Establish your own schools – Samini to Rastafarians

Reggae musician Samini has called on “well-to-do” members of the Rastafari fraternity to consider establishing their own schools to ensure conformity to Rasta principles such as keeping dreadlocked hair without being discriminated against.

In a lengthy Facebook post on Wednesday, 24 March 2021, the ‘My Own’ hitmaker shared his opinion on the ongoing debate about school hairdos after Achimota Senior High School refused to admit two Rastafarian students because of their dreadlocks.

The school’s PTA, the National Association of Graduate Student (NAGRAT) and the Ghana Education Service (GES) have backed the headmistress’s decision not to accept the students.

However, others like the Rastafari Council, the former member of parliament for Kumbungu, Mr Ras Mubarak and some Ghanaians, disagree with the position of the school.

Contributing to the ongoing debate, Samini, who wears dreadlocks, said in his Facebook post that he disagreed with Achimota school if the debate is centred around style and preference.

He wondered why someone cannot wear their hair the way they want to school in 2021.

He, however, noted that if the argument is about religion, then he would stand with Achimota School.

Speaking in favour of style and preference the musician observed: “If it is an issue of style and preference then I would humbly plead that our authorities take a second look at this questionable ‘decree’ that smacks of intimidation, discrimination and even to some extent, racism! How will the locks make other students uncomfortable?"

“How will the locks affect his performance? Or wait, will the locks perhaps turn into snakes at midnight and hound other students?"

“Can someone please help me understand why I cannot wear my hair the way I want to school in 2021?"

“Let’s even leave the public schools and turn our focus on the private schools that allow any kind of hair preference on their premises. Do we have any records of any troubles being created? I don’t think so.”

On the other hand, the multiple award-winning musician noted that if it is an issue of religion; “if these lads who want to wear locks in school are insisting on that because it’s a religious requirement they cannot forgo, then by all means, let’s all stand with Achimota because allowing it, could be very very detrimental!

“A wise man, Eric Weiner, once said ‘Religion is like a knife. If you use it the wrong way you can cut yourself’ ‘Massaging’ institutionalised procedure to favour ones religion is a dangerous path we should not take! The repercussions could be terrible because once it’s done to favour religion A, it must be done to favour all and who knows what religion B might ask for?”

Samini, therefore, called on the Rasta fraternity to come together to enroll the affected students in private schools.

He also suggested the establishment of Rasta-owned schools to champion their interest.

”That said, I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to some well to do Rastas out there. Can we come together to fund these lads through private school? Until Rasta builds schools like the Muslims, Catholics, Methodists, SDAs and so on have, can Rasta hold its own to ensure no one pushes Rasta about over rules Rasta must obey in everyone’s interest?”

A few days ago, the President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Mr Angel Carbonu, wondered why Rastafarians do not have their own school by now so as to avoid the situation where their religious rights and freedoms always clash with the rules and regulations of the existing schools that their children attend.

"I don't even know why the Rastafarians don't have their own schools because they've been in this country for a very long time," Mr Angel Carbonou said at a press conference on Monday, 22 March 2021 at which NAGRAT voiced out its opposition to an earlier directive of the Ghana Education Service to the management of Achimota SHS to admit two fresh students with dreadlocks.

“We expect that if you want to be in that school, you obey the rules and regulations. The rules and regulations of an institution are not chosen and picked by individuals, they become standard and ought to be obeyed by anyone who wants to access the school,” Mr Carbonu said.