Placemaking in the Transnational Caribbean: A Rastafari Community in Ethiopia

Abstract

Considered a sacred place, Shashamane plays a foundational role in the Rastafari transnational social imaginary, especially when one considers how it is a purposeful response to the horrors of racial capitalism. Through an analysis of scenes of everyday life in Shashamane, Ethiopia, we examine the components of migrant Rastafari material culture and the resultant placemaking practices. Like other places in Ethiopia, in the last 20 years Shashamane has undergone a significant transformation in its basic infrastructure. The result is qualitative shift in everyday practices, with significant improvements to relations. We examine how some of these facilitate a culture of bonds that stave off extreme vulnerability.