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Becoming ‘members of a new race’ : Redefining Rastafari Alternative African Masculinities in Zimbabwe
Sibanda, Fortune (2025): Becoming ‘members of a new race’ : Redefining Rastafari Alternative African Masculinities in Zimbabwe, in: Molly Manyonganise, Masiiwa Ragies Gunda, Linda Naicker, u. a. (Hrsg.), Religion, Gender and Masculinities in Africa : Essays in Honour of Ezra Chitando, Bamberg: University of Bamberg Press, S. 541–560, doi: 10.20378/irb-106063.
Author:
Title of the compilation:
Religion, Gender and Masculinities in Africa : Essays in Honour of Ezra Chitando
Publisher Information:
Year of publication:
2025
Pages:
ISBN:
978-3-98989-042-8
Language:
English
DOI:
Abstract:
Often identified as a minority new religious movement (NRM) in society, Rastafari has been misunderstood, misinterpreted and underplayed in scholarship as compared to other religious traditions. This chapter seeks to critically engage selected works of Ezra Chitando in the context of Rastafari perspectives on gender, health and human sexuality in Zimbabwe against the backdrop of the ‘one love’ principle in the movement. The study posits that Rastafari presents an ambivalent case on issues of gender, climate change, health and human sexuality. The study grappled with the question: Is there a disparity between Rastafari philosophy and practice of ‘one love’ pertaining to gender, climate change, health and human sexuality? The research used Afrocentricity as a theoretical framework and a combination of a critical review of published works and documentary analysis of print and electronic media for data collection. The study established that on the one hand, Rastafari is making a steady progress towards promoting gender equality by carving Alternative African Masculinities in the family and the public sphere. On the other hand, the challenges that remain pertain to Rastafari views on human sexuality and sexual and reproductive health. In particular, the anti-homosexuality stance and skepticism towards the use of contraceptives, catapult the ambivalence of the sacred in Rastafari. The study concludes that just as the works of Chitando seek to ensure that ‘all may live’ by any means necessary, promoting transformative African Mas- culinities would be the best way forward for Rastafarians to ‘become members of a new race’, thereby reliving the legacy of Emperor Haile Selassie I in 21st century Zimbabwe.
GND Keywords: ; ; ;
Simbabwe
Rastafari
Männlichkeit
Chitando, Ezra
Keywords: ; ; ; ; ;
Alternative African Masculinities
Gender
Health
Human sexuality
Rastafari
Zimbabwe
DDC Classification:
RVK Classification:
Type:
Contribution to an Articlecollection
Activation date:
February 13, 2025
Permalink
https://fis.uni-bamberg.de/handle/uniba/106063