STORY TIME #3
Jah Ras Tafari at 50: A General Look
Kingston, Jamaica
On April 21, 1966, an unforgettable era was ushered into Jamaican History on the occassion of the official visit of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I to the Island of black, green and gold. The importance of this State visit rested with the fact that for the practitioners of the Rasta Faith, Emperor Selassie was the divine manifestation of the incarnate son of Jah, Yeshua, who is known in Christianity as Jesus Christ. He was therefore recognized and celebrated as a god amongst men.
To what extent have things changed since the first visit of Emperor Selassie?
Fifty years later, we see where Jamaica once again played host to Rasta royalty, as on April 19, 2016, Haile Selassie’s grandson, Prince Ermias Sahale Selassie, along with his wife Princess Saba Kebede visited Jamaica for the first time, along with an Ethiopian delegation, to participate in the 50th anniversary celebrations of his grandfather’s visit.
On the surface, Haile Selassie’s Visit to Jamaica, and the celebration of the 50th Anniversary were integral landmarks for the Rasta of Jamaica and across the world. However, a critical observer would see past the apparent, to discern the greater implications for afro-centrism in a predominantly black country who has been struggling to maintain its afro-fidelity, given the current North-American influences, and the general shift towards what seems to be a technologically-induced homogenous global culture. Indeed, the Rastafari religion has grown from 5% of the Jamaican population since the 2000s, but in certain respects some things have remained the same. The question then which begs to be answered is to what extent have things changed since the first visit of Emperor Selassie?
Haile Selassie
Address to Jamaican Parliament by H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I:
“... I would broadly say wherever there is African blood there is a basis for greater unity. We must also help each other in our endeavours to expand education, to raise the standard of living of our respective peoples. To this end we wish to signify the appreciation of the sentiments held by the Jamaican people for the Ethiopian and as a manifestation of our sincere friendship, within our very limited means, we have made an agreement with the Jamaican Government to establish a school for Jamaicans here. I am confident that all the preliminary procedures will be concluded so that the construction of the school will commence within the near future...” (Excerpt)
Marginalization of the dreadlocked-folk
When Emperor Selassaie visited Jamaica, he came during a period when “the movement was growing, but heavily marginalized”. In successive years, a number of Rastafari folk became victims of much discrimination and undue discrimination, owing to various reasons inclusive of their physical appearance, vernacular, recreational sacraments and general beliefs. Unfortunately, this reality subsisted for a number of years in the country.
The irony of the situation is that during this time, the Rastafari Faith took roots overseas, notably across Europe, due to the international influence of reggae music as per Bob Marley, who became an international icon for Jamaica. Increasing amounts of Asians, Indians and Caucasian men and women started to sport locks and partake in religious herbal sacraments, all of whom developed an affinity with Jamaica, through reggae.
In recent times however, there seems to be an overall shift in the general public and cultural acceptance of Rastafari folk and their religious practices, which could be attributed to socio-demographic changes grounded in generational differences, notably on the matter of tolerance.
Decriminalization of Marijuana
A major development for the Rasta since the first visit of Emperor Selassie, is the decriminalization of Marijuana in small portions, and more importantly, as a religious sacrament for the adherents of the Rasta faith. This move could be associated with an international wave of change in support of the drug for medical and recreational purposes, and is indeed welcomed by the Rastafarian community across the world.
Hundreds of Rastafarians welcomed Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie of Ethiopia
Kingston, Jamaica, April 21, 2016
Photographs of the event were captured on behalf of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC)
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Kingston, Jamaica, April 21, 2016, hundreds of Rastafarians welcomed Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie of Ethiopia and his spouse, Princess Saba Kebede. Prince Sahle Selassie is the grandson of Haile Selassie, former Emperor of Ethiopia. Haile Selassie, also known as Ras Tafari, is revered as God incarnation among the Rastafarian movement.
Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie visited Jamaica on the 50th
anniversary of Haile Selassie’s state visit to Kingston on
April 21, 1966.