Boboshanti's Turbans

One of the most salient features of the Boboshanti is their emphasis on the symbol of Ethiopia. The boboshanti are particularly connected to the Ethiopian symbolism seen throughout the Rastafari religon. They have an emphasis on repatriation to Ethiopia and they are set on preparing themselves for a return to the homeland by first, ressurection, then, redemption and finally, repatriation. The boboshanti try to accomplish this goal by organizing, purifying and centralizing the Rastafarian movement so that they may return one day to their African roots and the land of Haile Selassie. The emphasis on the importance of Ethiopia to Rastas is also seen in our text book, especially early in the movement when there was a strong push to return to Africa, to the homeland as soon as possible in order to escape the oppression of "Babylon" and return to the Rastas proud supposed roots and the land of the alleged Solomonic emporer Haile Selassie.

However, the boboshanti take the symbolism of Ethiopia even further than many Rasta groups by wearing turbans over their dreadlocks. The Rastas in the video claim to wear the turbans to emphasize their connection with Ethiopia. They try their best to dress like Ethiopians. It is one of this particular groups "requirements." The symbol of the turban, although it bears a strong connection to the symbol of Ethiopia, it has not been mentioned as a common symbol in our text which makes the appearance of turbans in this video surprising. Although it is not a ubiquitous symbol in the Rastafari, it is logical that followers would try to mimick Ethiopians in their looks and dress since the symbol of Ethiopia is one of the founding symbols of the movement. 

Because the boboshanti choose to wear turbans, while they do not omit the wearing of their hair in dreadlocks, the turbans still hide their dreadlocks which downplays the locks that are often seen as an important part of the Rastafarian image. The text mentions uses and symbolism of the dreadlocks, dreads emphasize naturalness while promoting an image of beauty contrary to the European conception of what beauty should be. Rastas may also shake their dreadlocks in order to unleash spiritual energy to bring destruction of Babylon. If Rastas are wearing turbans, however, they are not displaying that image of naturalness to the outside world and they are inhibited from shaking their locks and releasing said spiritual energy. It seems that the use of turbans and Ethiopian dress shifts the focus of these Rastafari from being contrary to rich, white Jamaican culture toward attaining the promised land of Ethiopia. Since, at least in the video, their community was secluded from wider society they did not have to encounter many white, non-Rastafarians and therefore could focus on attaining their ultimate goals rather than on rebelling against the white culture and Babylon.