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Ibo Foroma – Rastafarian Perspectives
HAILE Selassie, crowned Emperor in November 1930, had already been actively involved in capitalising on Ethiopia’s unique status as an independent African nation to gain international recognition.
Even before he was crowned “Haile Selassie,” the young Ras Tafari would take initiatives to establish harmonious diplomatic relationships other world leaders.
In addition to Ethiopia’s unusual sovereign status, the nation was largely isolated for much of its history.
Selassie challenged this isolationism. Between 1917 and 1928, he travelled to Rome, Paris, and London. In 1923 at age 31, the young prince continued his efforts to establish Ethiopia as a player on the international stage by leading the nation into membership of the League of Nations.
Ethiopia was the only black African member of the League, predecessor to the United Nations.
Selassie recognised that for his nation to rise to the challenges of the 20th century, it would be critical to establish it as a respected entity within the international community.
His tireless efforts in international diplomacy were a statement to the world of Selassie’s intentions for progress for the underdeveloped Horn of Africa.
His subsequent capitalisation on the opportunities presented for Ethiopia as a result of its independence and storied history poised that country and its soon-to-be Emperor to carry the banner for the entire continent during the African decolonisation that was to come.
In June 1936, His Imperial Majesty made a rousing and memorable appeal in which he beseeched the League of Nations to remain true to Article 16 of its Covenant pertaining to collective security. His appeal was focused towards gaining support for Ethiopia in the wake of the Italian invasion led by Benito Mussolini.
He said, “It is the value of promises made to small States that their integrity and their independence shall be respected and ensured.”
Selassie would remain committed to the value of collective security.
During World War II, upon returning from exile to Addis Ababa as Emperor exactly five years to the day, Selassie’s political agenda remained focused on Ethiopia’s progress and the decolonisation of greater Africa.
Selassie conducted his administration with one eye on the Pan-African movement, aiming for greater continental unity and rising against European imperialist powers.
After Ethiopia’s occupation by Italy during World War II, Selassie experienced first-hand a situation in which his “small nation” could not defend itself.
Thus, his espousal of the protection offered to all by the collective security of African unity was further established through his own experience.
The Emperor was instrumental as a leader within the Pan-African movement because he had attained legitimate political power and respect at a relatively early time in the history of Pan-Africanism.
It was after World War II that African decolonisation truly took off due to the efforts of such influential leaders. Selassie committed Ethiopia to being a key figure in the movement from the very beginning.
At the Accra Conference on April 15 1958, Selassie asserted himself as a leader for Africa when he stated “… the free nations of Africa are giving tangible evidence of their determination to work together not only for their own good but for the good of Africa and the entire world.”
On December 29, 1958 at the inauguration of the Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, Selassie declared, “Our task … is to improve the economic lot of all African peoples.”
At the second ECA conference on June 15, 1960, Selassie continued, “It is our conviction … that the political growth of the African peoples will not reach its culmination until the ultimate goal, which is independence and complete freedom for every African people.”
It was at this conference that he urged the creation of the African Development Bank.
Selassie focused on economic and political unity and among African nations. Inherent in this progress and promotion of unification were the ideals of both the African decolonisation and Pan-African movements.
The speeches of world leaders certainly hold great historical significance. However,
it is actions that transpire concurrently with these speeches that truly dictate the course of history.
Selassie’s word that Ethiopia was committed to African decolonisation, the Pan-African movement, and the virtue of collective security (despite the League of Nations’ failure to commit to this value when Ethiopia was in need) did not go without accordant action.
In 1960, during the crisis in the Congo, Ethiopia responded to the United Nations call for assistance. In November of 1960, four Ethiopian battalions were serving under the UN banner in the Congo, and Ethiopian technicians and other experts were working within UN administration within the war-torn country.
In May 1963, Haile Selassie met heads of 29 other African Heads of State in Addis Ababa at the biggest gathering of continental leaders ever.
The conference began with Haile Selassie being elected honorary President of the Conference and ended with the signing of one of the most important documents in the Pan-African movement: the Charter for the Organisation of African Unity.
Selassie dedicated his nation to the undertaking of this cause from a financial standpoint through Ethiopia’s defraying of costs of the building and staff for the provisional OAU for the first two years.
References
Theodore Vestal, “The Lion of Judah in the New World: Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia and the Shaping of Americans’ Attitudes toward Africa,” 2011
James Haskins, “African Heroes,” 2005
Harold Marcus, “Haile Selassie I,”1987
SKB Asante, “Pan-African Protest: West Africa and the Italo-Ethiopian Crisis, 1934–1941,” 1977
Imperial Ethiopian Ministry of Information, “Selected Speeches of His Imperial Majesty, 1918-1967,” 1967
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