GhanaStar
  • News
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Music
No Result
View All Result
GhanaStar
  • News
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Music
No Result
View All Result
GhanaStar
No Result
View All Result
Home Top Stories

Use of Marijuana Didn’t Start With Rastafari – History Lecturer

February 28, 2017
in Top Stories
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A lecturer at the History Department of the University of Cape Coast, Professor De-Valera Botchway has demystified misconceptions associated with Rastafari and the use of marijuana.

You Might Also Like

Prominent Ghanaian Leaders and Clergy Honor Late Apostle Dr. Michael Kwabena Ntumy at State House Funeral

Vice President Bawumia Shares Inspiring Journey from Oxford University to Political Success

The Diverse Currencies of Africa: Impact on Economic Growth

Rasta himself, he argued that the usage of the plant began with human kind and not Rastafari per se.

The history lecturer would not take a stand on calls for marijuana usage to be decriminalized, but he was quick to point out that the plant has many beneficial purposes.

Rastafari is a religious movement that developed in Jamaica with its believers adhering to Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia as a Messiah and justifying black people as the chosen ones to return to African homeland.

Although the use of ‘Rastafarianism’ and ‘Rastafarian’ are common in describing the movement, adherents prefer ‘Rastafari’ ‘Ras’ or ‘Rasta’.

‘Ras’ means leader, and ‘tafari’ means to be feared implying that Rastafari means ‘A leader who is to be feared’.

Not everyone with dreadlocks ascribe to the teachings and philosophies of Rastafari because the hair style has been the choice of the many including the youth especially some celebrities in the entertainment and sports industries.

While some dreadlocks are manmade, others are natural like that of the Mensah siblings.

The Mensah siblings are five and are from Afrangua in the Asebu Kwaman Kese District of the Central Region.

Their dreadlocks come with traditional beliefs that deter them from cutting their hair.

In late 2016 there were issues concerning refusal of certain government and mission schools to admit children who wear dreadlocks.

But for the Mensah siblings, their dreadlocks have been a center of attraction for their friends and teachers.

“All my four younger siblings have dreadlocks and everyone in this school understands because they know it is by birth,” Martha Mensah told 3news.com.

Meanwhile, there has been an intense debate about decriminalization of marijuana in Ghana for some time now with some disagreeing that its decriminalization will open a floodgate for drug abuse.

According to a 2015 report by the international narcotics control board, Ghana was the highest in the use of marijuana although the country has fallen to a third position in Africa currently.

Professor De-Valera Botchway traces the beginning of the usage of the plant to humanity and not Rastafari, making references to biblical stories in the Garden of Eden.

“Marijuana has been used in other societies without problem but in post-colonial Ghana it is considered an illegal substance. Why is marijuana illegal? It is basically someone’s interpretation of good and bad. I don’t understand why some people will be allowed the sale of alcohol and others are being arrested for possessing marijuana,” the professor argued.

He says many non-Rastafari use the plant under disguise unlike rastas who he says are true to themselves.

Comparing alcohol and marijuana, he recommends that the issue of legality and illegality of marihuana should be revisited.

The professor is not happy about the various misconceptions people level against Rastafari which include beliefs that Rastas do not know God and are not intellectuals, and therefore radical. He suggested that we should accept diversity in human kind and stop criticising others because they do not belong to one’s society.

Sign up for GhanaStar.com to receive daily email alerts of breaking news in Ghana. GhanaStar.com is your source for all Ghana News. Get the latest Ghana news, breaking news, sports, politics, entertainment and more about Ghana, Africa and beyond.

Tags: africaCannabisCape CoastChivalryDe-Valera BotchwayDreadlocksemperorEthiopiaghanaHaile SelassieHistory Departmenthistory lecturerinternational narcotics control boardIyaricJamaicalecturerMartha Mensahmeans leaderprofessorRastafariRastafari movementReligionUniversity of Cape Coast

Related News

Prominent Ghanaian Leaders and Clergy Honor Late Apostle Dr. Michael Kwabena Ntumy at State House Funeral

Prominent Ghanaian Leaders and Clergy Honor Late Apostle Dr. Michael Kwabena Ntumy at State House Funeral

by ghanastar
February 25, 2024
0

In a poignant ceremony held on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at the Forecourt of the State House, hundreds of mourners...

Vice President Bawumia Shares Inspiring Journey from Oxford University to Political Success

Vice President Bawumia Shares Inspiring Journey from Oxford University to Political Success

by ghanastar
June 17, 2023
0

In a heartfelt revelation of his life's journey, the Vice President of the Republic, His Excellency Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, spoke...

The Diverse Currencies of Africa: Impact on Economic Growth

The Diverse Currencies of Africa: Impact on Economic Growth

by ghanastar
June 17, 2023
0

Africa, a continent rich in cultural diversity, is home to a vast array of currencies. With 54 recognized countries, each...

Suicide at Aburi Botanical Gardens: Man Found Dead

Suicide at Aburi Botanical Gardens: Man Found Dead

by ghanastar
January 14, 2023
0

A man, believed to be in his fifties, has died by suicide in the Aburi Botanical Gardens in the Eastern...

Next Post

Trump Blames Obama For Town Hall Protests and Security Leaks

Israel Unprepared For Tunnel Threat In 2014 Gaza War

Categories

  • Africa & World
  • African Music Lyrics Directory
  • Business
  • Business Directory
  • celebrities
  • Computing
  • Diaspora
  • Entertainment
  • Events
  • Feature
  • Featured
  • Ghana Elections 2016
  • Headlines
  • Health
  • International
  • Internet
  • Jobs
  • lifestyle
  • Music
  • News
  • Offbeat
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Profiles
  • Religion
  • Security
  • Seth Terkper
  • Smart Home
  • Social Networks
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Top Stories
  • World News

Tags

accra addo africa Association football Banks - NEC business Business_Finance chairman Donald Trump economy education Entertainment_Culture environment Geography of Africa ghana Ghanaian people government Government of Ghana Human Interest John Dramani Mahama john mahama Law_Crime mahama minister MPs elected in the Ghanaian parliamentary election Nana Addo Nana Addo Dankwa Nana Akufo-Addo National Democratic Congress National Democratic Congress (NDC) New Patriotic Party New Patriotic Party (NPP) nigeria politics Politics of Ghana president Social Issues Social Media Social Media & Networking sports United Kingdom United Nations United States Vice President War_Conflict

Recent Posts

  • Government of Ghana Unveils Official Portraits of President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
  • Who Is the Woman (Sheena Gakpe) in Sarkodie’s Latest Hit “No Sir” and Why Everyone Is Talking about It
List of Ghana Holidays for 2020
Ghana Geocoding
Ghana Cedis Exchange API
Ghana Maps Service
Toyota Cars Auto Auction History
  • African Music Lyrics Directory
  • Business Directory
  • Diaspora
  • Top Stories

All rights reserved © 2021 GhanaStar.com

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Music

All rights reserved © 2021 GhanaStar.com