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Ibo Foroma Rastafarian Perspectives —
GREETINGS in the Divine name of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I, King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16), Conquering Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev 5:5, 22:16, Hebrews 7:14, Romans 15:12, 2 Samuel 7:12-13), Elect of God and Light of this World.
These titles were bestowed upon Selassie I on November 2 ,1930. The Rastafari Empire celebrates this mystical revelation not only in the month of November but throughout the year.
The best way to show how RasTafari fulfilled these Divine proclamations is to quote from speeches He delivered on the Coronation Anniversaries:
Ethiopia’s World Position (November 2, 1966)
In the international sphere, Ethiopia today occupies a respected place in the council of nations. We have won, through our efforts, our right to this position.
Our nation is known, and rightly, as a staunch advocate and supporter of the principle of collective security, the principle which still underlies the modern concept of the regulation of relations among states.
We have stood forth-right in our support of the United Nations, and we have not hesitated to respond to the call of that organisation. Ethiopia is, by her own choice, a non-aligned state.
Our policies on the vexatious international issues of the day have been declared to all, and our adherence to them is steadfast: the urgent imperative of universal disarmament; the settlement of disputes by peaceful negotiation; the supremacy of reason and logic over force and irrationality.
Dedicated to the cause of Africa, Ethiopia remains prepared to implement agreed measures calculated to advance the objectives embodied in the Charter of the Organisation of African Unity.
Ethiopia’s actions in her international dealings have been wholly consistent with her declared policies. We insist today that the way to peace among men and nations rests in the even-handed application and enforcement of the principles of the United Nations and the Organisation of African Unity:
non-interference in the internal affairs of others; self-determination for the remaining dependent peoples of the world; respect for the territorial integrity of independent states…
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From last week’s speech we learnt that, “It is the government’s intention that increased publicity be given to its programmes in order that the public may know not only their broad out-lines but their details as well.
“A well-informed public opinion is essential to the growth of political and social awareness. Only he who is informed can comment intelligently on his nation’s development and only by such comment can errors be corrected and progress stimulated.” (Selassie I, November 2, 1961)
Proof of this is evident in the following speech of November 2, 1960:
“We know that the zeal and vigour with which all our people labour to preserve their lives and increase their standard of living can bear fruit only when adequate communication facilities are afforded them, and we have accordingly given special priority to this subject.
“A nation cannot prosper unless it has overcome the problems of communications. Without communications, agriculture cannot develop, nor can commerce or industry thrive. It is communications that relates and binds people together by ties of friendship.
“… Just as education assures the development and well-being of man, so must man’s body be free from the scourge and ravages of illness and disease, and in the field of public health, praiseworthy advances have been made in the expansion of public health facilities throughout our Empire.
“Modern health centres have recently been established in a number of the larger towns, and several dozen clinics are being organised which will serve in smaller centres in the alleviation of disease.
“A modern and efficient provincial health administration is being established in implementation of the health tax promulgated by us and approved by our parliament to provide for the most efficient and effective administration of the revenue derived from this tax.
“Ethiopia is co-operating in the worldwide drive that is underway to eliminate malaria from the earth, and effective measures are being taken to this end following decisions reached at the World Health Organisation’s Malaria Conference held in Addis Ababa in November of last year…”
No doubt the Lion of Judah esteemed education as the prime mover of modern society:
Hope for Education (November 2, 1948)
“We will continue by speaking of our efforts in the development and extension of education in Ethiopia. As we informed you before, among Ethiopia’s long-range programmes is that embracing the youth of the Empire.
“It is our constant solicitude that Ethiopia’s youth be brought up and educated in order to render service to Ethiopia.
“In order to retain her proper and rightful place, Ethiopia’s sole means is education, through which she will be able to assist herself, maintain her independence, take an active and important part in world affairs and be a benefit both to herself and to others.
“We are satisfied with the efforts made and with the time spent in the education of Ethiopia’s youth.
“The present generation’s thirst and earnest desire for education, as well as their easy adaptability to modern culture and training and their spirit of progress encourage us to redouble our efforts toward the fulfilment of our aims.
‘‘We have great pride in our people and equally in the future generations.
“We are able thus to wait hopefully for the young Ethiopian graduates from the Universities of the world who will return home in the near future to do service to their country…”
Daniel 7:14 says, “And there was given H.I.M. Dominion, glory, and a Kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve H.I.M: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”
Long live the King of Kings and Lord of Lords: JAH RasTafari!
Sources
The Imperial Ethiopian Ministry of Information, “Selected Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I: 1918–1967,” 1967)
Mama Berhane (Dorothy Allen), Amaha Selassie and Sistren Sharifah, Electronically digitised collection
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Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter