Publisher's Synopsis
"Rasta Songbook" comes blazing with fire poetry. Many works in this book are at-length verses that would be excellent for spoken work performances. The content in sum pertains to spirituality, pride in Rastafarian and Black identity, standing up against an evil system, negotiating one's way in the world as a Rastafarian, and advocacy for rights and justice. The book starts out with "Rasta for Life", a poem that captures the essence of the Rastafarian ethos. It speaks to unrelenting and enduring self-assurance as Rastafari. It also shows willingness to resist any encroachment upon such identity. The themes of this poem are familiar ones in Nigel Daring's works. They're ideas reflected throughout "Rasta Songbook" also.
"Rasta Songbook" calls for reparations for the Black population. It sees this issue as one of overdue justice. But it just doesn't examine what the Western world needs to do to improve the lot of Black people through compensation. It also calls for Black people to change certain mindsets and behaviors detrimental to their growth.
This book examines the plight of the Black masses, but it also connects to all people. There are poems here that all can relate to: poems of love, consciousness, beauty in life, and self-esteem. A lot of the works inspire people to do their best, live their best, and never give up on their dreams. Some poems relate to maintaining or increasing faith during trials and tribulation. But there are those too that call for remembrance of Jah in good times, to observe His and Her ways in life, nature, and oneself, and to spread Jah message with love.
The profound ideas in this book are most often communicated by a rhythmic flow. The language is primarily English, but it's duly peppered with much Jamaican talk, a common trend in Rastafari. The reading is not only serious, it's also flavorful.
When one completes reading "Rasta Songbook", he'll come to overstand some of Nigel Daring's view on Rastafari. But he'll also come to apprecilove some trends and issues in the movement. Rastafari lives and breathes in this book.
