The Early Days
Rastafari Universal Zion
Rastafari Universal Zion (RUZ) was founded on the 15th January, 1978, by Jah Bones. RUZ demonstrates an interest by Rastafari in Britain in enhancing the organizational capacity of the movement. The stated aim of RUZ was to "promote by such means as are charitable the Rastafarian faith and in particular to support expand and develop the growth of local Rasta organizations throughout Great Britain".
RUZ was based in Tottenham, North London, close by to what is now the Marcus Garvey library. RUZ provided craft workshops and training, drop in facilities for advice and information on employment, housing, problems with education and the law for black youth, literacy classes, as well as a general meeting place for informal recreation.
RUZ was based in Tottenham, North London, close by to what is now the Marcus Garvey library. RUZ provided craft workshops and training, drop in facilities for advice and information on employment, housing, problems with education and the law for black youth, literacy classes, as well as a general meeting place for informal recreation.
Jah Bones on Rastafari and Organization
Interview, August 1979:
[What's the importance of Marcus Garvey for Rastafari who wish to organize?]
"Well, Marcus Garvey was instrumental in causing Rastafarians to emerge, because with his emphasis on a socio-political interpretation of the Black man's dilemma you see, people in Jamaica could get to understand more clearly what the situation was about. For instance, before Marcus Garvey's time, the Black Jamaican sufferers would tend to see their political or economic plight in terms of religion and they would act out any frustrations or any demands through religion like, pocco-mania or various sects of Christianity, but Marcus Garvey came and sort of put an end to that. He showed people that, you know, people have got to consider the economic realities and start getting acquainted with them, and not just stop at religion.
[Why have Rastafari emerged in Britain as a major movement?]
Well its part of the circle. Now this circle is a world wide one. There is this movement of greater consciousness amongst Black people world wide, and wherever you get Black people living in any substantial numbers, especially from Jamaica, you are going to have Rastafarians. It's like where you get water you will have fish... And, you see, the Black people from the West Indies and Africa in general, they are expecting a great push forward. They are expecting a great cultural resurgence so that they can find this lost pride, you know, so that they can have a voice in the world's affairs much more. And the search for equipping themselvfes with what it takes has given them Rastafari..."
[What's the importance of Marcus Garvey for Rastafari who wish to organize?]
"Well, Marcus Garvey was instrumental in causing Rastafarians to emerge, because with his emphasis on a socio-political interpretation of the Black man's dilemma you see, people in Jamaica could get to understand more clearly what the situation was about. For instance, before Marcus Garvey's time, the Black Jamaican sufferers would tend to see their political or economic plight in terms of religion and they would act out any frustrations or any demands through religion like, pocco-mania or various sects of Christianity, but Marcus Garvey came and sort of put an end to that. He showed people that, you know, people have got to consider the economic realities and start getting acquainted with them, and not just stop at religion.
[Why have Rastafari emerged in Britain as a major movement?]
Well its part of the circle. Now this circle is a world wide one. There is this movement of greater consciousness amongst Black people world wide, and wherever you get Black people living in any substantial numbers, especially from Jamaica, you are going to have Rastafarians. It's like where you get water you will have fish... And, you see, the Black people from the West Indies and Africa in general, they are expecting a great push forward. They are expecting a great cultural resurgence so that they can find this lost pride, you know, so that they can have a voice in the world's affairs much more. And the search for equipping themselvfes with what it takes has given them Rastafari..."
The importance of the Rastafari mantra "organize and centralise" is clearly evident in this piece of writing from RUZ:
And the idea that Black pride was crucial to any successful organization of Rastafari against Britain's "Babylonian" system is evident in this poetry performance at RUZ headquarters (taken from the video One Love):