- Title
- In search of identity: an anthropological study on the experiences of Rastafarians in contemporary Malawi
- Creator
- Maganga, Stewart Martin
- Subject
- Malawi -- Religious life and customs
- Subject
- Rastafari movement Identity (Philosophical concept)
- Date Issued
- 2019
- Date
- 2019
- Type
- Thesis
- Type
- Doctoral
- Type
- DPhil
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42536
- Identifier
- vital:36666
- Description
- Prior to 1994, religious freedoms were largely restricted because the constitution at the time vested its powers in the president who was at the time was Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda. Banda, who ruled Malawi for thirty years, sought to present Malawi to the outside world as a Christian nation. This was purposefully done by ignoring the existence of other religious faiths in the country of which Rastafari was one. Although the Rastafari movement was in existence during Banda’s presidency, most Rastas found it difficult to practice their religious beliefs freely. Because of this, it was found that throughout the three decades Banda was in power, the Rastafari movement in Malawi was virtually underground. This further gave the public impression to the public at the time that Rastas were non-existent in the country. It was only after the general elections of 1994 that Malawians became aware of the existence of the Rastafari movement in the country. With that said, there remains a paucity of written information on the Rastafari movement in Malawi, that is before and after the 1994 general election. To be able to establish why the Rastafari movement continues to grow in Malawi, this thesis began by addressing the question of why a certain group of individuals would seek becoming to Rastas in Malawi including its impact on their lives including relationships with both friends and family members. For the many that embraced Rastafari, the intention was to embrace a spiritual identity that was separate to that of their parents. Most raised the concern that the religions that they were previously affiliated did not allow them the freedom to explore their spirituality. This further raises the question regarding the link between established religions and spirituality. In as much as Rastafari has provided the individuals in this study a sense of meaning and identity in their lives, they have had to contend with facing confrontation with friends and family members. This thesis also explored the experiences that come with being a Rasta in Malawi. Amongst the issues that are of concern to the Rasta community is that for the many Rasta children that attend public schools, most are denied their right to attend classes with dreadlocks. Most Rastas had hoped that with the advent of democracy in Malawi, their fundamental rights would be recognised and protected under the constitution. What this thesis has demonstrated that despite the existence of democracy in Malawi, it did ultimately result in a society that would be open to diversity. What this study has demonstrated is that Malawi continues to remain a highly conservative society. This is further illustrated in the way Malawian Rastas have had to contend with being denied employment opportunities including their fundamental right to smoke chamba (marijuana) freely. This thesis set out to argue that the democracy brought about by the elections of 1994 did not necessarily result in the improved conditions of minority religious groups like Rastafarians. This is despite the current constitution allowing for religious freedom. Despite this, the thesis further set out to show that the Rastafari movement does have vital role in the current dispensation. The issues that make the Rastafari movement pertinent in present-day Malawi include issues of corruption and neo-colonialism. This thesis concluded that more must be done to improve the conditions of Rastas in Malawi. Some of recommendations that were raised in this study included reviewing the current policy regarding the length of hair that one wears to school as it relates to one’s religious beliefs. The other recommendation that was raised in this study includes amending the Religious and Moral Education (RME) school curriculum in order that it becomes inclusive of other religious faiths that are existing in the country. In addition, the current legislation regarding the possession of chamba must be amended to accommodate for religious groups such as Rastas who use it for religious purposes.
- Format
- xiii, 271 leaves
- Format
- Publisher
- Nelson Mandela University
- Publisher
- Faculty of Arts
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Nelson Mandela University
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| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
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| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | SM MAGANGA_PhD THESIS FINALE.pdf | 1 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |