A new group of African-based religion followers has announced plans for regular worship in San Quentin.
The group, called Universal Rastafari, has beliefs based on the symbols, rituals, axioms and teachings of Ras Tafari Makonnen, who was crowned king of Ethiopia in 1928. He became known as Emperor Haile Selassie I,
The Patriarch Abuna Basilios of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church coronated Ras Tafari as “His Imperial Majesty, the 225th king of Ethiopia, on Nov. 2, 1930.
The Rastafari faith says it has documented the lineage of Emporer Selassie as a direct descendant of the Biblical Kings David and Solomon.
“I started the group called House of the Lions of Judah Ecumenical Rastafari in Santa Cruz,” said Shai Alkebu-Lan, a resident of San Quentin. “When I came here to San Quentin, I found there were no Rastafari services.”
Alkebu-Lan said two other prisoners said they attempted to start Rastafari services without success.
“I had participated in Rastafari religious services at other institutions,” Alkebu-Lan said. “We also had special diets for our religious needs.”
Incarcerated for 15 years, Alkebu-Lan, 54, said he talked with Catholic Chaplain George Williams, Jewish Chaplain Carol Hyman and the prisoner-staff Religious Advisory Committee and Community Resource Manager Laura Bowman-Salszieder.
“They were very helpful in assisting us,” Alkebu-Lan said. “After three months of lobbying with San Quentin’s administration, we’ve got a place of worship.”
The Universal Rastafari services are held Saturdays from 1130 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Islamic-Jewish Chapel, with the exception of the first Saturday of the Month.
 
“Rastafari is inclusive to everyone,” said Alkebu-Lan. “I encourage those interested to come and reason together with sounds and chants in the Nyahbinghi, the holy ground.” Anyone wishing to attend should sign up with Chaplain Hyman.