Rastafarians Defy Time And Celebrate Haile Selassie’s Legacy
At Chaminuka Rastafari House in Chitungwiza, a dormitory town on the outskirts of Zimbabwe’s capital Harare, almost every month there is a special celebration taking place. As a sabbath service came to an end on Ayg. 16, members immediately got busy preparing for an upcoming celebration of another special day on their annual calendar: Aug. 17 marked the day that Marcus Garvey — a man whom they revere as a prophet — had been born in 1887.
A few weeks earlier, on July 23, members of all the nine Rastafari houses in Zimbabwe had gathered at one place to celebrate the 133rd birthday of Emperor Haile Selassie, the former monarch of Ethiopia and a central figure in the mainstream Nyahbinghi order of this nearly century-old religion that has a strong following among African and Afro-Caribbean communities.
Godfrey Njanji, an elder at Chaminuka Rastafari House, said they do not have any commemorations around Emperor Selassie’s death because, as far as they are concerned, he isn’t to them.
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“We don’t talk of his death here because it is something that never happened,” Njanji, who is better known by his Rastafari name Elder Blackman, told Religion Unplugged. “It is not true [that the emperor died]. It is a creation of Babylon who are trying to destroy us … in order to cause confusion.”
“That argument is false because Jah is ever living,” chimed in Jah Eye, a member of the priesthood at the shrine. “We are living testimony of Ras Tafari, how can he be dead when we are living? The life of Ras Tafari is in us, that is why we are called by his name. You cannot look for him in the grave because he is always living … his spirit is in in us, that is why you can’t see him physically.”
Are these members in denial? They say no, even quoting famed singer Bob Marley to make the point.
“No, we are not in denial, but this is the truth,” Njanji said. “He did not die. He just went into the ark. It is the same thing, even when the Christ [rose from the dead], they continued to spread news about his death in order to cause confusion. … His Majesty never die … just as Bob Marley said, ‘Fools say your God is dead, but I know Jah lies!’’ How can God die?”
Charles A. Price, an Associate Professor of Education and Human Development at Temple University and author “Rastafari, The Evolution of a People and Their Identity,” said the Rastafari responded to reports of Emperor Selassie’s death in different ways.
“Some denied Emperor Selassie was dead, insisting that God cannot die, and no body was found to confirm the death,” he said. “Others said only time would reveal the meaning of the emperor’s disappearance, since God’s ways are beyond the ken of mortals. Another view was that the emperor’s disappearance signaled the beginning of a new era on Earth, much like Christ rising from death. In the new dispensation, these followers believed, the Rastafari must act as the emperor’s anointed and must continue the traditions, knowledge and communities they have birthed.”
He also said that despite these viewpoints, there are still many who continue to wonder why many Rastafari reject the idea that the emperor is dead.
“As I argue in my book, claiming that the emperor still lives, without conclusive evidence, requires faith — just as it does for Christians who believe that Jesus Christ is immortal,” he added.
Selassie and Rastafarianism
Before his coronation as Ethiopia’s emperor in 1930, Selassie was known as Ras (Prince) Tafari Makonnen, and it is the combination of the two Amharic words: “Ras and “Tafari” — his given-name (meaning “creator” or “one to be feared” from which Ras-Tafari originate. In 1920, Garvey predicted that a black king, a messiah, would be crowned in Africa to lead the peoples of Africa and the African diaspora to freedom.
In 1930, Ras Tafari Makonnen was crowned the 225th Emperor of Ethiopia, claiming direct descent from King David in an unbroken line of Ethiopian kings dating back to the Menelik I, the offspring of King Solomon and Queen Makeda of Sheba. Afro-Caribbean communities in Jamaica took this to be confirmation of both Garvey’s prediction and prophecy in the Book of Revelation.
The new Ethiopian monarch took the name Haile Selassie I, which means “Might of the Holy Trinity” and went on to adopt the title, “His Imperial Majesty, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Elect of God.”
Selassie was thus regarded as the foretold “God of Ethiopia” whose reign presaged the end of European domination and African suffering throughout the world, resulting in him being venerated as the living God and the hope of global African redemption. This social movement spread throughout the Caribbean, Africa, Central America and the United States, capturing the heart and imagination of much of the African diaspora. These followers became known as Ras-Tafaris or Rastafarians, which later evolved into “Rastamen” and “Rastas” as they are known today.
In the Rastafari community, Selassie’s life is celebrated through many different rituals and gatherings — events often feature music, dance and spiritual reflection — celebrating his teachings and legacy. These Rastafari celebrations across the world, that include the Nyahbinghi drumming and chanting, paying tribute to Selassie’s role as a spiritual leader and symbol of African unity.
Rastafari orders
There are three recognized orders of Rastafari — the dominant Nyahbinghi order, the oldest of them all, the Bobo Shanti order, which was founded by the late Prince Emmanuel Edwards in Jamaica in the 1950s, and order of Twelve Tribes sect, whose members consider themselves the direct descendants of the 12 Sons of David.
The Nyahbinghi — the oldest of the Rastafarian orders — from which the other two orders came from, derived from Queen Nyahbinghi, who ruled Uganda in the 19th century and is revered for fighting against the colonialists. Members of this order focus mainly on Emperor Haile Selassie whom they proclaim to be the incarnation of a supreme deity.
The Nyahbinghi order pushed for their repatriation to Ethiopia, where they believe all Black people originate. Ethiopia thus plays a major role in this sect and is represented in all their symbols including their flag.
While each of these three orders has its own symbols and beliefs, two common principles shared by all Rastas across the world, are the exalted status of Haile Selassie I and the rejection of white Eurocentric images of divinity.
A misunderstood religion
Some 50 years later, while the fate of Emperor Selassie continues to be a subject of an emotive debate, one thing that is not debatable is continuing presence of Rastafarianism on the global religious landscape. Price said while they are misunderstood, misappropriated, belittled, misrepresented and have had their political and religious significance minimized, Rastafari have not been vanquished.
Researchers have pointed out that while the reported death of Emperor Selassie had a devastating effect on the religion and its followers worldwide, it has since managed to make a rebound. Dr. Jahlani Niaah, a lecturer in Cultural and Rastafari Studies in the Institute for Caribbean Studies at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, said the resilience of the movement has something to do with its broader international appeal.
“By virtue of the transatlantic worldview of the movement … Rastafari could be seen from its inception to have an inbuilt international potential and appeal,” he said. “This should be credited to the wisdom and insights of its very first preacher, Leonard Howell, who put in place a foundation that was to remain intact to the present time.”
Decades after Emperor Selassie’s death, the religion continues to attract new converts. Robert Mandaza, was only 15 when, in 1995, he and a friend grew fascinated about Rastafarianism and started attending services at Chaminuka House.
More than 30 years later, the 45-year old tailor who goes by his adopted Rastafari name “Ancient Robes Makonnen” is now a member of the Chaminuka Rastafari House’s working committee, where he also performs the iconic Nyahbinghi drumming. He said he believes the future of the religion and movement is secure.
“Rastafarianism is not going anywhere, if anything it growing stronger as you can see,” he said. “We are here today and others will be coming after us because it is more than just us as individuals, but about Jah. … Jah cannot die!”
Cyril Zenda is a journalist based in Harare, Zimbabwe.