Robert Hinds was born in Linstead, St. Catherine and was a follower of Alexander Bedward, one of the first Revival Shepherds to emerge in Kingston, and subsequently a follower of Garvey. Hinds first came to public attention through his arrest and imprisonment in 1921 after followers of Bedward staged a march through the streets of Kingston to 'do battle with the enemies". The link with Bedward established the early connection between the Revivalist religious tradition and the Rastafari movement, a connection that was to be further strengthened by Prince Emmanuel Charles Edward - who founded the Ethiopia Africa Black International Congress (EABIC).

 

Hinds is considered one of the most successful early Rastafari leaders with respect to growing a membership and presiding over a large and regular congregation. His appeal among the people may have been linked to his extensive experience as a religious leader through the Revival tradition and the extent to which he bridged the old tradition of Revivalism with the new light of Rastafari. This new light was first brought to Hinds through a vision he later realized were instructions from His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I. His instructions were to go and lead the people. This understanding of his mission was made clearer to Hinds after he met Howell and became involved in the preaching of this message about Rastafari. At the time of Howell's first arrest in St. Thomas in 1933, Hinds, who was by then Howell's deputy, was also arrested and charged with sedition by the authorities. When he was released from prison he parted company with Howell and established his own headquarters known as the King of Kings Mission, in North Street and then Laws Street in downtown Kingston where he remained until the early 1940s.

 

Hinds' approach to his congregation was akin to that of the Revival mode of organizing with himself established as "Leader" or "Shepherd" - and the congregation honouring and regarding him as a worthy prophet, and having below him his chaplains, armor bearer, male officers, water-mother (essential during baptism rituals - which he administered) in the Bedward tradition. Feasting and fasting rituals were a part of the regular practice of his congregation. At the height of his career Hinds is said to have had over 800 members on his roll, at least 200 of whom attended meetings regularly.