The term "Rastafari" derives from "Ras Tafari Makonnen", the pre-regnal title of Haile Selassie, the former Ethiopian emperor who occupies a central role in Rasta belief. The term "Ras" means a duke or prince in the Ethiopian Semitic languages; "Tafari Makonnen" was Selassie's personal name. It is unknown why the early Rastas adopted this form of Haile Selassie's name as the basis of the term for their religion. As well as being the religion's name, "Rastafari" is also used for the religion's practitioners themselves. Many commentators—including some academic sources and some practitioners—refer to the movement as "Rastafarianism". However, the term is disparaged by many Rastafari, who believe that the use of -ism implies religious doctrine and institutional organisation, things they wish to avoid.

Ras (Amharic: ራስ, romanized: ras, lit. 'head' compare with Arabic Rais or Hebrew Rosh), is a royal title in the Ethiopian Semitic languages. It is one of the powerful non-imperial titles.

Historian Harold G. Marcus equates the Ras title to a duke;[citation needed] others have compared it to "prince".

The combined title of Leul Ras (Amharic: ልዑል ራስ) was given to the heads of the cadet branches of the Imperial dynasty, such as the Princes of Gojjam, Tigray, Ras Tafari Makonnen and the Selalle sub-branch of the last reigning Shewan Branch, and meaning "Lord of Lords", the highest title of lord.

C’est notre sécurité collective qui est en jeu. C’est l’essence même de la Société des Nations qui est en jeu. C’est la confiance que chaque État doit accorder aux traités internationaux qui est en jeu. C’est la crédibilité des promesses faites aux petits États que leur intégrité territoriale et leur indépendance seraient respectées et garanties qui est en jeu. C’est le principe d’égalité entre les États qui est en jeu, à moins que les petits États ne soient dans l’obligation d’accepter des liens de vassalité. En un mot, c’est la moralité de la communauté internationale qui est en jeu. Les signatures apposées à un traité n’ont-elles de valeur que tant que les pays signataires y ont un intérêt personnel, direct et immédiat ? Aucune subtilité ne peut changer les données du problème, ni modifier le fondement juridique de la discussion. C’est en toute sincérité que je fais part de ces réflexions à l’Assemblée, au moment où mon peuple est menacé d’extermination, au moment où le soutien de la SDN est susceptible d’empêcher que le coup de grâce ne lui soit donné, m’est-il permis de parler à cœur ouvert, sans réticence, en toute franchise, comme l’exige le principe d’égalité entre tous les États membres de la SDN ? 

Discours prononcé à la SDN (Genève) le 30 juin 1936 par Haïlé Sélassié, negussa nagast d’Ethiopie.

Slušam...

Happy Birthday, Haile Selassie I, Negusa Nagast , Seyoume Igziabeher, By the Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Elect of God,

RAS TAFARI!

In Jamaica, Shortly after the coronation of the Emperor Haile Selassie I, belief in the divinity of Haile Selassie began. A black king had risen in the east, a messiah had come to deliver his people. The legend of Emperor Haile Selassie grew after years of personally fighting and eventually defeating a European colonial power.

One hundred thousand Rastafari from all over Jamaica descended on Palisadoes Airport in Kingston to greet Haile Selassie when he visited Jamaica on April 21, 1966. Clouds of Ganja smoke covered the scene. Selassie started down the stairs, but returned, uneasy with the commotion as the crown rushed the tarmac. A well-known Rasta leader, Ras Mortimer Planno was recruited to negotiate the emperor's descent. Planno was able to calm the crowd and help the emperor exit the plane. This event is commemorated by Rastafari as Grounation Day every year on April 21.

At the time Bob Marleys new bride, Rita had relayed to Bob how she had seen stigmata on the hands of the Emperor as he walked the stairs down from his plane. This greatly contributed to Bob's conversion to Rasta and its subsequent global exposure.

On the flight to Jamaica he was asked if he would deny being god to the Rasta. He replied, "Who am I to disturb their belief?"

Jamaican authorities would have liked Selassie to deny divinity to the Rasta. This didn't happen and Selassie actually gave gold medallions to the Rasta leaders, the only gifts of the trip. This after famously giving away lions on his trip to Europe.

In a 1967 CBC recorded an interview with Haile Selassie in which he denied his alleged divinity. On being told, "There are millions of Christians throughout the world, your Imperial Majesty, who regard you as the reincarnation of Jesus Christ," Haile Selassie replied in his native language,

"I have heard of that idea. I also met certain Rastafarians. I told them clearly that I am a man, that I am mortal, and that I will be replaced by the oncoming generation, and that they should never make a mistake in assuming or pretending that a human being is emanated from a deity."

After his return to Ethiopia he sent an Archbishop to the Caribbean help draw Rastafari and other West Indians to the Ethiopian church. People resented the former colonial churches and were interested in establishing the Ethiopian Church in the Caribbean. The Emperor obliged and the church exists to this day.

The first known examples of the hairstyle date back to ancient Egypt 🇪🇬 , where dreadlocks appeared on Egyptian artifacts. Mummified remains of ancient Egyptians with dreadlocks have even been recovered from archaeological sites. The Old Testament also recounts the tale of Samson and Delilah in which a man's potency is directly linked to 'the seven locks on his head' and according to Roman accounts, the Celts were described to have 'hair like snakes' Germanic tribes, Greeks and the Vikings are all said to have worn dreadlocks too. Rastafarianism however is something entirely separate. It was born in the 1930s when Ras Tafari was crowned emperor of 🇪🇹Ethiopia. When the emperor was forced into exile during an invasion, guerrilla warriors swore not to cut their hair until the emperor was reinstated. The religion resonated with the ideologies of the day, for example socialism, Marxism, nationalism and black power. It was therefore, seen as a threat to Christianity and came under attack by the authorities that tried to suppress the 'Rasta' movement and imprisoned those who possessed 'ganja'. Rastafarians smoked cannabis because they thought it prompted a clearer state of well - being. Their dreadlocks were thought to be disgusting and frightening, hence the term 'dread' which was later reclaimed by the 'Rasta' community. The hairstyle was later brought into mainstream culture through the worldwide success of reggae artist 🇯🇲 Bob Marley. Sporting locks himself, he prompted an international interest in the style, and the anti establishment philosophy of Rastafarian culture. Dreadlocks became increasingly popular and there are many reasons in various cultures for wearing them. They can be an expression of deep religious or spiritual convictions, a manifestation of ethnic pride. They can make a political statement, or simply be a fashion preference. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj_P2CkvpYZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Cuz you need to see real royalty on your timelines…. #BlackRoyalty @the_african_royal_families HIM Empress Zewditu, daughter of late Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia was crowned Empress (Negesta Nagastat) of Ethiopia on this day in 1917 becoming the world's only woman head of state at the time. She would reign for only13 years until her death in 1930. Her cousin Ras Tafari would succeed her to become Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia #empresszewditu #empresszewdituofethiopia #ethiopianroyalfamily #ethiopianroyal #ethiopianroyalty #ethiopianimperialfamily #africanroyalty #africanroyals #africanroyalfamilies Photo : Repost from @joyjones007 (at Jamaica) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjRjAeuO_co/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Listen/purchase: Ras Tafari (freestyle) by DEXTER

Foto de 1924 del dictador italiano Benito Mussolini en una recepción para Ras Tafari Makonnen, regente plenipotenciario de Etiopía, que sería coronado emperador Haile Selassie en 1930. Una década después de esta reunión, Mussolini invadiría Etiopía, obligando a Selassie a exiliarse.

Ras Tafari

o imperador da etiópia haile selassie i e sua esposa, a imperatriz menen asfaw. o nome de registro de haile selassie era ras tafari makonnen, e sua ascensão ao trono fez com que muitos jamaicanos acreditassem que ele havia cumprido uma profecia bíblica, marcando o início da fé rastafári. foto de w. robert moore.

Zewditu (Askala Maryam; 29 April 1876 – 2 April 1930) was Empress of Ethiopia from 1916 to 1930. The first female head of an internationally recognized country in Africa in the 19th and 20th centuries, and the first and only empress regnant of the Ethiopian Empire, her reign was noted for the reforms of her Regent and designated heir Ras Tafari Makonnen (who succeeded her as Emperor Haile Selassie I), about which she was at best ambivalent and often stridently opposed, due to her staunch conservatism and strong religious devotion. She is the most recent empress regnant, as well as the last female Ethiopian head of state until the 2018 election of Sahle-Work Zewde as president.

Saturday Afternoon Reggae Show DJ LeBaron Lord King November 19, 2022 [email protected] kpoo.com #SaturdayAfternoonReggaeShow

4:00 PM The Wailers - The Heathen 4:03 PM The Paragons - The Tide Is High 4:05 PM Hempress Divine ft Juba - A Million Ways 4:09 PM J Boog - Good Good Feeling 4:14 PM Italee - Babylon Money 4:18 PM Imeru Tafari - Awaken 4:21 PM Arkaingelle - Str8 To Alkebulan 4:27 PM Horace Andy - Rock To Sleep 4:30 PM Popcaan - Superior 4:34 PM Koffee - Visualizer 4:41 PM Capleton - Real as It Seems 4:48 PM Lutan Fyah - Guide and Protect 4:51 PM Protoje - Late at Night 4:55 PM Cedric Myton - Rat Trap 4:59 PM Luciano - No Night In Zion 5:03 PM Black Uhuru - Guess Who's Coming to Diner 5:09 PM The Gaylads - There's a Fire 5:11 PM Jackie Mittoo - Ram Jam 5:16 PM The Maytals - Bla Bla Bla 5:18 PM Christopher Ellis - Rub a Dub 5:22 PM Biblical - Inna d Ites 5:28 PM Koffee - Lockdown 5:31 PM Yaadcore - Nyquill 5:35 PM Sampa the Great - Energy 5:40 PM Baba Ras - Real Vegetarian 5:44 PM Busy Signal - Government Gone Luuu 5:47 PM Matisyahu - Love Born 5:53 PM Alborosie - Natural Mystic 5:57 PM The Wailers - Waiting In Vain 6:02 PM Nas & Damian Marley - Patience 6:06 PM Steel Pulse - Ravers 6:11 PM Black Uhuru - Shine Eye Gal 6:19 PM Tilibop - Psalm 6:23 PM Spaxx - Ruff Road 6:26 PM The Fugees - No Woman, No Cry 6:31 PM Ras Attitude - Reign & Rule 6:34 PM Burro Banton - Food 6:39 PM Popcaan - Firm and Strong 6:44 PM Addis Pablo - Melodica Rise 6:48 PM Kristine Alicia - I & I 6:50 PM Anthony B - Raggamuffin

History of Ras Tafari. War II. Never forget that. The battle of lands, The Lion of Judah prevailed over evil..#fawazarts #fawazartsgallery #fawazartsmovement #fawaz #ethiopian #ethiopia #rasta #rastafariart #rastaman #rasta #jahrastafari #jah #kingofkings #lionofjudah #selassie #emperorhaileselassie #pencildrawing #pencilart #artist #pencilportrait https://www.instagram.com/p/CqOg2RROWkR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Ras Makonnen Woldemikael and his son Lij Tafari Makonnen

Visiting Shashemene, Ethiopia’s Rastafari Community

shashemene ethiopia rastafari

Reggae music continues to influence African culture. Reggae music provided the dispossessed with a means of voicing their emotions and is closely tied up with the Rastafarian movement.

Many reggae songs refer to Ethiopia, the “Land of Zion” in their lyrics, indicating the significance of this African nation to followers of Rastafarianism.

One town, Shashemen, demonstrates the connection between Jamaica and Ethiopia particularly well. Shashemene is home to a large Rasta population who have traveled from the Caribbean to make Ethiopia their home.

Tourists who are interested in Rastafarianism shouldn’t miss out on a trip to the village during their stay in Ethiopia.

Why is Ethiopia Important to Rastafarians?

During the 1920s, Jamaican political leader Marcus Garvey led a Back to Africa movement. This movement encouraged the descendants of slaves who had been taken to the Americas from Africa back to their routes. Garvey also claimed that one day a black man would become king in Africa.

Garvey was proved right in 1930 when Haile Selassie I became emperor of Ethiopia. The movement took Selassie’s pre-coronation name of Ras Tafari. Rastafarians encouraged followers to go to Ethiopia, returning to the country of their ancestors.

The Rastafari movement received a boost in 1948 when Emperor Selassie donated Ethiopian land to accommodate people from the Caribbean of African descent who wished to live there. The land donated was the village Shashemane.

Since then many Rastafarians have moved to Ethiopia, in particular to Shashemene. Bob Marley visited the village in 1978 and, although he never moved to Ethiopia, he considered it to be his spiritual home.

What to See and Do in Shashemene

For travelers in Ethiopia who are interested in Rastafarianism, Shashemene is worth visiting. The village has become popular among tourists from elsewhere in Ethiopia and across the world.