The Kebra nagast : the lost Bible of Rastafarian wisdom and faith

The Kebra nagast The lost Bible of Rastafarian wisdom and faith

Book - 2020

"The Kebra Nagast is a pivotal text in the Rastafarian tradition. Written in Ethiopia during the 14th century, this sacred tale tells the story of the relationship between the Biblical King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, as well as their son Menyelek who famously brought the Arc of the Covenant to Ethiopia. A key text for Ethiopian Christians, The Kebra Nagast is also a fundamental sacred work of the Rastafarian tradition. Edited by Gerald Hausman, The Kebra Nagast: The Lost Bible of Rastafarian Wisdom and Faith weaves the core passages of the Kebra Nagast together with stories and tale from Rastafarian traditions. This rich retelling is the latest title in the acclaimed Essential Wisdom Library series which brings sacred texts from a...ll traditions to modern readers. The new edition of the book includes a foreword by Ziggy Marley, which explores the importance of the Kebra Nagast as a powerful text both in Rastafarian tradition and in a broader sense. A clean, fresh design and inside cover printing give this ancient text modern appeal. A work of incredible cultural significance, The Kebra Nagast is far more than simply a piece of literature, but rather it is a testament to enduring richness of Ethiopian tradition and culture."--Back cover.

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Subjects
Kebra nagaśt > Criticism, interpretation, etc.
Rastafari movement.
Spiritual life.
Conduct of life.
Jamaica > Religious life and customs.
Published
New York : St. Martin's Essentials 2020.
Language
English
Ethiopic
Other Authors
Ziggy Marley (writer of introduction)
Edition
First St. Martin's Essentials edition
Physical Description
xxi, 177 pages : illustration ; 21 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 171-172) and index.
ISBN
9781250256454
  • Introduction / by Ziggy Marley
  • Preface
  • Editor's note
  • Historic implications of the Kebra Nagast
  • Kebra Nagast. Earth ; Power ; Wisdom ; Angel ; Vision ; Pearl
  • Appendix
  • Prophet
  • Bibliography
  • Index
  • The ancestral tree.
Review by Booklist Review

Not as trendy as it once was, Rastafarianism still has committed adherents, and they may be more interested in its underpinnings than just in its use of ganja as a sacrament. Hausman's new edition of the Ethiopian compilation of lore that posits that Jesus was black is for such persons. Hausman's preface and the melodic verses of the text, written in rustic, awed tones and full of the lilt of roots Reggae lyrics, take aim at true believers. The text's narrative rambles at times, but not badly for a holy book. To brusquely reduce it to its main thrust, the Kebra Negast supports the claims to black presence in biblical lore through the lineage of King Solomon's Ethiopian children. Hausman augments the main text with a little compendium of parallel quotations from the Bible and the most famous Rastafarian--certainly to "Waspafarians" --the late Bob Marley. Inspirational, informational, melodious stuff. --Mike Tribby

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review

Folklorist and author Hausman has combined ten years of informal study in Jamaica, the 1922 version of "The Queen of Sheba and Her Only Son Menyelek" (translated by E.A. Wallis Budge), the Koran, the King James Bible, and the words of reggae great Bob Marley into a new version of the Kebra Negast ("the glory of the Kings"). This "lost bible," the core of Rastafarian wisdom and faith, has survived through oral tradition in many Caribbean nations, even though it has been banned because of its African glory themes. Hausman effectively puts the Kebra Negast into the words of the Rastafarian community, presenting the core‘that "we must learn to live by the laws of compassion rather than judgment"‘through anecdotes from the author's travels in the Rasta community. A recommended introduction to the Kebra Negast.‘L. Kriz, West Des Moines Lib., Iowa (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The Kebra Nagast THE KEBRA NAGAST.Copyright (c) 1997 by Gerald Hausman. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010. Excerpted from The Kebra Nagast: The Lost Bible of Rastafarian Wisdom and Faith from Ethiopia and Jamaica All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

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