Rastafarian Funeral Customs and Traditions

Rastafari is a decentralised faith with several Houses (most prominently the Nyabinghi (the orthodox order), the Bobo Shanti, and the Twelve Tribes of Israel) and beliefs around death vary between them. What unites most Rastas is a focus on livity: right living, ethical and spiritual life in harmony with Jah and creation. When someone passes, it is the quality of their livity that is honoured, far more than the physical end itself.

Many Rastas believe the soul returns to Jah (the One Divine, often understood through Haile Selassie I) and to Zion: sometimes a literal idea of Ethiopia and Africa, sometimes a spiritual home. Some hold to reincarnation for the righteous; others speak of the inner essence continuing as a spiritual force. Comfort is often drawn from scripture, especially the King James Bible and the Old Testament: Psalms 23, 91, and 121 are frequently read and recited.

Most services centre on Nyabinghi drumming, where the steady heartbeat rhythm of the bass, fundeh, and repeater drums carries the gathering through chants and song. The atmosphere often blends honest mourning with a celebration of the person's livity, and call-and-response chants of "Rastafari", "Jah Live", and "Selassie I" may rise from the room. A central element is reasoning: the community sitting together to share memories, scripture, and reflection. In the Bobo Shanti tradition, rituals are typically more elaborate and structured, with formal prayers and a stronger liturgical shape. Burial is the usual practice, often followed by a graveside service with further drumming and chanting.

Grief is acknowledged honestly within the community. Phrases like "more love", "one love", and "give thanks" express solidarity. Practice varies considerably between Houses and families, so the most caring approach is to take your lead from the people closest to the person who has died. The four guides below cover what to say, what to expect, what to wear, and how to send a thoughtful gift.