Rastafarianism grows in Jamaica after long disdain
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In this Nov 19, 2012 photo, white-robed Rastafarian Priest Forrester motions towards the ocean below where he believes that a big ships will someday arrive to carry the descendants of African slaves back to Africa, at the isolated hilltop Bobo Ashanti commune in Bull Bay, Jamaica. More people are joining Jamaica's homegrown Rastafarian religion some 80 years after it was founded by the descendants of African slaves in response to black oppression on the Caribbean island. -- PHOTO : AP
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In this Nov 19, 2012 photo, Rastafarian priests, Xavier, left, Morant, center, and Forrester, examine documents in the office of the isolated hilltop Bobo Ashanti commune in Bull Bay, Jamaica. More people are joining Jamaica's homegrown Rastafarian religion some 80 years after it was founded by the descendants of African slaves in response to black oppression on the Caribbean island. -- PHOTO : AP
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In this Nov 19, 2012 photo, a group of robed Rastafarian priests chant prayers while facing the direction of the African nation of Ethiopia at the Bobo Ashanti commune in Bull Bay, Jamaica. More people are joining Jamaica's homegrown Rastafarian religion some 80 years after it was founded by the descendants of African slaves in response to black oppression on the Caribbean island. -- PHOTO : AP
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In this Nov 19, 2012 photo, Rastafarian Priest Lloyd makes handmade brooms at the Bobo Ashanti commune in Bull Bay, Jamaica. More people are joining Jamaica's homegrown Rastafarian religion some 80 years after it was founded by the descendants of African slaves in response to black oppression on the Caribbean island. -- PHOTO : AP
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In this Nov 19, 2012 photo, Rastafarian Priest Noah poses for a photo on the porch of a "holy palace" at the Bobo Ashanti commune in Bull Bay, Jamaica. More people are joining Jamaica's homegrown Rastafarian religion some 80 years after it was founded by the descendants of African slaves in response to black oppression on the Caribbean island. -- PHOTO : AP
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In this Nov 17, 2012 photo, young and old Rastafarian adherents play drums and chant in a square at the town of Papine, a bustling market community in the outskirts of Kingston, Jamaica. More people are joining Jamaica's homegrown Rastafarian religion some 80 years after it was founded by the descendants of African slaves in response to black oppression on the Caribbean island. -- PHOTO : AP
In this Nov 19, 2012 photo, white-robed Rastafarian Priest Forrester motions towards the ocean below where he believes that a big ships will someday arrive to carry the descendants of African slaves back to Africa, at the isolated hilltop Bobo Ashanti commune in Bull Bay, Jamaica. More people are joining Jamaica's homegrown Rastafarian religion some 80 years after it was founded by the descendants of African slaves in response to black oppression on the Caribbean island. -- PHOTO : AP
In this Nov 19, 2012 photo, Rastafarian priests, Xavier, left, Morant, center, and Forrester, examine documents in the office of the isolated hilltop Bobo Ashanti commune in Bull Bay, Jamaica. More people are joining Jamaica's homegrown Rastafarian religion some 80 years after it was founded by the descendants of African slaves in response to black oppression on the Caribbean island. -- PHOTO : AP
In this Nov 19, 2012 photo, a group of robed Rastafarian priests chant prayers while facing the direction of the African nation of Ethiopia at the Bobo Ashanti commune in Bull Bay, Jamaica. More people are joining Jamaica's homegrown Rastafarian religion some 80 years after it was founded by the descendants of African slaves in response to black oppression on the Caribbean island. -- PHOTO : AP
In this Nov 19, 2012 photo, Rastafarian Priest Lloyd makes handmade brooms at the Bobo Ashanti commune in Bull Bay, Jamaica. More people are joining Jamaica's homegrown Rastafarian religion some 80 years after it was founded by the descendants of African slaves in response to black oppression on the Caribbean island. -- PHOTO : AP
In this Nov 19, 2012 photo, Rastafarian Priest Noah poses for a photo on the porch of a "holy palace" at the Bobo Ashanti commune in Bull Bay, Jamaica. More people are joining Jamaica's homegrown Rastafarian religion some 80 years after it was founded by the descendants of African slaves in response to black oppression on the Caribbean island. -- PHOTO : AP
In this Nov 17, 2012 photo, young and old Rastafarian adherents play drums and chant in a square at the town of Papine, a bustling market community in the outskirts of Kingston, Jamaica. More people are joining Jamaica's homegrown Rastafarian religion some 80 years after it was founded by the descendants of African slaves in response to black oppression on the Caribbean island. -- PHOTO : AP
BULL BAY, Jamaica (AP) - The robed Rastafarian priest looked out over the turquoise sea off Jamaica's south-east coast and fervently described his belief that deliverance is at hand.
Around him at the sprawling Bobo Ashanti commune on an isolated hilltop, a few women and about 200 dreadlocked men with flowing robes and tightly wrapped turbans prayed, fasted, and fashioned handmade brooms - smoking marijuana only as a ceremonial ritual.
"Rasta church is rising," declared Priest Morant, who wore a vestment stitched with the words "The Black Christ". "There's nothing that can turn it back."
The Rastafarian faith is indeed rising in Jamaica, where new census figures show a roughly 20 per cent increase in the number of adherents over a decade, to more than 29,000.
