Living in zion: Rastafarian repatriates in Ghana, West Africa

The theme of repatriation figures prominently in a repertoire of symbols and concepts associated with Rastafarianism. Yet the experiences and perspectives of repatriated Rastafarians remains an uncharted area of research in Rastafarian scholarship and studies in the African diaspora, more broadly conceived. What impact does an actual physical repatriation have on the Rastafarian ethos of repatriates? For example, is there a reworking or confirmation of notions of Zion and Babylon that comes with actually experiencing the fulfillment of repatriation? Based on ethnographic research in Ghana, West Africa, this article explores the experiences and perspectives of repatriated Rastafarians from Jamaica.