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Leave Babylon: The Trope of Babylon in Rastafarian Discourse

Abstract This article explores the usage of the term "Babylon" in Rastafarian liberation discourse as distinct from the exodus motif normally associated with theologies of liberation. This usage comes mainly from Marcus Garvey's notion of a "Black Zionism" that pictured Zion as a place of restoration. In its usage in the prophetic books of Jeremiah and Isaiah, Zion serves as the foil for Babylon and in many instances the two topoi are paired. The article argues that the Rastafarian reading of the biblical texts, more so the prophets and not the book of Revelation, generated the notion of Babylon as the evil empire; any place outside of Africa as Babylon, and the British Empire as Babylon with Zion as its counterpoint. An exploration of the music of Bob Marley, as representative of Rastafarian discourse, also reflects the pairing of Babylon-Zion, as seen in the prophetic texts.