The Twelve Tribes Of Israel

John (Yochanan) 14:2

² In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I got to prepare a place for you.

Dr . Vernon Carrington 'The Prophet Gad'

  The Order of the Twelve Tribes of Israel was founded in 1968 in Jamaica by Dr. Vernon Carrington. Its founder is known as 'The Prophet Gad' or 'Gadman', for he was the reincarnation of Gad, one of the original sons of Israel. He felt his role was to reunite the Ten Lost Tribes.
  The Twelve Tribes of Israel are based on the twelve astrological zodiacal signs.

Zodiac Symbol and Latin Name	English Translation	The Corresponding Tribe
♈ Aries	The Ram	Reuben
♉ Taurus	The Bull	Simeon
♊ Gemini	The Twins	Levi
♋ Cancer	The Crab	Judah
♌ Leo	The Lion	Dan
♍ Virgo	The Maiden	Naphtali
♎ Libra	The Scales	Gad
♏ Scorpio	The Scorpion	Asher
♐ Sagittarius	The (Centaur) Archer	Issachar
♑ Capricorn	The Goat-Horned	Zebulun
♒ Aquarius	The Water-Bearer	Joseph
♓ Pisces	The Fishes	Benjamin

  Carrington is central to the movement, although he has a number of 'shepherds' to work beneath him, enabling the development and understanding of the group. The Twelve Tribes of Israel is considered the most liberal of the present orders in the Ras Tafari Movement. The members of the Twelve Tribes can practice their religion in the church or from their homes. We believe ourselves to be descendants of the Twelve Sons of Israel.

  The group's headquarters are on Hope Road in Kingston. But the order also exists outside Jamaica in places such as the United States of America, New Zealand, Europe and Africa.

Bobo Ashanti

John (Yochanan) 14:2

² In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I got to prepare a place for you.

Prince Emmanuel Charles Edwards 'Dada'

  The Bobo Ashanti Order, also called the Ethiopian International Congress, was founded in 1958 in Jamaica, by Prince Emmanuel Charles Edwards, considered by many to be the reincarnation of Yahushua. Prince Emmanuel, Marcus Garvey and Haile Selassie are regarded as part of the Holy Trinity. Selassie is regarded as King and God, Garvey is perceived to be a Prophet and Emmanuel a High Priest. Additionally, some Bobos see Idi Amin, the former ruler of Uganda during the 1970s, as a second coming of Garvey.  Bobo Ashanti members live apart from society, their base is in Bull Bay, Jamaica. But nowadays the group can also be found in the Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Trinidad.

  Bobo Ashanti are one of the stricted Mansions of Rastafari, they wear brightly coloured turbans to cover their dreadlocks, and long flowing robes to dress themselves. The members of the Ashanti order are all strict vegan and stick to the biblical restrictions regarding their vow. Returning to their diet, the Bobo Ashanti fast twice a week and on the first day of every month. They also adhere to a strict communal life, apart of society as I mentioned earlier, where women are separated from men. The Bobos have built a strong relationship with the local community outside of Bobo Hill and they often invite people to their services. Women and children are considered subordinate to men; a women may serve food to a guest, but never to a Bobo male; apart from that, the women' garments must cover their arms and legs. All children attend a basic school called Jerusalem School Room, and only after that, they can go to Kingston to school, but fortunately that is seldom. Almost all men within the community is seen as prophets or priests. The function of a prophet is to reason, and of a priest is to conduct the services.
  The Bobo Ashanti do not accept the laws and principles of Jamaican society, which means that they do not accept the principles and laws of many other countries.
  The Bobo Ashanti do smoke ganja, but not in public, because it is a spiritual rite only to be carried out during periods of worship. The Ashanti movement is concerned with fulfilling the campaign 'Back to Africa' created by Marcus Garvey, reuniting Africans with their homeland and abandoning contact with Western Society. Some members of this group feel black people should be given monetary rewards for the slavery they have endured.

The Name 'Bobo Ashanti', the Flag and the Hymns

  In relation to the name of their order, the word Bobo means black and Ashanti was the name of an African tribe from Kumasi in Ghana. Their also fly their flag in a different way to other Ras Tafari groups, they fly the Red, Gold and Green flag with Red at the top, while other groups fly it the other way up. Almost all songs and tributes within the community end with the phrase "Holy Emmanuel I Selassie I Yah Rastafar-I"

Elements of their daily life reflect the Jewish Mosaic Law

  The Bobo Ashanti honour the Sabbath, from sundown on Friday. And during the Sabbath the use of salt and oil is avoided and no work can be carried out. They have special rules for menstruating women. And also special group greetings.

Nyahbinghi Order

John (Yochanan) 14:2

² In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I got to prepare a place for you.

Bongo Watu

  Nyahbinghi is the oldest of all the Ras Tafari Orders. We attempts to keep the link between our faith and African heritage close. We pledge love to all humankind, however we not know violence, only Yah has the right to destroy. We make this pledge because of the power of Word, believing that only when we all, Yah' children, make the pledge together the downpressors will be downstroid.
  The focus of this group is on the veneration of Haile Selassie, who is regarded by us as the embodiment of Yah. Ethiopia is very important to us, which emphasises the repatriation to Africa. We also regard water, air and fire as representations of the elements of life. Fire is believed to represent the wrath of Yah pouring down on Babylon.
  Nyahbinghi eat organic produce only, such as vegetables, fruits, herbs and barks, and avoid the consumption of salt. The group take part in regular Groundations, often called Nyahbinghi Groundations. The word 'groundation' means affirmation of life through earth.

The Name 'Nyabinghi'

  Nyabinghi was a legendary Ugandan/Rwandan tribe queen in 19^th Century which inspired a movement, rebelling against African colonial authorities. The name Nyahbinghi is believed to mean 'Death to all Oppressors'.

The importance of Ethiopia to Nyahbinghi

  The flag tends to have the colour green first. The Nyahbinghi flag also features a lion in the centre, reflecting the Lion of Judah - Haile Selassie I. The order observe the Ethiopian Sabbath, which is Tuesday. The group try to use the Ethiopian language, Amharic.