Cosmopolitanism from the Global South: Caribbean Spiritual Repatriation to Ethiopia

This ethnography explores the power of the imagination to move individuals from the Global South, focusing on Caribbean Rastafari who have undertaken a spiritual repatriation to Ethiopia. It traces the formation of a Rastafari community in Shashamane, Ethiopia, and highlights the cosmopolitan sensibilities of Caribbean individuals. The case of spiritual repatriation challenges global disparities and reproduces hierarchies in the local space, while also engaging in ontological and epistemological reinvention. Ethnographies of the Caribbean have been instrumental in exploring global interconnections, and this discussion is relevant to wider world-making processes and representations.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 209 pages
Publication date: 16 September 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This captivating book delves into the profound power of imagination to transform individuals from the Global South as they embark on a transformative journey of self-invention. Through an ethnographic lens, the author focuses on Caribbean Rastafari communities who have undertaken a spiritual repatriation to Ethiopia, particularly from Jamaica. Shelene Gomes intricately traces the formation of a vibrant Rastafari community in the multicultural Jamaica Safar or Jamaica neighborhood in the Ethiopian city of Shashamane. This remarkable community emerged following a twentieth-century grant of land from the former Ethiopian Emperor, Haile Selassie I.

In her captivating narratives, Gomes unveils the intricate tapestry of spiritual repatriation, encompassing everyday behaviors and ritualized events. Through this ethnographic account, she offers a profound exploration of Caribbean cosmopolitan sensibilities, situated within the historical conditions of colonial West Indian plantations and the complex interplay of freedom and bondage in the modern world. Gomes' work highlights a recognition of global positionalities and local situatedness, distinguishing this case of cosmopolitanism from the Global South.

Rastafari, with its transformative worldview shifting from Europe to Africa, not only challenges global disparities but also reproduces hierarchies within the local context of the Jamaica Safar. By positioning Ethiopia as the spiritual birthplace of humanity, Rastafari engages in an ontological and epistemological reinvention, fostering a deep sense of interconnectedness and cultural heritage.

This spiritual repatriation, in its emic sense, underscores the significant Caribbeanist contribution to anthropology. Ethnographies of the Caribbean have been at the forefront of anthropological inquiries into global interconnections, and this discussion of spiritual repatriation resonates not only within the diasporic Caribbean but also has broader implications for world-making processes and representations.

In conclusion, this book is a testament to the transformative power of imagination and the profound impact of cultural heritage on individual and collective identities. Through its ethnographic exploration, it sheds light on the complex dynamics of globalization, spirituality, and cultural identity, offering valuable insights into the rich tapestry of human experiences across the world.

Weight: 298g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030822743
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021