Like any religious practice, Rastafarianism is defined by it's own unique system of symbols. Economic and colonial ills are termed "Babylon;" and a common theme (as seen in Bob Marley's famous song "Exodus") is leaving Babylon, extricating oneself from the society that is keeping you down.
The Boboshanti Rastafarians seen in the video we watched have "escaped from Babylon" in a way, or are at least at some step in that process. Their community is attempting to separate themselves, at least for the most part, from the mainstream society. On their secluded mountaintop, they are more able to be practicing "ital living," the clean, healthy, homeopathic lifestyle seen as ideal.
Their entire community seems very much modeled on these symbols. The buildings are painted with the classic color scheme of gold, red, green and black; the signs have important quotes and sayings, and the classic dress is dreadlocks in a turban, representing a crown. Through this, they discuss the return to an Ethiopian spiritual ideal.
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