Leonard Howell
Early Rastafari preacher who proclaimed Haile Selassie divine.
Leonard Percival Howell (16 June 1898 – 23 January 1981), also known as The Gong or G. G. Maragh, was a Jamaican religious figure and one of the first preachers of the Rastafari movement, along with Joseph Hibbert and Archibald Dunkley. Often called The First Rasta, he proclaimed the divinity of Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia and founded the Pinnacle commune, which became a center for Rastafari. His anti-colonial and pro-Black messages led to repeated conflict with Jamaican authorities.
- born
- 16 June 1898, May Crawle River, Jamaica
- died
- 23 January 1981, Kingston, Jamaica
- field
- Religious leadership, anti-colonial activism
- nationality
- Jamaican
- known_for
- Early Rastafari preacher, founder of Pinnacle commune, author of The Promised Key
Lore & Background
Howell was born into an Anglican family in May Crawle village, the eldest of ten children. He left Jamaica as a youth, traveling to Panama and New York, where he joined Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association and was jailed for his involvement. Deported from the US in December 1932, he returned to Jamaica and began preaching in 1933 that the crowning of Ras Tafari Makonnen as Emperor Haile Selassie I was the symbolic portent for the African diaspora, asserting that Haile Selassie was the 'Messiah returned to earth.' He published a book called The Promised Key, which led to his arrest, trial for sedition, and two years' imprisonment.
Howell formed a town or commune called Pinnacle in Saint Catherine Parish, which became famous as a place for Rastafari. He faced conflict with planters, trade unions, churches, police, and colonial authorities, largely due to his anti-colonial message and promotion of positive Black racial identity. Colonial authorities hoped to quell his movement early. Unlike many Rastafari, Howell never wore dreadlocks. He died in Kingston on 23 January 1981 after being slashed in the face and beaten badly months earlier in Tredegar Park, St. Catherine.
Reader's Guide
Leonard Howell's significance lies in his foundational role in the Rastafari movement, which he helped establish alongside Joseph Hibbert and Archibald Dunkley. His preaching that Haile Selassie was the returned Messiah, combined with his anti-colonial and Pan-Africanist messages, resonated with Black people in Jamaica and globally, turning a local religious movement into an international faith. The Pinnacle commune he founded became a model of self-sufficiency and spiritual independence, though it was destroyed in a 1954 raid led by labor leader Alexander Bustamante, who branded Howell 'the greatest danger today.' Despite state suppression, including the burning of his manuscripts and photographs, Howell's ideas spread as displaced residents carried Rastafari beliefs across Jamaica. His legacy as an anti-colonial hero took root throughout Jamaica and the Caribbean and eventually globally. Ironically, the same government that persecuted him awarded him an Order of Distinction in 2022.
Did You Know?
- Howell was one of the first preachers of the Rastafari movement, along with Joseph Hibbert and Archibald Dunkley.
- He never wore dreadlocks, unlike many Rastafari.
- His commune Pinnacle was destroyed in a 1954 raid led by future Prime Minister Alexander Bustamante.
- The Jamaican government awarded him an Order of Distinction in 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Leonard Howell?
Leonard Percival Howell (1898–1981) was a Jamaican preacher widely recognized as the first major voice of the Rastafari movement, commonly called 'The First Rasta' or 'The Gong.'
What is Leonard Howell's role in Rastafari?
Alongside Joseph Hibbert and Archibald Dunkley, he was among the earliest to proclaim the divinity of Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia. His anti-colonial, pro-Black sermons formed the theological backbone of early Rastafari.
How does Leonard Howell's story end?
He passed away in Kingston, Jamaica, on 23 January 1981. His legacy endures through the Pinnacle commune he built and his book The Promised Key, which continue to anchor Rastafari identity.
Why is Leonard Howell important?
His repeated confrontations with Jamaican colonial authorities and his establishment of a dedicated Rastafari community made him a defining symbol of Black resistance and spiritual independence in the twentieth century.
What is the Pinnacle commune?
Pinnacle was a community Howell founded in Jamaica that functioned as one of the earliest physical gathering places for Rastafari adherents. It became a recognized center for the movement's worship and communal life.
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