Rastafarian Roots in Jamaican Homophobia

Rastafarianism is a religion that has become a main theme of Jamaican cultural identity within the past one hundred years. An adoption of the religion Rastafarianism morphed a volatile country historically stricken by poverty and slavery into a united Jamaica with a common identity known all over the world. The ideals of the new religion embraced standing beliefs held by the island inhabitants and built upon these values to create a religion relatable to the people while still transforming the country into a unique cultural hot-spot. Rastafarianism tenets of gender roles enabled homophobia to become a new characteristicthat prevailed in the religion. As this new religion took hold ofJamaican lifestyles, reggae music became the vehicle that would share the new cultural identity of the islanders to citizens throughout the world. The homophobic viewpoints were quickly present in the dance hall reggae directly through lyrics and indirectly through fast temposin songs. The fast-paced percussion and vocals paired with the direct meaning of the lyrics to portray this strong belief.The global appeal of reggae music strengthened Jamaican identity, and therefore the viewpoints like homophobia associated with it. The advancement of Rastafarianism and the reggae music stemming from it transformed the viewpoints of the Jamaican people in a manner influential enough to support this rise in homophobia.