|
Press "Play" to listen to article
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
By Vanessa Okailey Vanderpuye
July 29, 2022: Arts Centre, ACCRA: The life and deeds of Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie I (1930 – 1974) was commemorated last Saturday July 23, 2022 at the Accra Arts Center. Present at the event was Ethiopian Ambassador to Ghana Hadera Abera Admassu who graced the program with a riveting account of Selassie’s life.
The emperor of Ethiopia (1930–74), who was born July 23, 1892 July 23, 1892, would have been 120 years old. Haile Selassie I was known for modernizing his country, for helping to establish the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union) in 1963, for his exile (1936–41), and for being overthrown in 1974. He was also regarded as the messiah of the African race by many Rastas.
Members of various Rastafarian movements along with believers of Haile Selassie I’s vision and works filled the auditorium. They danced, sang, recited poetry and enjoyed African delicacies.
The event, organized by Afrocentric Network, was to mark the African icon’s birthday, show solidarity with Ethiopia, and remind Africans of the East African nation’s rich history.
“The turnout was positive. Basically being an Nkrumaist I didn’t know so much about Haile Selassie. I didn’t know so much even though I knew he fought for the rights of Ethiopians. So coming to the program, through quotes, music and poetry I think it has been very educative for me,” explained ne guest.
In 1976, War was recorded and made popular by Bob Marley’s Island Records album Rastaman Vibration. The lyrics of the song are almost entirely derived from a speech made by the Ethiopian Emperor before the United Nations General Assembly on 4 October 1963.
It went thus:
”That until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned: That until there are no longer first-class and second class citizens of any nation; That until the color of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes; That until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race; That until that day, the dream of lasting peace and world citizenship and the rule of international morality will remain but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but never attained.”