by W. Gabriel Selassie I. (Introduction by), Leonard Percival Howell (Author)

"The Promised Key" by G.G. (Gangunguru) Maragh aka Leonard Percival Howell is one of the earliest Rastafarian treatise on religion and history of the Black Diaspora. It contains religious tenants and mystical foundations for Rastafari. Many of the same concepts were borrowed from The Royal Parchment Scroll of Black Supremacy and The Holy Piby. The Promised Key is a necessary read for anyone making an attempt to study the theology and racial philosophy of one of the first religious teachers of Rastafari. Dr. Selassie I's edition provides the reader with detailed background on the history and culture of Rastafari and locates The Promised Key in its proper historical setting.

Author Biography

Dr. W. Gabriel Selassie I is the Ralph Bunche Professor of Comparative Religion, African American Studies, and U.S. History. Dr. Selassie I earned a doctorate in history from the Claremont Graduate School. He studied under Robert Hill, the foremost scholar of Marcus Garvey at UCLA. He continued his education in theology at the University of Notre Dame and African politics at St. Antony's College, University of Oxford. He has written extensively on the early books of Rastafari religion including an analysis of The Holy Piby by Robert Athlyi Rogers.