Bob Marley
Although many are familiar with the reggae legend as a Rastafarian, others may be surprised to hear that he was baptized as an Orthodox Christian before his death. Marley was an influential figure in the global expansion of a Rastafarian religious movement through music. The movement, which began in 1930s Jamaica, focused on the worship of former Ethiopian Emperor, Haile Selassie I, whose followers believe him to be a messiah that will lead them to righteousness and prosperity. While Marley sang and spoke about being a Rasta, some say he converted to Christianity before his death. Abuna Yesehaq, archbishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in the Western Hemisphere who died in 2005, admitted that he baptized Marley about one year before his death.