History
The Twelve Tribes of Israel
The Twelve Tribes is one of the foundational Mansions of Rastafari that now operates in Africa, Europe, North America, New Zealand and the wider Caribbean - with its Headquarters based in Jamaica. Prophet Gad, formerly known as Vernon Carrington, in 1968, founded it. Originally, the Twelve Tribes was a charter or division in the Ethiopian World Federation that practiced the Ethiopian Orthodox form of Christianity. During the 1960s this group came under the influence of the emerging Rastafari movement. It was at this time that the group began to develop its unique philosophy and practices of Rastafari livity. Among the important practices and beliefs is the significance this Mansion places in the children of Jacob (who later became Israel) and the number Twelve. For the Twelve Tribes, all people are members of one of the twelve lost tribes of Israel. Each person knows which tribe they belong to based on the month in which they were born. Each month is named for one of Jacobs's twelve sons, and is said to reveal character much like astrology. There are also twelve male and twelve female community leaders, each from one of the twelve tribes. Each tribe has its own colour.
Since the early 1970s the TTI has been focused on the business of Repatriation to Africa, and this has gradually developed into a significant settlement of its membership in Shashamane Ethiopia. This has meant also a decline in the association's operations in Jamaica. Among those who have been associated with the TTI mansion are: Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, Jacob Miller (all now deceased pioneer reggae artistes), Allan 'Skill' Cole, celebrated Jamaican legendary footballer, Dub Poet Mutabaruka and Bongo Jerry Small.
Though originally founded in Trench Town, in downtown Kingston, the Twelve Tribes developed their Headquarters in uptown Kingston in the 1970s. The 'downtown' and 'uptown' designation refers to both a physical location, and a socio-economic designation. Their investment in Reggae music production and sound systems is believed to have opened the way for the inclusion of Jamaican middle class youths as well as non-black people, particularly from Europe, who found themselves more accommodated within this mansion.
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DR. VERNON CARRINGTON
(PROPHET GADMAN)
Prophet Gad is perhaps the most influential leader/organizer to emerge within the second generation of Rastafari leaders. Gadman, as he was often referred to as, was responsible for bringing about a highly efficient and organized branch of the EWF, Local 15, which was to soon be transformed into an independent community to be known as the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Among the features that Gadman was able to introduce successfully within this mansion was a proper system of membership, registration and dues collection in addition to a highly structured and pragmatic repatriation scheme that sent individuals who were deemed ready to settle in Shashamene Ethiopia. To date the Twelve Tribes has the largest community of repatriated Rastafarians in Ethiopia largely due to Prophet Gad's hands-on engagement in the matter of Repatriation.
The Prophet Gad emerged at a time in the Rastafari Movement when reggae music was developing and many of the emerging artistes tended to gravitate towards this mansion. Unlike the Nyahbinghi and Bobo Shanti, Gadman was able to achieve a highly efficient financial base through which activities could be identified, and carried through by virtue of his strong leadership. Gadman also made significant strides in expanding the Movement's influence internationally, particularly in Europe, North America and the Caribbean. In fact, the TTI has active membership as far as New Zealand.
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