SETRA O’SELMO has always known a Rastafarian way of life. Ever cognisant of the benefits of many aspects of this lifestyle and wanting to share it, and also wanting to clear up some major misconceptions about it, she found the perfect way to do it all through Locsfest, an annual festival she created to celebrate persons with ‘locs’.
She started the event last year, and was pleasantly surprised to see more than 500 persons show up, indicating their interest in the Rastafarian culture. The intention is to do it every year on the last Sunday in June, and so this year’s ‘fest’ will be on June 30.

The one-day event at the Linden Theme Park, where the ‘I Love Linden’ sign is located, will kick off at 11:00hrs and go up to 22:00hrs, and promises a variety of events related to fashion, craft, body art, preparation of vegan meals, care of the hair and skin, among others.
“We know the world is getting greener and everybody is going healthier, but not many persons understand how to prepare vegan meals. They feel that it is boring and tasteless and so expensive,” Setra shared in an interview with Pepperpot Magazine.

So, her aim is to use Locsfest to show people how they can be creative with their meals, make them simple and inexpensive, and understand the health benefits that come with it. “All my life, I have been a Rastafarian, and as I get older, I realise that people have so many health issues which come from their activities and how they eat,” the beautiful 36-year-old observed.
“I wouldn’t change who I am, because I know it’s a right path. My family and I have never been hospitalised for anything, and I know it’s because of our habits,” added Setra, who is originally from Nottinghamshire, Linden, but is now residing in Amelia’s Ward.

She pointed out how people worldwide come under “pressure” to drastically change their lifestyle because of a health issue. “Sometimes that can be very strenuous, but it’s a transition; you have to gradually do it in order to get accustomed.”
Most people, she pointed out, do not feel that they can eat without meat. “But if you just remove that from your plate, you already have somewhat of a vegan meal there. Also, I wouldn’t tell persons to cut out the salt right away.”

Apart from the nutritional aspect, Locsfest will also showcase the Rastafarian culture, and clear up some wrong beliefs held by the public. “Once you see persons with locks, it’s not that they’re into weed. That’s just the misconception, and I want to change it. The whole idea is to counter stereotypes.”
The festival will also showcase the crafty and designing skills of the Rastafarians, and how they fully embrace their cultural wear not only on special occasions.

“We will also be showcasing locally made products because, of course, you embrace naturalness, so anything as it relates to the skin and hair, you find it would be more of a herbal remedy, even with the herbal medicine, because we really don’t go to the hospital unless it’s necessary.”
Besides all of the foregoing, though, Setra absolutely loves that she doesn’t have to comb her hair every day and find styles for it.

Apart from not having to comb it out daily, she adores the other practical benefits of keeping her locks.
On a bit of a religious note, she said about the locks: “We believe that our hair is like our antenna. It stores energy and all these things. Rastafarians are very particular about who touches their hair because they believe that they can collect and transfer energies through their hair so you find most of them are very protective of their hair; they usually wrap it up or they have specific persons that they allow to touch it.”
Tickets for the event cost $1,500.