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I was travelling home from work and a black man with dreadlocks approaches me. He says "Rasta girl, if I say Jah, what do you say?" Slightly annoyed by the fifth mention of Rasta girl that day, I replied bluntly, "no idea mate" But unfortunately for me, the man persisted with his question, "if I say Jah, what do you say?" This had really started to annoy me now because he was becoming louder and people began to wonder what the commotion was. This time I replied very curtly "haven't a clue mate and not particularly interested so if you'll just leave it" He cut me off there and shouted "Rastafari, Jah Rastafari, why you have dreadlocks girl if you white"

This is one fine example of the reactions my deadlocked' hair can provoke. I know I am making a statement with my hair but there are reasons other than being a Rastafarian for doing so.
Dreadlocks have in fact appeared in many different countries and cultures and the first known examples of the hairstyle date back to ancient Egypt, where dreadlocks appeared on Egyptian artefacts. Mummified remains of ancient Egyptians with dreadlocks have even been recovered from archaeological sites.
The Old Testament also recounts the tale of Samson and Delilah in which a man's potency is directly linked to the seven locks on his head' and according to Roman accounts, the Celts were described to have hair like snakes' Germanic tribes, Greeks and the Vikings are all said to have worn dreadlocks too.
Rastafarianism however is something entirely separate. It was born in the 1930s when Ras Tafari was crowned emperor of Ethiopia. When the emperor was forced into exile during an invasion, guerrilla warriors swore not to cut their hair until the emperor was reinstated. The religion resonated with the ideologies of the day, for example socialism, Marxism, nationalism and black power. It was therefore, seen as a threat to Christianity and came under attack by the authorities that tried to suppress the Rasta' movement and imprisoned those who possessed ganja'. Rastafarians smoked cannabis because they thought it prompted a clearer state of well - being. Their dreadlocks were thought to be disgusting and frightening, hence the term dread' which was later reclaimed by the Rasta' community.
The hairstyle was later brought into mainstream culture through the worldwide success of reggae artist Bob Marley. Sporting locks himself, he prompted an international interest in the style, and the anti establishment philosophy of Rastafarian culture.
Dreadlocks

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