Research Training Program

Andrew Gaudreau
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana

Jake Homiak, Ph.D.
Supervising Scientist
Department of Anthropology

"My summer at the Museum Support Center has been an invaluable learning experience and one which has pointed me in the direction of a professional career in anthropology."

Discovering Rastafari: A Case Study of Transnationalism

Rastafari is a social, political, and religious movement which began in Jamaica in the early 20th century. It is a response to the oppression of Blacks under European colonialism. Rastafari is essentially a resistance movement which advocates social equality and justice, as well as an emphasis on physical or spiritual return to Ethiopia/Africa. During the last three decades, the Rastafari movement has gained considerable momentum and membership throughout the world and on the African continent. It has become "transnational," transcending barriers such as race, language, nationality, ethnicity, and gender. This globalization has been made possible by certain key factors: the philosophy of Pan-Africanism (which says that all people of African descent share a common identity), the popularization of reggae music (particularly through the impact of Bob Marley), increased travel by Rastafari elders, and the accelerated networking of Rastafari communities throughout the world. This project has examined Rastafari globalization in preparation for a forthcoming exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History entitled "Discovering Rastafari." Work has included transcription of videotape recordings from Jamaica and Ethiopia, as well as the digitization of postcards, photographs, and slides which document Rastafari as a transnational movement. By working with these and other materials, it has been concluded that Rastafari was transnational since its inception (based on specific events and ideologies) and that ambiguities in certain core Rastafari themes facilitate its continued growth. These ambiguities encourage individuals throughout the world to find personal meaning and value in the Rastafari movement.

This research was supported by a grant from the University of Notre Dame NMNH Internship in Anthropology.

Letter of gratitude