Ises

noun EYE-siz ˈaɪsɪz

Also spelled izes, isis, hail up di ises

Praises given to Jah — thanks, worship, and honour, from 'praises' reshaped in the Rastafari way to carry the affirming 'I'. 'Ises' is used both for the act of praising and as a heartfelt exclamation of gratitude and reverence during reasoning, drumming, or song — 'give thanks and ises'. It belongs to the devotional heart of Rastafari speech, where language itself is bent toward praise, and it names the lifting up of thanks to the Most High as a constant practice of the faith.

  • Give Ises to di Most High.

    Give praises to the Most High.

  • Ises an thanks fi life.

    Praise and thanks for life.

  • Di whole session lift up inna Ises.

    The whole gathering rose up in praise.

A Rastafari reshaping of English 'praises': the 'praise' sound is remade around 'I', the central affirming sound of Iyaric, giving 'Ises' (sometimes written 'Isis').

Devotional. Belongs to worship and reasoning rather than casual talk.