Ites Gold and Green
In Rastafarianism, "Ites, gold and green" (often written as Ice, Gold and Green), refers to the colours associated with the Rastafarian movement. The colours ites (red), gold (yellow) and green hold symbolic significance for Rastafarians and represent different aspects of their beliefs and identity.
Ites
In Jamaican Patois the pronunciation of the letter "H" can vary due to dialects, many Jamaican dialects omit or pronounce the "H" sound less prominently than other English dialects, and is embraced as part of the Jamaican linguistic identity. Ites is a dialect pronunciation of 'heights', for example, 'Iya Ites' (or 'Iyaites') refers to 'higher heights'[1].
Additionally, Ites, in Jamaican slang, may refer to the colour red in Rastafarianism [2]. Moreover, red can be associated with the Lion of Judah. Red can also symbolizes the bloodshed and sacrifices endured by the African people throughout slavery and colonialism[3]. The symbolism of the colour red can vary among different individuals and Rastafarian groups, and interpretations of colours can have personal or cultural variations[citation needed].
Gold
Gold (or yellow) represents the wealth and prosperity of Africa, as well as the spiritual and material wealth that Rastafarians aim to achieve. It symbolizes the richness of the African heritage, including their history, culture, and the achievements of African people.
Green
Green represents the natural beauty of Ethiopia, which is highly revered in Rastafarianism. Moreover, green signifies the lushness and hope of the Earth namely that of the Promised Land of Ethiopia. Ethiopia is considered the spiritual homeland of Rastafarians, and they view it as the promised land where their ancestors originated. Rastas accord key importance to Haile Selassie, the emperor of Ethiopia many Rasta's regard him as the Second Coming of Jesus and Jah incarnate (a shortened form of the divine name Jehovah). Green also symbolizes growth, life, and the environment.
In Music Culture
- Johnny Clarke - Ites Green & Gold (1976)
- Al Campbell - Ites Gold & Green (2000)
- Kelissa - Ites, Green and Gold (2016)
- Naram - Ites, Green & Gold (ft General Jah Mikey) (2018)
- Rob Syemonne - Ice Gold n Green (2019)
- Sistah Jahia - Ice Gold and Green (2022)
Conclusion
Together, "Ites, gold and green" serves as a visual representation of Rastafarian pride, African heritage, spiritual connection, and reverence for Ethiopia. Moreover, Ites (heights) The colours Red (ites), gold (yellow), and green were used in the Ethiopian flag prior to the development of Rastafari, the Jamaican black nationalist activist Marcus Garvey had used red, green, and black as the colours for the Pan-African flag representing his United Negro Improvement Association. These colours are often seen in the form of flags, clothing, and other Rastafarian symbols.
See also
References
- ^ ""Ites"". Jamaican Patwah. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; 15 October 2017 suggested (help); Text "Patois Definition on Jamaican Patwah" ignored (help) - ^ Costa, Maddy. "Culture: Readers recommend". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 September 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
Burning Spear are more hypnotically positive, seeing in "ites [red in Jamaican slang], green and gold" - the colours of Rastafarianism
- ^ Lion, Biko. "Red, Gold and Green, What do these colour mean in RasTafari?". Rasta Knowledge. Archived from the original on 18 September 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
Red – signifies the blood of those killed for the cause of the African community, throughout history