Yohannes Woldemariam trawls through the history books to expose the truths of Haile Selassie’s 44-year reign over Ethiopia.
Emperor Haile Selassie, who ruled Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974, died in 1975, but he lives on through the romantic lyrics of the late Jamaican reggae star Bob Marley and Ethiopian pop star, Tewedros Kassahun, better known as Teddy Afro.
Yet there is a wide range of views of the man whose full official title was: “His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, King of Kings and Elect of God.” Some remember him as a benevolent ruler who resisted Italian colonisation. For others, he is a god, yet others view him as a tyrant.
Marley’s portrayal of Selassie is strongly influenced by the Rastafarian belief that he is God incarnate, as allegedly “prophesied” by Marcus Garvey. On the other hand, Teddy Afro, an Ethiopian, is promoting his version of Ethiopianism (Ethiopiawinet).
The Kebra Nagast (also known as the Glory of Kings) is the ancient text from which Selassie’s mythology stems. It narrates the relationship between King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba and their son Menelik I, who allegedly hid the Ark of the Covenant in Ethiopia. Like Menelik II (1889-1913), Haile Selassie, a distant relation, claimed descent from the Solomonic dynasty. Inspired by this ideology, Ethiopian kings and emperors have conquered lands and enslaved ethnic groups. In this sense, the Kebra Nagast can fairly be compared to the 19th century expansionist white American ideology of the Manifest Destiny.
Those who have solely learned about Selassie through the music of reggae stars and Teddy Afro may well have developed the impression that Selassie was a fatherly benevolent ruler and a champion of blacks. However, this portrayal of Selassie and his predecessor, Emperor Menelik II, is grossly distorted. Clearly, even though the last Ethiopian monarch was overthrown in 1974, undercurrents of the Kebra Negast still reverberate in the discourse of Ethiopian nationalism. While the majority of the Ethiopian people do not subscribe to this belief system, some Ethiopians look for aspects of the Kebra Nagast narrative for Ethiopiawinet. Yet this mythology, or elements of it, creates huge divisions through its implicit expectation that Ethiopians accept this version of identity politics.
Rastafarian representation of Selassie
For Rastafarians, Ethiopia is Zion and the Promised Land and in 1948 Selassie granted them land in the Rift Valley for a settlement in Shashemane. The settlement has never been big, with no more than a thousand Rastas at its peak and now about 400. There was never a mass exodus of Rastas to Ethiopia, and they never assimilated. They live in isolation much like the Amish in the United States.
The Rastafarian connection with Selassie is made with a tenuous understanding of Jamaican Pan Africanist Marcus Garvey’s famous prophecy: “Look to Africa, when a black king shall be crowned for the day of deliverance is near!” This reference to “Africa” was reinterpreted to mean Ethiopia and the link to “a black king” was the coronation of Selassie in 1930. The travel writer Bill Wiatrak claims that the Rasta movement originated in Ethiopia but it actually began in Jamaica through the misinterpretation of Garvey’s message.
Garvey exhibited no admiration for Selassie. He condemned him as a “great coward” for fleeing Mussolini’s troops in 1935, when Italy invaded Ethiopia. He also criticised Selassie’s practice of slavery, which was not abolished in Ethiopia until 1942. In Garvey’s own words:
It is preferable for the Abyssinian Negroes and the Negroes of the world to work for the restoration and freedom of the country without the assistance of Selassie, because at best he is but a slave master. The Negroes of the Western World whose forefathers suffered for three hundred years under the terrors of slavery ought to be able to appreciate what freedom means. Surely they cannot feel justified in supporting any system that would hold their brothers in slavery in another country whilst they are enjoying the benefits of freedom elsewhere. The Africans who are free can also appreciate the position of slaves in Abyssinia [Ethiopia]. What right has the Emperor to keep slaves when all the democratic sections of the world were free, when men had the right to live, to develop, to expand, to enjoy all the benefits of human liberty? (1937, p.741)
While few reggae aficionados realise the wide gulf between Selassie’s mythological representations in popular culture and the reality of his tyrannical reign, the perception that Selassie was a proud African and a champion for black people is not supported by the facts. He only reluctantly later embraced the Rastafarians because he understood their public relations value for his cult of personality. Some of his dedicated followers would be dismayed to learn that Selassie revered not his “own people” but the Ferenjochu (Europeans) and Americans, who were routinely invited to his lavish parties in his palace.
His overthrow in 1974 and subsequent death caused “a crisis of faith” in Jamaica among the followers of the Rastafarian faith. The religion does not accept the former emperor’s death and instead depicts it as a “disappearance” similar to the belief held by the Shiite branch of Islam when “the Hidden” Imam Hussayn was martyred in the seventh century. Bob Marley’s 1975 song called Jah Live seeks to refute the fact of Selassie’s death by insisting that a deity could not have died.
Teddy Afro and his reverence for Ethiopian monarchs
Teddy Afro stylistically mimics Bob Marley when singing the praises of Selassie and even of Menelik II who claimed to be a descendent of Menelik I. In his songs, Teddy Afro proclaims unity and love for all Ethiopians. It is worth asking how Ethiopian unity is served by his praise for these monarchs. If his objective is to promote a unified pan-Ethiopian nationalism, it seems to have backfired by provoking ethnic nationalism among the Oromo who do not share similar conceptions of these rulers – and rather view them as the reason for their oppression and suffering. A selective reading of history does little to build a strong national foundation. Rather, a new social contract is desperately needed which respects the pluralism and diversity of the country.
Historical accounts of the reign of Menelik II show him as contemptuous of blackness, an expansionist, an enslaver and cruel. As a case in point, Eritreans made important, though little-acknowledged contributions to the Ethiopian victory over the Italian colonisers in Adwa in 1896 by gathering crucial intelligence on Italian war strategy. Emperor Menelik II returned the favour by savagely amputating the arms and legs of Eritrean war prisoners. Never mind that these poor Eritrean peasants were violently forced to fight under Italy, just as other European colonialists used Africans, Indians and other colonial subjects as cannon fodder for their wars of conquest everywhere. Nevertheless, Menelik II, the so-called “champion of a black victory,” decided to set free his Italian and Libyan war prisoners while mutilating the Eritreans.
In fact, Menelik II’s reconstructed image as a historical agent of black liberation does not fit recorded events. For instance, his state of mind was revealed through a comment to a Haitian dignitary that he did not consider himself to be a black man. Therefore, Teddy Afro’s celebration of Menelik as the “Tikur Sew” (“Black Man”) lacks historical basis. Invoking Selassie or Menelik II as Teddy Afro does polarises communities because it insults those who do not share this interpretation of history and the terrible legacy of these monarchs.
Haile Selassie as an international statesman
It should be noted that Haile Selassie’s global prominence was due to his position as a very loyal client of the West – much like the Shah of Iran and Mobutu of Zaire. These clients maintained power through repression and the murder and silencing of true patriots. Unlike Selassie however, history accurately remembers Shah Reza Pahlavi and Mobutu Sese Seko as tyrants. Yet, efforts are underway to depict Selassie as a pan-Africanist and a visionary. Some have campaigned vigorously for his statue to be erected in front of the African Union building in Addis Ababa. Sadly, the African Union has acceded to the request.
Selassie often took undeserved credit for others’ contributions. One example was Lorenzo Taezaz, an Eritrean, who enhanced Selassie’s image during the Italian invasion of Ethiopia. While the emperor was in exile in Bath, England, Taezaz secretly slipped into Ethiopia and organised the Arbeghoch (patriots). He recruited 2,000 or so Eritreans who had fled Italian colonial rule to fight for Ethiopia from their refugee settlements in Kenya. He also smuggled weapons for the Arbegnoch. A famous speech delivered by Selassie, famed for developing his aura as statesman and defender of his people, at the League of Nations in 1936, is widely believed to have been written by Taezaz. The emperor eventually repaid Taezaz by demoting him from his position as Foreign Minister. He died soon after in 1947 in suspicious circumstances.
Selassie “demonised as a dictator”
Does Selassie deserve to be depicted as a dictator? The historical record provides a decisive answer.
First, it is well-established that he spent $35 million for celebrating his 80th birthday during the Wollo famine. He travelled widely, visiting the United States many times, only stopping once in Jamaica in 1966.
Perhaps less well-known are Selassie’s crimes and his associates, such as Asserate Kassa in Eritrea. These are too numerous and ghastly for the scope of this piece. For further reading on this, I recommend Michela Wrong’s book titled I Didn’t Do it For You. How the World Betrayed a Small African Nation.
Similarly, the autocrat is remembered in Tigray for inviting the British Royal Air Force to bomb the region in 1943 to quell what came to be known as the first Woyane Rebellion. He consolidated his power by weakening the provinces after Italy’s defeat by the British in 1941.
He was also harsh towards those Ethiopian patriots who fought against the Italians while he fled to Britain. For example, Belay Zeleke, a national war hero was hung on his orders. Unfathomably, Teddy Afro recently praised both Selassie and Belay Zeleke during an appearance at the Millennium Hall in Addis with the Eritrea President Isaias and Ethiopia PM Abiy in the audience. It seems unconscionable to praise a murderous traitor and his victim, too. The parable of Polish writer Ryszard Kapuscinski: The Emperor, Downfall of an Autocrat is an accurate depiction of the real Selassie.
Why bother with Selassie at this time?
The romantic rewriting of Selassie’s legacy, and the distorted history of other Ethiopian monarchs have significant relevance for current Ethiopian politics. Selassie’s legacy needs to be exposed in light of attempts by musicians, historical revisionists in the diaspora, foreign beneficiaries and politicians to control the narrative through false representations.
This cannot be dismissed as benign and harmless because of the role music plays in creating what the theorist of nationalism, Benedict Anderson, calls ‘imagined communities’ and its crucial role in political organising. Music heightens and releases endorphins creating a sense of belonging among people with shared sentiments which can lead to collective action. The misplaced form of black nationalism created by Rastafarians, in giving reverence to a man who never deserved it, is therefore harmful.
Still, I celebrate the addition of reggae to UNESCO’s ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ list while taking exception to the claim: “its contribution to international discourse on issues of injustice, resistance, love and humanity underscores the dynamics of the element as being at once cerebral, socio-political, sensual and spiritual.” The record of reggae is rather more nuanced and mixed, particularly in reference to the place given to Selassie.
It is often said that the victors or the powerful are the ones who write history. History is ill served when popular celebrities and musicians motivated by religion or some kind of hyper-nationalism misrepresent the past. This is offensive to the victims and divisive for communities who need genuine solidarity.
Dr Yohannes Woldemariam is an academic who attended high school in Ethiopia. He can be reached at: yohannes99@hotmail.com.
The views expressed in this post are those of the author and in no way reflect those of the Africa at LSE blog, the Firoz Lalji Centre for Africa or the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Imam Hussein is NOT considered the ’hidden imam’, you’re mixing him up with Imam Muhammad Al-Mahdi. Hussein’s death is very much accepted and mourned every year.
Good article otherwise though.
I notice you did,t mention the details of Menilik 11
victory at Adawa against the Italians where it is said he had the ARK of COVernant which gave him the victory.
And what about the speech at LON league of the nation by his HIs IMPEriAl MAJESety.
Who are the people that were taken to Isreal by Mossad?
Why did the Head of the Catholic Church in Rome approve the invasion of another Christian Kingdom
or country in Africa
who start this blackness issue when African are brown or dark brown skin.???
I would appreciate your reply. Thank you
George McGann
McGann1709gp@gmail.com.
Truly…our honest opinion…we do not have time for this type of discourse…we know who He Is…we know he lives until this day because we have seen him and he communicates with us and show us the way and we follow it…we are not here to convince the others…people have know it when they see it…other wise we don’t talk but will answer questions, if they true want to learn…not to debate…to us…this subject is just as bad as those who write otherwise and do not know HIM…who has taught us if you believe in me what continue my work and that alone will defend HIM…let the world say “Amen…King of Kings Haile Selassie I is truly all that Rastafarians have preserved…what we believe our community should do is to simply come together to carry out our Fathers unfinished business; the Queen of Sheba Historical Foundation, Inc is involved with resurrecting the issue of fascist war crimes in Ethiopia 1935-1941, that was carried out with poison gas sprayed from poison gas in highly populated remote areas far removed from the battlefield. Despite the fact that the Genocide of our people from 1935-1941 was carried out with poison gas, purchased from Hitler, and used by Mussolini, the League of Nations of which Ethiopia was a member, ignored the fascist mass-extermination campaign…despite the fact that King Haile Selassie I was a founding member of the United Nations established in 1947…that body established a human rights council and excluded the genocide in Ethiopia (1935-1941) but included the genocide in Europe from 1933-1945, dispute the fact they occurred virtually within the same time frame. From 1947 – 2019 the United Nations continue to ignore the Ethiopian Genocide 1935-1941…some are beginning to believe it is “historical bias”, even Dr. Professor Richard Pankhurst called it out by saying same thing. If you truly want to defend HIM join us in carrying out his work.
Why is it that when there are black kings and queens portrayed in A somewhat positive let everyone, mostly their own people try to tear them down. The monarchs promote nationalism, these are people who are respected by others outside the country. You think a few policies are going to make the plight of the Ethiopian people go away? The people need to be proud, love themselves and others more than their tribe and believe they are black and better than the european devils. Then our youth will stay home and build rather than run away to the arms of the Arab slave masters or white devils. It’s weird how many articles are written about Haile Selassie statue , but almost none written about mousilini mausoleum. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson has 1000 streets , schools etc named after him yet he owned many slaves and raped lots of them. Christopher Columbus is as a mass murderer and reverred everywhere . Thieving queen of England is still walking around to this day having been responsible or related to the very people who have killed millions all over Africa including Ethiopia. Also the rastas and black people in general always rallied behind Ethiopia as the shining representation of freedom and black people defeating colonial white devils. Your very mistaken saying Rastas live in isolation, rastas usually come with their life savings , start businesses and even have started a community school in shamene, nearly all speak Amharic and all rastas are Orthodox Christians , they don’t think Selassie is Christ that was a reactionary belief at then moment. How is that not assimilation? Your very biased.
Thank you sir for providing a truly insightful comment. Myself, I am here only to read & learn, & I found the article interesting. But reading the comments, now I see the balance of truth. Your comment was like a light turning on! Thanks again.
This is Marxist propaganda!! His Imperial Majesty The Emperor Haile Sellasie was the greatest African leader who ever lived. He is still remembered by millions around the world with affection. May is murderer be brought to justice and may the Royal family be restored in 2019!!
After reading this article on the August Emperor, I find some inaccuracy. First, the statue was built and unveiled at the A.U.(formerly O.A.U.) in honor of the August Emperor of Ethiopia. Also, this article asserts that the Emperor was not for Africa or black peoples of the world. This article is propaganda at best. It suggests musicians as romantic, when they are singing of the Emperor. The Emperor is not mentioned in a positive light whatsoever. This undermines His Majesty and his accomplishments. For the record, His Majesty recognized himself as a African and stood up for Africa. It was he who said, “Africans have committed no sin, unless the pursuit of independence and freedom from colonial oppression is considered to be one.”
it was he who killed a lot of his own people. He only was good in ruling but a evil man and especially not a messiah as he personally said. The true men and woman are the Ethiopian and Eritreans who fought on the right side for the people liberty and justice.
His Imperial Majesty The Emperor Haile Selassie was the most loved and respected African leader in the world during his life time. Do NOT read this wicked article which is FULL of LIES about truly Christian man who loved his people and who was murdered in his bed by cowardly men who went on to kill hundreds of thousands of their own people. He was a generous man giving away his home in England and one of his major Palaces and even money each week to the poor in the street and was not aware of the extent of the famine mentioned. Western leaders spend millions on entertaining without criticism why shouldnt Africans? He did not say he was God and even paid for a priest to live in Jamaca to witness to the Rastas there. Google his speach which he delivered to the league of nations it is deeply moving. Who are these marxist writers who cannot stop telling lies about him? Who are they trying to please? who is paying them? Lets put truth on google not marxist propaganda. May the Imperial family be rightfully restored to the Throne which they were appointed by God to rule thousands of years ago.
Unless all replys are posted this article is an afront to democracy it will be interesting if mine is printed given this extreme biased article.
Two of the key tenets of Haile Selassie’s state policy were non-alignment and pan-africanism, as evidenced by his many state visits to both the East and the West, numerous speeches on the matter, the key role he played in establishing the OAU etc etc. Nelson Mandela refers admiringly to this in his autobiography.
The author speaks of history being “nuanced”. This article, however, shows no sign of that. It reads like Derge propaganda.
It is undeniable that Emperor Hailesilase played key roles towards ‘modernising” the country and pan Africanism. However, as other monarchs and absolutists, he did what he could to protect his throne for life by suppressing any reformative ideas that could have served as critical juncture towards the fate of that country .However ,the uplifting of Hailesilase by some artists or groups for some reason shouldn’t bias as from fair views and put all the blame on his predecessors or successors.
The man himself was pretty much regarded as a living legend during his lifetime…’romantic rewriting’ as a statement, is particularly galling and offensive. Useless article, benefits no-one
What do you expect from Yohannes Woldemariam, an Eritrean, whose great father left arm was amputated by order of Empress Tayetu for serving Italian to fight against Emperor Menelik’s army in the battle of Adwa ?
Yohannes’ parents before they moved to Ethiopia, they did not study more than grade 4 becuse of Italian Aphartheid police. However after Emperor Haile Selassie liberated Eritrea from colonial powers in the 50s, Eritreans began to get best education. Yohannes, the author was a firute of Haile Selassie ‘s free education in Addis Ababa but now in the US, he became a strange firute. To insult Emperor Haile is to insult the author himself.
Selassie is the only world leader who dared to challenge the US racist police against the African American. Watch on YouTube during an interview in 1964 on the NBC, ” Meet the press”.
Read his speech at the League of Nations in 1936 and at The UN in 1963. He addressed the world not only the issue of human rights but also for survival mankind indoing so he declared a new world order by inviting to establish a new organization which strives not for big powers’ intersts but for survial of man kind.
Selassie received 72 awards from all prestigious university including Oxfird and Harvard.
Two years after he visited Jamaica, out of inspiration Bob, Peter, and Bonny invented a new phnomena called Reggae, which teaches the teaching of Selassie: Peace, love, equal rights, justice.
Ever since, Reggae is used as weapon to defend the legacies of Selassie. BOB, Peter, and Bonny were & are considered as modern day apostles who spreaded Selassieism all over the world. They changed the color image of God.
In 1955 during Selassie visited Japan, The Japan Times on its cover page: The diginfay soul has come to this part of the world.
Chaina makes billions dollars out of images of Selassie & The Lion of Judha while fool like Yhonnes takes his time to demonize the iconic Emperor. When you try to find negative word to fit the Emperor as the same time you are posing yourself.
Let me leave you with positive thinking of which the Emperor said and Bob used it to his famous song war: ” That until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permantly discdited and abandon …..”
This past July 23, Selassie turned 127, happy birthday the Emperor
This is all new information for me what Dr. Johannes Woldemariam postulates . I can neither confirm nor deny everything he’s saying however, I’m sliding more towards confirming his documentation, based upon empirical evidence and corroborated substantiated documents that he possesses in his writings. So i will give a little more credence and deep respect to his research than those detractors in the comment section here who absolutely rejects his position yes from those that seem to have their views based upon a strict resistance to have anyone challenge the official sacred story or narrative of Haile Selassie, unchallenged and held in High sanctimony as if it seems
“Very Blasphemous” to do so otherwise. So, it turns out to be a very dangerous intellectually lazy groupthink by osmosis this fundamentalist aversion and reticence to critique Haile Selassie and to preserve the image of him as the personification of benevolence as God incarnate. As if some sort of elite praetorian guard protecting the image of Caesar too , as a Roman literal God or deity of benevolence for the general Roman “citizenry / rabble” to worship as divine yes in the ancient days. So ,when one humbly objectively rationally and honestly reviews certain held in high reverential Prophets or “deity-like”historical figures, sometimes the virtuousness of these ” illuminary ones” sometimes turns out to be nothing more than misguided wishful thinking flat out mythology in reality. For example, another person viewed as a prophet similar to Haile Selassie was the late Elijah Muhammad . SO for the members of the Nation of Islam , Elijah Muhammad purported to be a prophet , who had direct communication to God .So that’s what he told his followers that he was and the world and he presented himself as such but in private deliberations with the late great Malcolm X who split with the Nation of Islam, one of the most mind-blowing shocking things that Malcolm X revealed was that in his personal very private ” tell-all” conversations with Elijah Muhammad, Elijah did not EVEN believe that himself that he was a prophet with a direct communication to God !!! and it totally disillusioned Malcolm and he was told to be quiet about it and keep that “Secret Under Wraps” from the other members of the Nation of Islam who were of lower rank or the basic laity class, as the upper Elite echelons of the Nation of Islam knew the truth that Elijah was not a prophet as well , as there was a special Clique that only new the inside truth. However that truth would have been Faith shattering for the ordinary laity members of the Nation of Islam if they heard Elijah Muhammad confess that he truly did not feel he was a prophet with a different lying to God, thus he needed to keep “THE “mythology alive about himself for a cohesion of the central power base of the religion of the Nation of Islam. Similar today is this Mystique around Haile Selassie for a lot of hungry and thirsty beautiful black people in the diaspora who are looking for cohesion because of the toxicity from white supremacy’s dirty and bloody disruptions of black Unity throughout history. So history is replete with these contradictions of various so-called ” “illuminary prophetic ones” throughout history who were not in reality what their public persona were purported to be. Yes if you will ” the pr industry that their followers disseminated for domestic and international consumption, Yes take your pick A through Z throughout history. So, Dr. Johannes Wodermariam’s documentation has validation not only of his critique of Haile Selassie and the mythology around him but also other examples yes historical analogues as well, forone will find the veracity to buttress his claims.
My ONLY purpose in sharing this extremely very well written historical article by Dr.Johannes Woldermariam is the following ; Historical !! Exactly for that reason ONLY !! SO NOT with a partisan affiliations of political beliefs or leanings of any type of preference for certain political parties , rather it’s the pure LOVE for history is why I crave to know how things happened in past times which influence our present day from the stories and roles that we tell ourselves about other people, So obviously what Dr. Johannes is saying does not espouse the traditional standard Orthodox View and it should be view with healthy skepticism as what any good Progressive person analyzing any information should do , However, it does mirror the accuracy of Truth or at least it purports or intonates that direction. As we examine conventional long-held assumed beliefs that we never challenge these implicit suppositional assumptions , we must remember ” That until the lion has its say then the story of the hunter shall always be glorified ” SO it’s very important that we re-examine reverential figures throughout history so that we do not romanticize and have a Pollyannic Disneyland Wizard of Oz mythological view historical figures making them delusionally infallible like the pope in our infantilism of naivete. So this article I must say, it’s very fascinating food for thought and grounds for further research but just don’t dismiss it and throw the baby out with the bathwater because it causes “cognitive dissonance ” Within You by challenging the sacred cows of History from your sacred views of Haile Selassie. So keep an open heart and an open mind as we remember the heart and the mind is like a parachute, yes it only works best when its open !!
God had been created and discovered by different individuals in different times and locations. Ibrahim discovered God when he was about to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Moses discovered at the burring bush on Mount Horeb, Prophet Mohammed on the mountain Jabal an-Nour. The Rastafarians discovered their Deity on November 2, 1930, when Ras Tafari sat on the throne of King David with the coronation name, Haile Selassie, the power of Trinity. Why Yhonnes is not challenging the white man’s religion? Would not be good as an Eritrean to challenge dictator Isayas Afworke? Yohannes’ article can not even create a storm in a teacup ? The Sun Never Sets on the Legacy of Emperor Haile Selassie !!Adrianne Malaku
misti@aol.com
Greetings and aloha Dr. Yohannes. It is nice to still see persons looking and searching for ways to understand who HIM Haile Selassie I is as an historical figure in the world. Unfortunately in a world where great knowledge is available to the depths in which we wish to search you have fallen more than short on this article and I wish you would consider answering some of the questions in which I have presented in my whole hearted disagreement.
I am an African American who has been searching out as much truth about Haile Sellassie I for about 1/4 of a century. It surprised be to see that your title of Dr. didn’t do much to have a quick and clear view of your perspective on HIM. My first thought was wondering if you had read his autobiographies “My Life & Ethiopia’s Progress” Vol. 1 & 2? If so what are your thoughts about HIM telling his own story from his perspective?
It is impossible for anyone with a clear & balanced educated mind as well as being a sound person of the Christian faith to nOt see the great biased rhetoric of your writings.
Your judgements come across as envious, jealous judgements of men who only utilize their voices to contradict what the Good Lord of Heaven has decreed as set in the confines of history.
You call the Kebra Negast mythology? Who are you in regards to knowing about things as such and what do you know of the great mysteries of truth concerning the of the Ark of the Covenant?
You’ve gone through trawls of the history books? Which books are you referring? Can we get some references?
How is it you can speak on the Honorable Robert Nesta Marley and Teddy Afro who have brought countless jOy to literally millions of people on earth through song and dance only to say their spirit of music is simply a romanticized perspective? I’m guessing if you don’t feel it then you don’t know it. This music is bigger than your ability to criticize that which you don’t understand. It’s ok to be wrong about something just as Marcus Garvey was wrong about Haile Sellassie I.
I mean, how am I as an Emperor of a people/nation who has worked ceaselessly to bring progress in the form of hospitals, airports, trains stations, roads & electricity, schools & universities etc… at the same time defending my country not only form violent perpetrators but from those of whom I’ve helped to achieve the education now being turned against me through propagandized mind manipulation? I would have no choice but to stand with the help of those who would have me as I am exiled due to keeping myself safe in order to accomplish the mission of being triumphant in the unjust war perpetuated on my country. How am I supposed to take the time and adhere to starting a movement to help Marcus Garvey and his request regardless of how sensible and important his request was during such a perilous time? (1937)
It wasn’t the right time and Marcus took that to personal offense after supporting him with such vigor at the beginning of the war. His thoughts and writings on HIM are unequivocally seated in a frustration of disappointment and his expectations crushed as so to do his best in a passion of fury to undermine HIM and the great work he has done here.
Manifest Destiny and the Kebra Negast are not comparable as to being similar and to do so is pure ignorance on your part. A deceptive ploy that the over educated continue to nourish while walking blindly without knowing their current surroundings.
Just how are the works of HIM and Menelik II distorted in history? What narrative of truth have you rendered in this piece of propaganda which is no different than what the Italians dropped on Ethiopians during their reign of terror on this nation of peaceful people?
Who is to say what will become of the rasta community in Shashamane? I have been and the Rastas there are kind and are connected with many throughout the land especially musically in Addis.
As I said before. You are wrong about M. Garvey and his support of HIM Haile Sellassie I. He did support him whole heartedly up until he was denied the ability to meet with HIM who at the time was under the most dire of circumstances. Marcus took this as a personal affront to demonize him as a traitor. That is as plain to see in Marcus Garvey’s writings as is the sun rising in the east if you have basic comprehension skills.
Are you kidding me? You are saying that Haile Sellassie only embraced the Rastas due to public relations value? Disgusting accusation with no bases what so ever. That statement alone would have the Dr. in front of your title revoked in a world where common sense law reigns and spreading false doctrines and demonizing propaganda have repercussions .
I’ll stand to write no more on this tragic piece of absolute gossip trash.
When Haile Sellassie met the Rastas, they were total outcast of Jamaican society and they could not give him no benefit. Still he wanted to listen to them and meet them. They had no public relations value back then. This article is at least wrong in that part.
Why is there no mention that H.I.M. singlehandedly ended slavery in Ethiopia in 1923, with an edict that any one caught owning slaves would be executed and their land and wealth confiscated from their family? Who, in fact, is rewriting history? Is it you,Yohannes Woldemariam, or are you just ignorant? Keep trawling.
Everything that you you said about Emperor Haile Selassie I is without any base or facts. As JFK said 1963 “His Majesty’s legacy in world history is already assured”. Therefore, whatever lies you or your fellow Inferior Complexity Disorder victims, and we know many of you are from Tigray and Eritrea, spread about the Emperor means nothing. History already have evaluated him and has given him the appropriate respect! Ethiopia’s enemies, individuals from Tigray, Eritrea and now, Oromo are the reason why Ethiopia is where she is. Especially, the ones from from Adwa Tigray and Eritrea, starting from working as British and Italian Bandas to killing their own people, just to blame Ethiopian Government, have done their best for Ethiopia not to exist. And they hate anyone who doesn’t let them do that (which is the case in Emperor Haile Selassie case). He refused to let Ethiopia be colonized just like Emperor Meinlik did .
Let’s no forget, about 28 years ago, it was Melse Zenwie (from Tigray), Isaias Afewerke (Eritrea), and Abo Lencho (Oromo) who sat down around table with Mr. Herman Cohen, British, Germany and other European representatives, signed the document that is destroying Ethiopia especially Amhara and Tewahdo Orthodox now. Amhara wasn’t presented at the meeting. Why? They all knew as long as Amhara is there, it wouldn’t let them “divide and conquer” Ethiopia ! I, strongly, suggest to Dr. Jonnas and to individuals like him to seek a professional help for this disorder before it ruins the world as it is doing to Ethiopia. All humans are created equal. What you are feeling is only in your heads.
Dear Dr. woldemariam,
Kudos to you! you have written simple yet clear article to expose the brutal, nepheriouse and son of a devil himself Haile Selassie’s repugnant conduct. For those of us, who have read his hideous history asn seeing his brutal administration is a big reminder and for those who keenly wanted to know who, this dead evil man’s conduct is, enlightening but for some who bury their head in the sand like some dim commentators here and most of all the musician, who call himself Teddy Afro, is simply ignorance is bliss or the boy is as dim as he can to not know how haileslealls is.
Glad to read this kind of articles. Lots of information to study in deep are given. Historical (impartial)academic research is a must.
My two cents about Rastafari:
Rastafari was designed as a way to fight white slavemasters oppression, thus a reinterpretation of the bible where afrocentrism takes the dominant position was the elected way. Rastafari foundation has freemasonic roots, members of The mystic Order of Ethiopia deeply involved. They though a powerfull way to turn around the oppressor mentality was stablishing the divinity of an African man still alive. And they were right in the short run. They created a substitutive for the white imposed god. That’s partially rightfull in the religious dimensions, however it is wicked in the reality dimension. Haile Selassie was a dictator, just like his good friend Francisco Franco, the fascist wicked spanish murderer.
How can you stand as a fascism defeater prototype when you are close friend of the worst fascist dictators of this world?
How can you stand as a slavery abolishment prototype when you befriend the queen of the wicked empire that kept in suffering and slavery 3/4 of the world? That’s the reality dimension. That’s the point where mystic can not hide reality. However mystic still represents a valid answer for those kidnapped by the Abrahamic emotional blackmail.
Rastafari emerged in 1930’s, and fortunately is a movement in constant evolution, so actual beliefs are subject to changes and interpretations. Rastafari is way more complex than the Selassie question, and has very valid points. Let the righteousness find its way.
Thank you Zisen Wada for your thoughtful comment. I can see how mythology can be useful as a tool in the struggle for justice.
However, I question utilizing Haile Selassie even for a short time as you say.
There were much better symbols that could have been used. Marcus Garvey himself, Frederick Douglas, Franz Fanon, Lumumba and Nkrumah just to mention a few.
There was no need to elevate a despicable and murderous tyrant like Haile Selassie in search of a hero.
Generations of Ethiopians and Eritreans were sacrificed because of his political intrigues. Those lives matter!
I’m also not convinced that Rastafarianism is shedding its relationship and attachment with this tyrant. Far from renewal, many true believers still vigorously and dogmatically defend him.
The author is a member of the Tigrigna ethnic group, probably from Eritrea. Basically, many intellectuals of this tribe have made it a point to demonize and belittle any king who is not of their tribe, and they have a hysterical hatred for the history of the Amhara people.
Marxist Leninsts and communists who we all know are one the cruelest intellectuals in the world, continue their campaign against him evan as their ideology has been long discredited after the world saw how their political systems are the most inhumane in the world. So for example, look at Eritrea led by a deranged marxist leninist dictator. Eritrea under Haile Sellassie was a thriving province.
Haile Sellassie was a great and visionary king who transitioned Ethiopia from the medieval era to the modern era. Passionate about eduction and the educational system he PERSONALLY implemented in Ethiopia was superb. He led the ministry of education himself and my father told me he used to visit classrooms just to see what young people were learning. Speak to anyone from his time and they will tell you the 50s and 60s was as one of the best times in Ethiopia.
As a person he was a very kind, spiritual and gentle man who deeply touched anyone who met him, Ethiopian or foreigner. Unlike other regimes in the third world, he had few political prisoners because he forgave many of his opponents and enemies. Many people don’t realize this about him, but he suffered a lot of personal tragedies. His mother died at his birth, and his fatter when he was a young boy, practically leaving him an orphan. He lost his favorite believed son Prince Mekonnen in a car accident, and both his daughters died young, one during child birth. The Italian fascists murdered some of his closest relatives.
He believed in a united Africa and was one of the founding members of the African Union. .
He modernized Ethiopia, but ironically that meant his demise, because the modern era does not accept emperors. IN his youth, he was the modernizer, but in the end, he refused to modernize the political system and especially the fuel system many Ethiopians toiled under. At a result, his imperial political system ended in disaster: with the horrible famine of the 1970s. By 1972, he as old and senile 80 year old man, and the modern students and army he built and nurtured overthrew him and murdered him. With his death came a cruel and traumatic period for Ethiopians. Sadly, after a military coup and before his death, he lived to see his grandson murdered, and his daughter and grandchildren imprisoned in a dungeon.
He died alone, tortured and defeated.
But that his not enough for people like this author, who can not see his benevolent side of one of the few great leaders of Africa.
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