Holding on to Jah

Reggae music is among the most beloved of Jamaican exports, yet reggae's heritage is marked with pain and tribulation. Roger Landon Hall's documentary traces the development of reggae in conjunction with the fight by Jamaica's Rastafarian population for equal treatment from both the British colonial occupiers and, for the last half-century, the Jamaican government. A great deal of the confusion and hostility towards the Rastafari movement can be traced to the movement's rejection of traditional Christian tenets. Rastafarians celebrate the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Seilasse (1892-1975) as the reincarnation of Jesus—indeed, the emperor's visit to Jamaica in 1966 set off a riot of jubilation by the island's Rastafarians. Jamaican authorities routinely targeted the community with social and economic discrimination accompanied by heavy-handed police tactics. However, the emergence of reggae during the 1960s, coupled with the international acclaim bestowed on iconic performers such as Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff, brought a more positive image to the Rastafari movement. Holding on to Jah is a lively and provocative history, featuring rarely seen film footage and insightful interviews with Rastafarians who saw their community move from the fringes of Jamaican society into the global spotlight. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)