The Co-optation of a "Revolution": Rastafari, Reggae, and the Rhetoric of Social Control
In the 1970s, reggae's international popularity increased the visibility of the Rastafarian movement around the world. It can be argued that while the international popularity of reggae apparently enhanced the Rastafarians' cultural identity in Jamaica, much of that legitimacy was illusory1. While the Rastafarians played a significant role in promoting Black Pride and rehabilitating Jamaica's African heritage, Jamaica's neocolonial power structure remained essentially unchanged. Furthermore, the Rastafarians failed to achieve many of their more specific policy goals, including repatriation to Africaand the legalization of marijuana.
Keywords: JAMAICA; LEGITIMATION; RASTAFARIAN MOVEMENT; REGGAE; RHETORIC; SOCIAL CONTROL
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: 01 April 1999
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