This week: Rastaman
Vanya Kewley reports from Jamaica on the marijuana-smoking Rastafarians who believe that the late Haile Selassie of Ethiopia is God. Everyman explores the controversial beliefs and life-style of these ferocious-looking 'dread-locks' in the Dungle (dung heap) of downtown Kingston, films their 'ganja' (marijuana) ceremonies, and looks at how their vision, music and painting are influencing Jamaica, from the music of Bob Marley to the new ballets of the Jamaica National Dance Theatre. As the Prime Minister, Michael Manley, says in the programme:
'By making Haile Selassie the Christ figure, the Rastafarian reconnects Africa and black with the Christian message... Rastafarians have this tremendous inner peace and sense of certainty about their identity which is not true about most other Jamaicans.'