Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Rastafari Millennium Council excommunicates Snoop Lion

Since his 'reincarnation' Snoop has struggled to convince the Rastafari and Reggae community that he is sincere about his profession of, and transition to the faith, principles and beliefs of Rastafari. Most doubtful of them all is Bunny Wailer the only living member of the original Wailers



Wailer has always had his doubts about Snoop Lion's intent and now his scepticism has taken an even stronger stance, that of excommunication. Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend, or limit membership in a religious community or to restrict certain rights within it. Some groups use the term disfellowship instead. The news was broken via Wailer's Facebook early Sunday (April 7) morning outlining what exactly excommunication entails:

"The word excommunication means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group. Excommunication may involve banishment, shunning, and shaming, depending on the religion, the offense that caused excommunication, or the rules or norms of the religious community."

See: Snoop Lion speaks in favour of same sex marriages

Wailer told TMZ earlier in the year that his scepticism spawned from the docu-film "Reincarnated" ... which documented Snoop's immersion in the Rasta culture as he recorded his first reggae album in Jamaica last year.

Wailer claimed Snoop had engaged in "outright fraudulent use of Rastafari Community's personalities and symbolism" -- and has failed to meet "contractual, moral and verbal commitments." Leaders of the Ethio-Africa Diaspora Union Millennium Council also known as the Rastafari Millennium Council echoed Wailer's thoughts firing off a 7-page demand letter to Snoop criticizing his Rastafarian transformation.

They are asking Snoop to drop the "Lion" moniker and revert back to Dogg, as well as, issue an apology to the Rastafarian Community.

Failing to do so would result in a lawsuit against the rap icon…but it eventually led to excommunication.

Since news broke a few persons took to Facebook to express their thoughts on the situation. One person gushed "Rasta is the way of life for all black people not a religion, no one should tell anyone [what] you can't and can do. I don't agree with my elder Bunny, mind control need to be stopped and let Snoop choose his ancestors path without stopping him. If you need to be none or make headline write song not making headline like you are the one who will decide who will be rasta or not."

Another shared that "I love my Reggae music and as far as I am concern Snoop produces beautiful reggae style and lyrics. But as far as Rastafarian belief goes all I can say is that surely there must be other Rastafarian not only in Jamaica but in the world who have done worse. I know some people who have grown their crown, wear rasta clothes, and they are huge fans of Bob Marley but they do not praise or give thanks to H.I.M. They know nothing about his majesty emperor Haile Selassie I the first."

In a recent March-released NME article Snoop is quoted as having doubts with his Reggae career since being plagued with criticisms.

"That (the transformation) was a priceless moment. I definitely feel like I'm gonna make more music, but I don't know if I'm gonna go to Jamaica, I may wanna go somewhere else," he expressed further stating that "I may wanna venture into another part of the world. Some things you let them be what they are"

This "something different" could be anything from a location change to a genre jump.

"I'm just saying I don't know if I want to repeat the same process as far as going to Jamaica and making a reggae album," he says. "I may wanna go to another country and make a reggae album. I may wanna make a rap album. I don't know," he continued.

Snoop's Reincarnated album is set to be released April 23.