PNP Culture and Heritage Commission backs call for national day of recognition for Leonard P Howell

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The People’s National Party (PNP) Culture and Heritage Commission is endorsing what it says is a growing call to formally designate June 16 as a national day of recognition for Leonard Percival Howell, widely regarded as the founder of the Rastafari Movement.

June 16, 2026, marks the 128th anniversary of his birth.

In recognition, the commission noted that, aside from national hero Marcus Mosiah Garvey, few Jamaicans have inspired a homegrown spiritual, philosophical and cultural movement with such far-reaching global influence.

It stressed that from the Caribbean to Africa, Europe and the Americas, Rastafari has shaped conversations on identity, liberation, spirituality and social justice, while becoming one of Jamaica’s most enduring contributions to the world.

Chairman IB Konteh said the call for national recognition is ultimately a matter of historical justice.

“Leonard Howell was a visionary Jamaican whose ideas challenged colonial domination and inspired generations to embrace African identity, dignity and self-determination. At a time when such views attracted persecution and repression, he stood firmly in defence of the humanity and worth of Black people. The global reach of the Rastafari Movement stands as a lasting testament to the power of his vision and convictions,” he said.

Konteh noted that Howell paid a significant personal price for advancing ideas that would later influence millions around the world.

“For his beliefs and advocacy, Leonard Howell endured harassment, imprisonment and sustained efforts to silence his message. Yet despite those hardships, his influence endured and grew beyond Jamaica’s shores. It is fitting that the nation where the movement was born formally acknowledges the man whose courage and sacrifice helped lay its foundation,” he continued.

The commission stressed that the formal recognition of June 16 would provide an important opportunity to educate future generations about Howell’s contribution to Jamaica’s history, anti-colonial thought, Pan-African consciousness and cultural development.

While noting that a national day of recognition is distinct from a public holiday, the commission argued that such an observance would help ensure that Leonard Howell’s contribution is preserved within the nation’s collective memory and afforded the prominence it deserves.

“As Jamaicans, we have a responsibility to honour those whose vision helped shape our national identity and whose influence continues to resonate across the world. Recognising Leonard Howell is not simply about acknowledging one man; it is about recognising a movement, a legacy and a chapter of Jamaican history that continues to inspire millions globally.”

The commission is therefore urging the Government, cultural institutions and all Jamaicans to support the call for June 16 to be observed as a national day of recognition for Leonard Percival Howell and to ensure that his contribution is given its rightful place in the national narrative.