Q: Do you believe that more people should be educated on the Rastafarian religion and way of life, if so why?

A: There are a lot of misconceptions about Rastafarians, how we live, what we believe, and basically who we are. We are humble, hardworking, and faithful people who live a life of service to His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I Jah Rastafari. We do not take one day to worship God and do foolishness every other day. In every action I make I remember Jah and do things to further the words of His Imperial Majesty and give thanks for the opportunity and blessing to be honored to do his works.

Q: Please tell me a bit about your past and the person you are today.

A: As a teen I was around many people going astray, going down the wrong road. I always felt some presence watching over me and didn't fully understand that that presence was Jah, His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I, who protected me and gave me direction to focus and do his works. I feel extremely blessed that Jah chose me to do his works and stay vigilant because I don't want to let him down.

Q: How long have you been a Rastafarian?

A: Someone doesn't become a Rasta, if you are a man of goodness you have Jah inside your heart. If you are a woman with goodness in your heart, Jah lives inside of you. It's just when you realize this, acknowledge and accept the Most High that you live the way of Rastafari.

Q: When and why did you decide to live the Rastafari way of life?

A: I started researching and educating myself about Rastafari when I was around 16. I was blessed to recognize and realize His Majesty at a young age.

Q: Some say the religion stems from Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. Others say it stems from Judaism, and the list goes on. What religion do you believe is the root of the Rastafari religion?

A: I would say that it stems from Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity is the earliest form of Christianity and Ethiopia is the oldest Christian civilization on this earth. Also His Majesty is the head of the Ethiopian Orthodox church because he is God in flesh. Yet InI follow the laws of Moses and recognize that we are the true Israelites, Jah's chosen people kept in captivity in Babylon the west, wanting to go home to Ethiopia/Africa.

Q: How do you feel about Rastafari governing today? What is your view on the houses or mansions within Rastafari?

A: I believe that we as Rasta need to focus on doing Jah work put aside that we may not be from the same house. We need to come together and make progress instead of focusing on differences in the houses. If we came together and focused on building up a Rasta school or going into our local school and educating people about Rastafari or helping build up our local communities or repatriation to Africa. We need to focus on the bigger vision, the upliftment of people, Jah Rastafari.

Q: Are you a part of any particular house?

A: I love H.I.M. Haile Selassie I God in Flesh, who gave InI life. I love Empress Menen, first Black Mother of creation Queen Omega. I love the right Honorable prophet Marcus Mosiah Garvey who gave us vision. I love king Emmanuel Charles Edwards who brought back tradition and foundation of a Godly and Priestly churical order. God is love, let us all love.

Q: What do you suggest to the Rastafarian community for gaining unity?

A: Put aside our differences and focus on Jah and the vision. If Jah's people can not put aside differences, what hope does anybody else have? InI have to set the example.

Q: Some Rastas are opposed to people who are not of African descent becoming Rastafarian. How do you feel about this?

A: We are all descendants of Africa. The Black man and woman is the original man and woman, none should deny that. It has been said for many years that the first people came out of Africa, especially present day Ethiopia, but now it is a scientific fact. The oldest human bones have been found in Ethiopia, it is a fact yet people still want to turn a blind eye and not see the glory of Africa/Ethiopia and Black people.

Q: While the religion and lifestyle continues to spread, do you feel that it is often exploited and misinterpreted by society?

A: People hear the reggae music and see the videos and stage shows and that is what they believe Rasta is. That is a huge misconception. First of all reggae music is not Rasta music, nyabinghi music, the one two, the heart is the original music, this is Rasta music. Rasta is not a fashion, it is a way of life, it is my life and I take it very seriously. And it pains me to see by bredren and sistren representing themselves poorly and not caring. That is why we need to be educating and I think that the real Rasta singers need to always remember that they are in the spotlight and should always represent Jah

Q: Do you find it offensive for one to be dreaded and not a Rasta or a Rasta, but not dreaded?

A: I want people to be educated, to know where dreadlocks come from, that not everyone has locks for fashion, that there is a deeper meaning. Whether you lock up or not is your personal decision, but for me my locks are my covenant with the Mist High. They are my strength and my beauty and that is a serious thing.

Q: What is your position on repatriation? Do you consider it a requirement to return to Africa? Will you return?

A: my goal is to forward to Ethiopia/Africa and work to fulfill the vision of a united Africa as Garvey spoke about and prophesized. That would be my salvation, getting out of the west and helping to build up Africa.

Q: Rastas often refer to Babylon with a negative tone. What does Babylon mean to you?

A: Living in the west out of Ethiopia/Africa we are living in Babylon. InI have to be strong in these times and know that if we live in the light of Jah and do His work that we will persevere. We need to remember that being Jah's children living in the west we will struggle, the way the Israelites struggles in captivity in Egypt and survived in the wilderness to make it to the Promised Land. And I strongly believe that while we live in the west that we need to take every opportunity we can to further ourselves and our people, especially educationally. If we want to build up Africa we need every person to bring forward their skill. We need farmers, teachers, engineers, business people, along with governors, journalists and computer technicians. And we need to take opportunities in the west especially in America to build up Ethiopia/Africa.

Q: What is your outlook on education? Do you believe that there should be a supplement to public education, which some refer to as Babylonian?

A: Education is power and is needed to forward Africa. Again the only way to build up a strong prosperous nation is through education. Selassie was EDUCATED, knew everything from a youth. He knew the importance of education and invested time and money to build up the education system in Ethiopia. Empress Menen used her own money to open schools for girls in Ethiopia to educate and empower woman to have opportunities in their lives. No one should over think they don't need to be educated, yes schools in the west teach our youth part of history, a very small part of history, many teachers are so disconnected from their students. Class is a constant struggle and not learning. But we should never give up on education. Youth want to see how their subjects effect them and the teacher needs to be able to do that. We as a whole, people need to make it a cool thing to be an educated person and not ignorance. A lack of education most times leads to ignorance. I believe that by neglecting the importance of education, we as Rasta are not fully promoting and doing Jah's work.

Q: How would you describe Selassie in terms of Rastafari?

A: His Majesty Haile Selassie I God in flesh is Jah, the Lord of Lords, King of Kings and the Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah. He dwells within all of us. We need to remember that not only did Jah create InI, but he breathed the breath of life into InI which is Him. We must give thanks to Him everyday for giving us Life.

Q: What happens to non Rastas living and in afterlife?

A: I believe you need to look in the heart of someone to see their truth, to see if they are a good person. And if you are a good person then Jah will reward you in the afterlife.

Q: What does Zion mean to you?

A: Zion is paradise, it is our home where we can live with Jah. A place where love, life, and unity overcome hate, death, and destruction. A place where we can live a simple life of service to Jah.

Q: What is your position on the usage of marijuana as a religious act?

A: Herb is a natural plant, a plant of healing. It is powerful and people need to respect it. It comes from the earth and is a blessing that Jah gave to InI for a high meditation. The herb plant is a healing plant of the mind, body, and spirit.

Q: What would you say are the key factors of the Rastafarian lifestyle?

A: To love Jah and love life and live life to the fullest. We are in this flesh for such a short time, we need to take every advantage and opportunity and forward. Never take life or anything for granted because it all came from Jah and he can take it all away faster than a blink of the eye. Selassie is God in flesh, so as a man you have the example of perfection. Follow the ways of Him, life the way of Him. For a woman, Empress Menen is the Mother of Creation, the example of womanly perfection and we as woman need to follow the ways of Her and live the ways of Her.

Q: Do you associate yourself with these characteristics?

A: I try to live a life of right, a life of Jah, but only Jah is perfect.

Q: What is the most memorable experience, good or bad, that you have had as a Rastafarian?

A: Life, living in the flesh. It is important to take time to appreciate and give thanks because life in the flesh is so short. I love to see InI coming together in unity and giving praise to Jah. This gives InI energy and strength to continue to do Jah works out in Babylon. I also love to see a change in people's perception or opinion of Rastafari or a Rastafarian. Reasoning and educating someone who at first shunned and looked down at you and turn it around to someone who respects and admires and honors you and Selassie. This to me is a great blessing.