Hail his Imperial Majesty
“Hail Him without any apology”
“Hail His Imperial Majesty”
- Burning Spear
“Look to the east for the crowning of a Black King”
- Hon. Marcus Garvey
On November 2, 1930 in Addis Ababa the capital of Ethiopia, Ras Tafari was coronated as His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie the first and his wife Empress Menen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJl0i_yvxQM)
History will record that Emperor Haile Selassie I was the most progressive African leader of the last century. He ushered in reforms to help unite and modernise not just his own country of Ethiopia but indeed the entire African continent.
He was one of the founding fathers of the Organisation of African Union in 1963
Revolutionary
“Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war.”
- Emperor Haile Selassie I
At one point in time, during the early 1960s, Nelson R. Mandela, whilst serving as the head of the then outlawed African National Congress (ANC) which was waging a guerilla war against the racist Apartied regime of South Africa, travelled to Ethiopia to learn the art of military and civic leadership from Emperor Haile Selassie himself.
The Emperor provided Nelson Mandela with an Ethiopian passport under the name of David Motsamayi.
“Fundamental tenets of the Ethiopian Movement were self-worth, self-reliance and freedom. These tenets drew the advocates of Ethiopianism, like a magnet, to the growing political movement. That political movement was to culminate in the formation of the ANC in 1912. It is in this sense that we in the ANC trace the seeds of the formation of our organisation to the Ethiopian Movement of the 1890s.”
- Nelson R. Mandela
As a well-traveled Emperor, Haile Selassie visited several Caribbean islands such as; Jamaica, Trinidad and Bermuda.
“When His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassi I, arrived on board a Canadian Air Force plane at 2:00pm, he looked as though he deserved all of his impressive titles. The Bermuda Recorder speculated that the large crowds had turned out at the airport because of his impressive titles, race and that he was the first man of color to be given such an impressive welcome.” – Dale Butler from His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I in Bermuda 1963 and 1967
The emperor returned for a second one-day visit in 1967, en route to the US and Canada, and was again greeted by large crowds and honored with a reception for some 200 people at Government House.
Emperor Haile Selassie I in Bermuda. Photo: Provided
The teachings of both His Imperial Majesty and Honourable Marcus Garvey were the catalyst for the upliftment of black people around the world leading to the overthrow of European colonialism in numerous African and Caribbean nations.
Equally, their teachings formed the foundation of the Rastafarian Movement in Jamaica which spread to the Caribbean, Africa and eventually the entire world.
Reggae Music
The primary vehicle of the message of Rastafari was the word sound and power of Reggae music, which has in itself become one of the most powerful forms of political and social upliftments.
The musical works of; Bob Marley, Burning Spear, Peter Tosh, Judy Mowatt, Marcia Griffiths, Steel Pulse, Lucky Dube and Jimmy Cliff have helped to change how black people viewed themselves, each other and how they were viewed by others.
On Saturday November 2, 2019 Arijahknow Productions hosted a Coronation Day celebration at Victor Scott School, Bermuda, formerly known as Central School.
Of historical importance is the fact that Central School is the first government school built for black children in Bermuda in the 1930s.
Additionally, this school, which serves as home to Boulevard Community Club, is in the Friswells Hill / Parsons road region, which is essentially, the King Negus Region.
So, it was only fitting to see a gathering of many, who originally hail from this region, return home to hear the word sound and power of Reggae music.
For over 4 hours there was a mixture of both live music and conscious reggae played by Ricochet sound and DJ Ninja Cutty.
Snacks were provided by victor Scott PTA.
Reggae, which is the message of the King, is now indeed a universal music.
Hail His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I.
5 Responses to “Hail his Imperial Majesty”
Not only on a religious approach, but rather a historical spectrum.
Blessings
The Father or Modern Afrika and who's disciples gave birth to reggae and hip hop music, the most dominant & global reaching. The cries for justice and equal rights, self determination, turning a negative into a positive and all these things built on the utmost trust & commitment to a relationship with the most high, from the internal connection imbedded in all mankind. His teaching could save the world yet are never taught in school. Glorious things are spoken of this man who was born in Ethiopia. PS 87