Corinna Kern

Photojournalist & Documentary Photographer

www.corinnakern.com

Rastafari

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RASTAFARI

This project gives intimate insights into the way of life at Judah Square, the largest Rastafarian community in South Africa.

Founded in 1993 as an informal settlement, Judah Square developed into a village when it was allocated its own area inside the township ‘Khayaletu’ in Knysna, South Africa. It is now home to about 90 individuals from the three different mansions in Rastafari culture, the ‘Nyabinghi‘, the ‘Twelve Tribes of Israel‘ and the ‘Bobo Shanti‘. Defined as an extension of Christianity, the Rastafari movement, founded in Jamaica in the 1930s, praises Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia (1930-1970), as the second coming of Jesus Christ on Earth. For many, Rastafari goes beyond a religion, being about a way of life based on peace, love and unity.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY...r the South African government.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 07, 2015: Brother Jabu, 50, (C ) and brother Wilfred Jansen, 49, (R ) during the Southern Cape provincial meeting of the three different mansions within Rastafari culture at the Rasta community Judah Square on February 07, 2015 in Knysna, South Africa. The provincial meeting brings together members of the three different Rastafari mansions, which are the 'Nyabinghi', 'Twelve Tribes of Israel' and 'Bobo Shanti', in order to work towards unity and a communal voice as a representation of Rastafari culture and religion. As a religious minority group, the Rastafari movement strives towards the same status as any other religion and a better treatment under the South African government.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - February...the tabernacle at Judah Square.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - February 05, 2015: Benji in front of the 'Psalm of the Day' panel at Judah Square, Knysna, South Africa on February 05, 2015. In the Rastafari movement, a different psalm is allocated to each day of the year and used as part of the morning praises in the tabernacle at Judah Square.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - February...oming of Jesus Christ on Earth.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - February 08, 2015: During their Sunday's workshop, Empress (L ) and Naphiteta (R ) sit on a couch in front of a poster of Haile Selassie in the home of Sister Kerri at Judah Square, Knysna, South Africa on February 08, 2015. The workshops are designed to teach the children about Rastafari culture of that religion is an important part. The Rastafari movement is seen as an extension of Christianity, that praises Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930-1970, as the second coming of Jesus Christ on Earth.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 12...onstant covering of their hair.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 12, 2015: Naphiteta (C ) stands in front of her home while her mother takes care of the youngest of her nine children in Judah Square, a Rastafari community in Knysna, South Africa on April 13, 2015. The family belongs to the 'Bobo Shanti', the strictes of the three mansions within Rastafari culture, which demands, among others, a constant covering of their hair.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 12...h Square, Knysna, South Africa.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 12, 2015: Nadine (L) and Antionette (R ) eat candy apples in their home April 12, 2015 at Judah Square, Knysna, South Africa.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 11...outh Africa on April 11, 2015 .

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 11, 2015: Holding his chanting book and bible in his hands, Rastafari priest Wilfred Jansen (C ), 49, stands in front of the attendees of the 'Nyabinghi' ceremony lining up in a circle in front of the tabernacle at Judah Square, Knysna, South Africa on April 11, 2015 .

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 11... within the Rastafari movement.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 11, 2015: Marijuana lies on an opened bible on an altar during a 'Nyabinghi' ceremony in the tabernacle at Judah Square, Knysna, South Africa on April 11, 2015 . Marijuana is smoked for spiritual purposes in Rastafari culture and placed on the altar as an offering to Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930-1970 and worshipped as the second coming of Jesus Christ on Earth within the Rastafari movement.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY... Rastafari priests are present.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 07, 2015: Dancing around the altar in the tabernacle, rastafari priest Simon chants accompanied by the chanting and dancing of the other attendees of the Nyabinghi ceremony at the Rasta community Judah Square on February 07, 2015 in Knysna, South Africa. Like many other attendees that come from various parts of the Southern Cape of South Africa, Simon visits Judah Square for the Nyabinghi ceremony taking place once per month. During a Nyabinghi ceremony ideally seven Rastafari priests are present.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY...y when entering the tabernacle.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 02, 2015: Calsey, a visitor and relative of a Rasta family in Judah Square, attends the Nyabinghi ceremony in the tabernacle in Knysna, South Africa on February 02, 2015. She is not a Rasta herself but, like all other women, has to cover hair hair and body when entering the tabernacle.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY...ren are provided with bicycles.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 09, 2015: The children of the creche are taught traffic rules during an outside activitiy at Judah Square on February 09, 2015 in Knysna, South Africa. Once per month a simluation of traffic is performed during that the children are provided with bicycles.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 09, 2015: The children of the creche are taught traffic rules during an outside activitiy at Judah Square on February 09, 2015 in Knysna, South Africa. Once per month a simluation of traffic is performed in the Rastafari community, during that the children are provided with bicycles.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 09, 2015: Children pass each other a harmonica over the portrait of Haile Selassie painted on a wall at Judah Square on February 09, 2015 in Knysna, South Africa. The Rastafari movement is seen as an extension of Christianity, that praises Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930-1970, as the second coming of Jesus Christ on Earth.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - February...uring communities of Khayaletu.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - February 05, 2015: Children take a midday nap at the creche at Judah Square, Knysna, South Africa on February 05, 2015. The creche caters for both Rasta children as well as children that are not Rastas from the neighbouring communities of Khayaletu.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - February 08, 2015: Empress, Naphiteta, Marcus and Naema (L-R) pray before the start of their Sunday's workshop with sister Kerri at Judah Square, Knysna, South Africa on February 08, 2015. The workshops are designed to teach the children about Rastafari culture of that religion is an important part. The Rastafari movement is seen as an extension of Christianity, that praises Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930-1970, as the second coming of Jesus Christ on Earth.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - February...th Africa on February 05, 2015.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - February 05, 2015: Christmas tree in the home of Rastafari family Daniels at Judah Square, Knysna, South Africa on February 05, 2015.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY...nd used for spiritual purposes.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 06, 2015: Rastafari collects marijuana leaves for tea at Judah Square on February 06, 2015 in Knysna, South Africa. Marijuana is an integral part of Rastafari culture and used for spiritual purposes.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY...nd done for spiritual purposes.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 08, 2015: During the Sister's Council meeting in the home of Sister Kerri at Judah Square on February 08, 2015 in Knysna, South Africa. Smoking marijuana is an integral part of Rastafari culture and done for spiritual purposes.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 12, 2015: Levietta (R ) and Omega (L ) read text messages on their cell phones in their home in Judah Square, a Rastafari community in Knysna, South Africa on April 13, 2015. They belong to the 'Bobo Shanti', the strictes of the three mansions within Rastafari culture, which demands among others a constant covering of their hair.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 09...oming of Jesus Christ on Earth.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 09, 2015: Rastafari girl while playing outside at Judah Square on April 09, 2015 in Knysna, South Africa. The painted wall in the background shows a portrait of Haile Selassie. The Rastafari movement is seen as an extension of Christianity, that praises Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930-1970, as the second coming of Jesus Christ on Earth.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY...ther than the cleansing ritual.

KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 07, 2015: Brother Charlo Solomons, 54, and his grandson Benji stand in front of the tabernacle during the Nyabinghi ceremony at the Rasta community Judah Square on February 07, 2015 in Knysna, South Africa. Charlo is responsible for surveilling the fire during the ceremony to make sure that people who leave and re-enter the tabernacle walk around the fire seven times as a means of spiritual cleansing. The fire is not supposed to be used for anything else other than the cleansing ritual.