Entertainment
Fyah Bun - Semaj questions Rasta and Reggae
Current actions contradict roots of Rastafari, says Semaj
BY STEPHEN JACKSON Observer staff reporter
Friday, September 03, 2010
PSYCHOLOGIST Dr Leahcim Semaj argues that the popular theme of 'fyah bun' may have transformed Rastafari into an irrelevant movement that contradicts its origins.
"Is it possible that Rasta has fulfilled its promise and is now a spent force?" questioned Semaj, as he addressed the recent Rastafari Studies, Conference, a four-day expose on the movement.
"This conference could be a critical catalyst in this corrective transition — if the kind of reasoning here will not just pontificate on all the great things but to point out all the things that are not working."
Panellists from around the world presented on the impact of Rastafari at the conference at the University of West Indies in Kingston.
Semaj, who up to recently wore locks, said that the movement lost potency up to mid-90s when the traditional theme of peace and love was usurped by fire burning.
"Rastafari had its greatest impact during the first 30 years using the soft power of peace and love. All the things with which Rasta made an impact on the world are the things that evolved out of the foundation of Rastafari using the soft power," he asserted.
Rastafari is a comparatively new religion which began in the 1930s — its followers worship Haile Selassie I, former Emperor of Ethiopia. During the first 30 to 40 years the movement received spiritual strength from the visit of Selassie to Jamaica and the rise of Reggae music via Rastafari including the Wailers and Dennis Brown. The 90s however saw some Rastafarian entertainers — the movement's most visible personas -- lyrically promoting guns, ganja, glamour, gals and gangsterism. They also merged the vocal styles of 'righteous' Reggae with 'decadent' dancehall.
"The consistent refrain of Rastafari over the first 30 years was peace and love, but then it transitioned to something else called fyah bun. It is the most common theme in the last 10-15 years for the Rasta man. How did we make that transition?," he asked.
Semaj agreed that fire can purify, but questioned whether the confrontation of fire has benefited the movement.
"What has fire created. Has it destroyed what has been created over the first 30 years. Rasta has to answer these questions," stated Semaj who is also the founder of The Job Bank a company that provides leadership and employment solutions.
Semaj who received a Post Doctoral Fellowship in psychology from Princeton University, has lectured at the University of the West Indies, Cornell University and Rutgers University. He has also been a columnist and commentator on numerous talk shows.
 
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9/4/2010
Nyahbinghi, death to all downpressor,Hot, hot Fyah & Brimstone is I an I weapon. Ital Iyant is I an I language. Reggae musicians a use Ista Iyant with no knowledge. Capleton and him Fyah Bun mockery is ignorant , like most other entertainers of Fyah Bun in Ista (Rasta) creed. Semaj a play wid Fyah an him a guh get Bun, bun, bun. Di american sociologist, George Simpson was wrong bout Rastafari so who a Semaj to be likewise. Check di Rasta Elders for enlightenment.
9/4/2010
Its somewhat pathetic that an intelligentia member -Michael James aka Leachim Semaj, wanna dictate/analyse Rastafari Exidos.
Rastafari, like any other way of life, has its "secret code" that .to the average individual-Michael James-is unfathomable. CircumcisionBaptisam, of the heart, not the genital, not wid water but wid Fyah & Brimstone, i.e. stop do wrong and do Right is the initial transformation. I an I a di Armageddeon, the Purifyer. Fyah ha fi bun, hot,hot,hot by the circumcised ones.
9/4/2010
"love is always there, nuh matter how wi dress and wi raga ragga hair". Semaj you should know when fire is burned without control, it will burn even those who started the fire. Fire must be a part of the culture, it is the power from the word that burns the devils in the wicked. Not everyone knows how to burn the fire, but fire is good for the purification of the soul. Rasta cannot outlive its purpose or promise. We can only live our promise and purpose, enlighten the world with love and fire.
9/3/2010
This gentleman does not have a clue.
9/3/2010
STATE OF THE RASTA & DREADS: Native Americans, Whites, Indians, Asians, Spanish, etc., have grown locks for a variant of reasons including, Rastafarian-ism, protests, and muzik (it is kool to have locks on stage dude). But overall, core values of the Rastafari has not changed. The religion is still young and going through growing stages as different races and cultures adopt. As time progresses many factions will continue to rise from the original concept. Nothing wrong with that. RASTAFARI LIVE!
9/3/2010
One of great things about the Rastafarian movement is it helped defined black people's identity first in Jamaica & then worldwide. Because of 400+ years of slavery followed by 200+ years of abuse (racism, prejudice and ridicule), blacks developed an inferiority complex of how they feel and look until quite recently. Some Blacks were not pleased with especially their dark or black skin, thick lips, flat noses and nappy hair. The more light-skinned with white features one has. The better! RASTA!
9/3/2010
Rasta movement was a Social, Civil and Religious Rights protest against the ills of Jamaican Society and their religion that seemingly favored the ruling class (in the 1930's). Founders were saying why worship a god that seems unfair to the suffering masses? Profound! SELASSIE I! Today "Fyah Bun" is still a cry of protest against the class-conscious society and their religion for most parts. And "Fyah Bun" doesn't mean to literally set a church ablaze. Symbolically it is extreme defiance...
9/3/2010
Rasta is many things including religion &/or protest. "ONE LOVE" mantra was @ the core of ideals maybe 1 step below Haile Selassie as Jah, who is a direct linage of King Solomon. ("ONE LOVE" was 1st used by Marcus Garvey. Proof Rastafarian-ism was influenced by Marcus Garvey also.) Early movement was a Social, Civil & Religious Rights protest against the ills of JA Society & religion that seemingly favored the ruling class while the poor suffer. Y worship their god. Selassie was direct line.
9/3/2010
Semaj Dude -- the true values of the Rastafarian are still intact. Lots of devoted Rastas across the world who preach and practice peace & love. But just Like Christianity, Jew, Muslim (or any faith) -- many r called; few r chosen. How many "Christians" are really righteous Christians? Not b/coz one chants "Jah Rastafari" or "Selassie I" between puff of ganja means he or she is a Rasta. Not because reggae artists with locks singing praises to "Selassie I" in verses mean they are Rastas.
9/3/2010
Weird, when we know that the first Rastas used to sing Babylon Burning. Furthermore, this peace & love image of Rasta seems to be so closely linked not the the international conflicts but to the so called tribal (in fact politician) wars that started in the early 60's. Far from the hippie movement. The Bobo movement was, fruthermore, coming from the root of the 30's, through Emmanuel. Nothing new.
9/3/2010
Weird, when we know that the first Rastas used to sing Babylon Burning. Furthermore, this peace & love image of Rasta seems to be so closely linked not the the international conflicts but to the so called tribal (in fact politician) wars that started in the early 60's. Rasta is very far from the hippie philosophy to me - even in the 70's.
Anyway, that's an interesting point of view.
9/3/2010
David Smith,while i share your sentiments about Michael James,i must take issue with you on the matter of Rastafari being a religion.The eating habits or worship of Selassie are not the only tenents of the Rastafari religion,but rather the "livity"of peace and love,which is not at odds with the teachings of Christianity.JAH LIVE.
9/3/2010
Rastafari is in almost the same position Christianity was in its early years..where there a different and often contradictory beliefs about what the religion hold as fundamental true there are rasta's who dont see Selassie as God..some who do and some who don't believe in god at all.
As for the dilution of rasta from peace to fyah bun blame that on the commercialization of rasta by forces in side and out..and remember that Christianity was a religion of peace and we know that changed overtime.
9/3/2010
What exactly did it "destroy"? The earning power? It still is big money earner. Its influence outside of entertainment? There was precious little before. Semaj may be guilty here of constructing an idealic past for Rasta.
9/3/2010
Would Jamaicans including your writer obliterate from their mindset that wearing locks does not equate with being a rastafarian? For many in sports,music, other performing arts, academia, wearing locks is simply a fashion statement and not religious namely rastafarian. Some lock wearers don't even have a clue of what rastafarianism is.
Semaj like other professionals advocate for so-called Jamaican English and rasta language (Ebonics here in US) but communicate in English appropriately. class
9/3/2010
You know I often wonder what is the real purpose of some of these people whop call themselves motivational speakers and otherwise. I dont know if rasta is any religion at all. Eating food without salt and not eating meat is a personal and health issue. Rasta praise a man who was created by the supreme being. I am also not amused by people who seek to turn their birth names backwards, because to me is a indication of their backward thinking.
9/3/2010
I totally disagree with Mr. Semaj's views. Fyah Bun and Peace and Love have always existed simultaneously in Rastafari Movement from inception. If Mr. Semaj did his research he would have come accross the "Nyabingi Dreadlocks" the warrior, who had always preached peace & love and fyah bun fe de babylon, poke eater and vatican.
However, one of the most important teachings of Rastafari of what not to do, is exactly what is being done now and that is trying to analyze and explain Rastafari.
9/3/2010
a Capleton yuh a throw wod pon? " de fireman"?
9/3/2010
Greetings. Brother Semaj seems to have been swept up in the "let's get together and feel alright" notion of Rastafari. The global media (including Jamaica) loves when Rastafari sit down and laff an kin teet with Prince Charles, or the BBC selects "One Love" as song of the century because Rastafari becomes palatable. Rastafari need to know I and I roots- I majesty, his works and words. Focus on charting a course, not some ones with a mic looking a hype. Rasta alive Check Millenium Council
9/3/2010
I whole heartedly agree with the views expressed here.The rasta movement has be supplanted by the rascal movement and the "dread locks". Everybody now wears dread locks,even gays,who the rasta movement condemns.The rascals smoke crack cocaine and get involved in a wide assortment "Babylon sodomy" that rastas don't partake.
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