however, argue that money alone cannot solve crime if the Jamaican Government continues to ignore the reality. They were speaking to THE WEEKEND STAR shortly after a ceremony held by priests in Bobo Hill on Wednesday to mark the 55th anniversary of the visit of Emperor Haile Selassie I.

Black history and true identity

"The Bobo Shanti movement is about making the people aware of them black history and true identity, because that is the only way the crime rate can reduce among black people," Davidson said.

"No care how much money the Government put to solve crime, if you don't let the people dem know of dem true identity the crime rate still nah go solve cause the people dem a go have money and do foolishness wid di money. They (Jamaicans) would have to first see themselves as Africans. If you is a black man, Bobo Shanti order tell yuh fi first see yourself as Africans and if yuh is a white man or Chinese and yuh wah join di order, yuh affi first see yourself associated with the order fi free di motherland (Africa)."

According to Morant, a senior official in the Bobo Shanti order, Rastafarianism is a pivotal part of Jamaican culture. He said that while its teachings have impressed many, there is not much it can achieve in a Westminster system designed to maintain black oppression.

"Rastafari have done what we supposed to do. The main aim, as we will always say, is to go home. No matter how much infrastructure here, the economical world weh set by the European regime is set to keep black people in the west to keep working for them," he said.

"Firstly, the Jamaican Government then Britain and America should open them hearts of right and bow to the truth and send I home because dem rob us off di breast of Africa and brought us here, then we in turn have to a fight to go back home."