Sundaymail Editor
Ibo Foroma Rastafarian Perspectives
IT is no exaggeration that not enough justice has been done to document and circulate Emperor Haile Selassie I’s milestone achievements in de-colonising Africa.
As an outspoken proponent of the Pan-African movement and leader of one of two sovereign nations on the continent at the time, his rhetoric and actions as Emperor of Ethiopia held importance and relevance outside the boundaries of his political jurisdiction.
The conspicuous independent status that Selassie’s Ethiopia held established the Emperor as an unofficial leader and spokesman for all of Africa on the global scale.
Selassie’s internationalisation of Africa was furthered by his captivating speeches, political agenda for Ethiopia and skilful diplomatic relations with various world leaders from all corners of the globe.
Although Selassie’s Ethiopia was an independent nation during the period of African colonial rule, its history holds great relevance within the broader context of independence movements of the former colonies of Africa.
Selassie conducted his administration of Ethiopia in order to develop his nation concurrently with the goals of the pan-African movement within the overarching era of African decolonisation, and his efforts were both pertinent and enduring in this regard.
In the late 19th century, the vast majority of the African continent was carved up by major European powers for the purposes of colonisation, imperialism, and or annexation. This brief historical period would commonly become known as the Scramble for Africa.
Ethiopia had successfully resisted Italian colonial forces in the Battle of Adwa on March 1 1886, and retained its independent status as a national monarchy.
Despite Ethiopia’s success in retaining its own sovereignty, the nation would still hold relevance to the greater African decolonisation movement that began to gain momentum following World War II.
Specifically Emperor Haile Selassie I increased Ethiopia’s direct involvement with the African decolonisation movement of the 20th century.
Selassie ruled as Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930–1974, a period that encompasses the majority of African decolonisation movements.
Although Selassie came to power determined to accomplish the arduous task of transforming his native Ethiopia into a country worthy of international recognition, his actions and rhetoric demonstrate he also held the broader cause of the Pan-African movement as a priority.
There has been significant research on Haile Selassie and how his reign shaped his nation throughout the 20th century within the context of Ethiopia.
Although some parts of these research endeavours have touched briefly on Selassie in the context of African decolonisation, there remains a distinct lack of historical research focused specifically on the role of this seminal African figure and his nation within the broader framework of the continent.
As he earned international recognition for Ethiopia, so did he for all of Africa.
Selassie gained respect and developed a rapport with world leaders within Africa and outside of it. He utilised this reverence in order to “carry the banner” for Africa throughout his tenure as Emperor, as he simultaneously worked for the progress of Ethiopia and all of Africa.
The available resources regarding Selassie and the history of Ethiopia during this time do not properly acknowledge the priority he placed on the liberation of other African nations and progress of the entire continent of Africa. His contributions to the pan-African movement were particularly pertinent at the time, and in some ways, still endure today.
The speeches of Haile Selassie, as well as records of his international relations on behalf of Ethiopia with various countries around the globe make clear that Selassie’s political agenda was conducted with the goal of progress for Africa and the pan-African movement as priorities.
More recently, scholars have begun to conduct historical research on Selassie’s involvement in international affairs as Emperor of Ethiopia and as a leader for the continent of Africa.
However, there remains the lack of a definitive work of scholarly research that aims to specifically demonstrate how Selassie was relevant to African decolonisation on every front – within Africa, throughout the globe, and as an active proponent of the pan-African movement.
Selassie’s speeches, actions, and written rhetoric make clear that Ethiopia under his leadership aimed to promote progress of the entire African continent by supporting the independence movements of colonised Africans and the support of continental unity via the pan-African movement.
As a seminal figure in the history of Africa during its era of decolonisation, Selassie’s contributions in this context demand a consolidated and focused research effort on their own.
This broader, continental perspective on Selassie’s Ethiopia warrant historical analysis now more than ever, as the repercussions of his reign concern what many consider to be a continent that will play an increasingly important role in world affairs in the future.
This eye opener is courtesy of Thomas Norelli.
Although Liberia was an independent nation, it was not a nation erected by native African people, but essentially colonised by the American Colonisation Society with African-Americans. Ethiopia was the only truly independent African nation set up by indigenous Africans, and governed by these indigenous Africans throughout its history.
References
Dietmar Rothermund, “The Routledge Companion to Decolonisation”, 2006)
“Haile Selassie and Antonio de Oliviera Salazar, Diplomatic Relations Between Portugal and Ethiopia”, texts of letters exchanged between Emperor Haile Selassie and Prime Minister of Portugal, Dr Oliviera Salazar, 1963
Imanuel Geiss, “Pan-Africanism”, Journal of Contemporary History, 1969
“Asante Pan-African Protest: West Africa and Italo-Ethiopian Crisis 1934–1941, 1977
Stuart Munro-Hay, “Aksum, An African Civilisation of Late Antiquity, 1991.
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