Nyahbinghi

Quoted from "Nyahbinghi: Myth, Ritual and Music" found in the album cover of "The Mystical Revelation of Rastafari : Grounation" -

The purpose of the Nyahbinghi, also known as an "Issemble" or "Grounation", was described by one Rastafari Elder -

"...The Nyahbinghi mean to bring universal cooperation, coordination and divine elements for all people, which is of righteous good. And this Nyahbinghi don't mean that it is a plaything, it mean that it is for full universal divine resurrection for all nation which is of righteous element. And that is the protest of Nyabinghito Ian'I and Ian'I continue to work it in the fullness of its activity until peace will come to all nations upon earth in the power of JAH Ras Tafari as the coordinator of us all."

Nyahbinghi congregation (grounation) usually lasts from three to seven days during which time "bredrin" and "dawtas" gather to revive the Faith of Rastafari through communal activities such as drumming, chanting of Ises, reasoning, smoking ganja and dancing. The chalice, the Rastafari ganja pipe, passes from bredrin's hand to bredrin's hand around the alter table activating the symbols of earth, air, water and fire, the primal forces of Creation. Through the Word, Sound and Power of the Nyahbinghi, the Faithful are united with the Godhead in mystic telepathy to chant down Babylon, to scourge the Earth of wickedness and restore the natural order of Creation to its original state of perfection. The Nyabinghi Order are the prophets of old. Its members are the resurrected beings of the defenders of the people who have been killed throughout the ages for the love of JAH. The Order has a ceremony with music, dancing and chanting. A trinity of drums, the repeater (akete/kete) which speaks or sings, the fundi which syncopates, and the bass drum which keeps the heartbeat of the music, has evolved as the musical instruments of the Nyabinghi Order. These drums unite the cosmic power of Creation with man and his Creator. Dreadlocks are worn to keep African tradition of priests, seers, prophets and warriors.