#leonard howell

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Leonard Howell (1898 - 1981) was a prominent Jamaican religious leader and one of the founders of the Rastafari movement. Born in the parish of Westmoreland, Jamaica, Howell played a crucial role in shaping the spiritual and cultural identity of Rastafari. In the 1930s, he began preaching the teachings of Marcus Garvey and the belief in the divinity of Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia, which attracted a following among those disillusioned with colonization and social injustice.

Howell is often referred to as the "first Rasta" and was instrumental in establishing the philosophy and principles that would become central to Rastafarianism, including the concepts of repatriation, resistance to oppression, and reverence for African heritage. In 1934, he founded the first Rasta community, known as the "Lion of Judah Society," in the hills of Jamaica.

Throughout his life, Howell faced significant opposition from the authorities, including imprisonment for his beliefs. Despite this, he remained steadfast in advocating for a new way of life and consciousness among his followers. He passed away in 1981, but his legacy continues to influence the Rastafari movement and its message of empowerment and spiritual awakening. 🟢🟡🔴🇯🇲

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You don’t have to be Black to be a Rasta.

You don’t have to be Black to be a Rasta.

Is the Rasta movement a Black movement? Of course it is. Do you have to be Black to be a Rasta? Well, that depends on who you ask.

Today, if you ask a Rasta Reggae Musician, if only Blacks can become Rasta, the answer will be a resounding “NO”. That is because the main goal of a Reggae artiste is to sell records, sell out shows and be on yearlong tours. Regardless of what a Rasta artiste says in…

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Rasta and Reggae: Two separate entities.

Rasta and Reggae: Two separate entities.

Most people look at Rasta and Reggae like love and marriage where you can’t have one without the other. This assertion couldn’t be further from the truth.

People often intertwine the Rasta Movement and Reggae Music. The fact is, however, they are completely separate entities and each can exist independently without the other.

In 1920 the prophet Marcus Garvey told Blacks in the west to “Look to…

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[dxmeon]

The First Rasta.

Leonard Percival Howell. 

Hailed by many worldwide as the founding father of Rastafari, and vilified by history as a mad man, Leonard Percival Holwell’s contribution to the development of Jamaican culture cannot be denied. Born in Clarendon, Jamaica on June 16th 1898, Howell was blessed with parents who instilled a fiery sense of independence in their son. Successful farmers they were, Thomas and Clementina graced their son with opportunities that would enhance his intellectual and social capabilities. By his early twenties, the spurt of the Pan-African movement enticed the youth to find his way by ship to New York City, and to search through its boroughs to discover the epicenter of the black civil rights movement, Harlem. But it was his humble rural upbringing that became the catalyst which created history. Howell arrived in New York to find an intensity of Bigotry, Racism, and social oppression much more than he had imagined. It was after one such personal encounter that he dedicated his life to fight against racial hatred and social oppression. Within months after his decision, Howell plunged himself into preaching his visionary message across America. The power of his word drew invitations from dignitaries across the world including Europe, UK and the Motherland Africa. By the late 1920’s his message had reached the ears of eminent scholars such as W.E.B. Dubios, Heads of States such as Beniot Sylvain Of Ethiopia, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Bishop Johnson Of Nigeria, and Jomo Kenyatta amongst others. In 1932 Howell returned to Jamaica with an urge to share his wealth of knowledge with him kinsman. He was pleased to find on his arrival, that the message of his majesty’s crowning as RasTafari had already been embedded by Marcus Garvey and his Pan-African movement - The UNIA.

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[dreadlockstory]

June 16 is the birthday of Leonard Percival Howell, known as ‘The First Rasta.’ He was the first to bring the word RASTAFARI to the island of Jamaica. He promoted the belief that everyone is divine and equal through the figure of the Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia- and thus starting the Rasta movement. The political nature of his ideas had him jailed for two years by the Jamaican colonial government. He published ‘The Promised Key’ in 1935, a spiritual pamphlet, which showed elements of Pan-Africanism and the anti-colonial struggle. DREADLOCKS STORY explores how Howell was influenced by another element present in Jamaican society- the lifestyles of Hindus.  

Howell’s legacy was blackened by the colonial authorities, and his people persecuted for their beliefs. There aren’t many photos of Howell in circulation today- the one above is a drawing by his younger son, Bill ‘Blade’ Howell in 2011. During their childhood, Blade and his older brother Monty lived at Pinnacle, a community of Rastas that Howell founded on land purchased in Jamaica. The government raided and confiscated this land from the Howell family, lotted it up and sold it to people. Linda interviewed both Blade and Monty about their enchanted time at Pinnacle, preserving their story on film in her upcoming documentary, A PARADISE STOLEN: Life in Pinnacle, Jamaica.

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THE JOURNEY OF LEONARD HOWELL- JAMAICA'S FIRST RASTA

Leonard Percival Howell was born in Jamaica in 1898, but left as a teenager to find work in the Americas.

His most influential stay was in Harlem, New York, where he experienced bigotry, racism and social oppression first hand.

With the influence of the black civil rights movement, and spiritual and political guidance from Marcus Garvey and the United National IA, Powell chose to dedicate…

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