Snoop dogg converted to rastafarian and decided to call himself Snoop Lion

Snoop Dogg is 40 years old, and suddenly he is sick of rapping about guns, women, and gangbanging. In order to find himself he decided to go to Jamaica, but unlike the average male that goes away to deal with a midlife crisis, he took a film crew with him. In Jamaica he met a whole lot of Rastafarians who shared their wisdom and knowledge with him, and that was it; he was baptised and was converted to Rastafari. He no longer wants to be called Snoop Dogg; after reasoning with a Rasta elder he was renamed Snoop Lion, and he recorded a reggae album. At first I was very cynical – it could have been a great way of raising his profile again, and rebranding himself. But the album is actually quite good, and after hearing him speak I have to confess I was moved. He spoke of using his music to spread love and happiness, he said he wants to contribute to the "struggle", and teach people how to grow and become wise. He even wants to start a charity to help the poor, downtrodden people of Jamaica; he just wants to be nice. I was with him all the way, until he proclaimed that he is the reincarnated Bob Marley. Ironically, as he made his proclamation one of Bob Marley's sons sat right in front of him. Would this young Marley really consider Snoop to be his father in spirit?

Snoop Lion says he wants to spread the message of Rastafari, but does Rastafari need an ambassador? Yes, is my answer, we need as many as we can get. I think we are one of the most misunderstood groups of people in the world. People don't know if we should be thought of as a religion, a political movement, a cult, or black hippies. Christians and Muslims call themselves broad churches, but we have a church so broad no one knows where it starts or where it ends. We think of this as a strength, but for outsiders it breeds misunderstandings. Snoop, it seems, like many misunderstanders, believes that to be a Rastafarian you have to make, or listen, to reggae music, he believes that you have to wear red, gold and green hats, he believes that you have to smoke marijuana, all stereotypes that on the whole have done us no favours. Dear misunderstanders, did you know that there are groups of Rastas who shun reggae music, and that most Rastas on this planet don't smoke? We need enough ambassadors to show the range of ideas within Rastafari. We need people to break down the stereotypes and show the diversity within our community, but sadly I don't see that happening any time soon.

My friend who is a brain surgeon is continually being told that he's not a real Rasta because he doesn't sound Jamaican enough; another friend who is a psychiatrist has been told she can't be a Rasta because she doesn't cover her hair, and, because I don't smoke weed, absolutely no one believes that I am a real Rasta. Rastafari is not the force it used to be in popular culture – but that's pop culture, where stuff comes and stuff goes, the important thing is that it's still relevant. It's a place to go for young black people that don't want to join gangs, the Nation of Islam, or go to their parent's church. Those who are interested in black and African history, and those who are not prepared to buy into western consumerism will join the Rastafarian family to try to see the world though alternative spectacles. Jus Jah magazine is published by progressive Rasta women, and in Britain more broadly, the new generation of Rastas, unlike the 80s generation, is led by an army of strong women, something that Snoop Lion might find a little challenging.

We also now have the rise of the white Rasta. I'm not talking about trustafarians, or women and men who just happen to be white but have grown dreadlocks, even though they shave and trim. These are serious Rastas who also claim Africa as their home. Once upon a time there were lots of debates within the community about whether they should be considered Rastas, but now, on the whole, they are accepted, and like lots of converts they can sometimes embarrass us black folk with their knowledge of our culture.

One of many Rastafarian mantras is "know thy self". It is repeated in songs, poems, and conversation. Snoop claims that he has always been a Rasta, but only now has his third eye been opened. So let's break this down. Rastas know who they are, but Snoop has been at the top of the commercial hip hop tree for so long without knowing who he is. What can he teach us? If he is sincere I wish him the best, but maybe he would be a better ambassador for Rastafari, and the struggle, by spreading the message using hip hop. Rastas don't really need to hear more messages about Rastas – Snoop should take his message to the gunslingers and the gangbangers. He should go forth, drop philosophy over some phat beats, and preach to the unconverted.