Special thanks to the author & @akashicbooks for my gifted copy‼️

When I first heard the term Rastafari (Rasta) it was always associated with Bob Marley. I honestly wouldn’t have known there was more to the Rasta movement or that it was an actual community to be apart of because the way it’s been portrayed.

Throughout the book Bill “Blade” Howell goes in depth on how his father Leonard Percival Howell created an organization that would soon be referred to as “Ras Tafarites,” or “Rastas.” After continuous harassment from police and being thrown into jail Howell and his followers moved onto an old estate they’d call Pinnacle and lived as an egalitarian community. 

I loved learning firsthand what it was like for Bill Howell growing up in a Rasta environment. From previous books I’ve read that mention the Rasta experience it always seemed like a strict culture to be apart of. If you didn’t live or behave a certain way you were going against their beliefs. But his father was different and was often viewed by many as a noble man . He didn’t believe in his people needing to be a certain way. Or the women being separate from the men as with present day Rastas. He felt whatever men could do so could women. Pinnacle was truly a place where people could be free and live as one and even outsiders were welcomed. They weren’t a materialistic culture and all lived comfortably together regardless of one person having more than another because they were all equal. I also love how he mentions religion and where the concept of Babylon derived from within their culture and why the Europeans despised  his father so much.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book I thought it was very informative. The author thoroughly breaks down in four parts what his father stood for, his influence and reasoning for creating the Rasta movement, what destroyed their community, and provided clarity by answering questions for those who did not understand the culture or their beliefs. I’d recommend to anyone interested in learning the true history of Rastafarian culture.