A Rasta's Pilgrimage

Book excerpt: This book presents a compelling view of Ethiopia's ancient civilization from a Rastafarian perspective. To Rastas, Ethiopia is a spiritual sanctuary -- a dreamscape that transcends physical geography. It is the homeland of Ras Tafari -- Haile Selassie I, the Lion of Judah and the Rastafarian Messiah -- who gave Ethiopian land to Jamaicans for resettlement. Rastas see repatriation to Ethiopia as a spiritual mandate and an earthly imperative. Neville Garrick's spectacular photographs and warmhearted text speak to the mystery of faith, to the abiding beauty of a scarred and famished land, and to the down-to-earth warmth and dignity of the Ethiopian people.