Yasus Afari took time out to research and write his best selling book "Overstanding Rastafari: Jamaica's Gift to the World" as a follow up to work he has developed in Jamaican schools as a "Culture Agent".The book was launched at the University of the West Indies in April 2007 and Yasus Afari started to tour the world promoting the book. This book is used in schools and universities around the world as one of the few comprehensive texts on Rastafari written by a Rastafarian. Why did you decide to write the book?
I think that once you are a part of a community, Rastafari and the Jamaican community in my case, you have a responsibility to seek to understand that community and the people with whom you co-exist in that community.
It seems strange that a book like this has never been written before.
What would you say is the main point of the book?
The main point of the book is really tolerance, overstanding, seeking to overstand and to be overstood as a social being. It is not really laced with Rasta jargon – but the thinking is we all share the same breath of life. At least we have that in common, let us base our thinking on even that one premise and work the others our.
Who is the book aimed at?
Certainly the youths. Life is like a relay so we have to understand the role of the youths and we need to invest in them if we want to change things. But I am speaking to other Rastas too as we want to inspire a period of introspection. Really anyone with an interest in Rastafari and Caribbean and African-Caribbean history generally should read the book.
