Page 17 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 21
P. 17
Art & Culture
out of Egypt and Ethiopia would
stretch forth her hands unto God.
Given the historical and spiritual
circumstances surrounding the
Both Rastafarians and world-celebrated coronation of an
African king of Africa’s only auton-
Pan-Africanists share omous state, it was not far-fetched
that Haile Selassie I became a
a great love for the Af- leading figure in the African society
abroad.
rican people and their Haile Selassie
continent. Developing It is important to note that the
meaning of the person Haile Selas-
a positive African im- sie I is not for all Rastafarians the MEDINA
same. While some Rastas see him as
age is central to the the second coming of Christ, some SY.
don’t even deal with ideas of God
overall picture. or Christ. Some see him as a spiri- I am a lover of all the diverse african
tual teacher and others see him as
a symbol to remind themselves of dances and music. I am a social worker.
the godly within every human being. I am in search of truth I am of Ger-
Rastafari is a broad spectrum and man-Senegalese origin. I am always
Ethiopia to witness the festivities there are many different interpreta- learning. I want to share and exchange
on the 2nd November 1930. The tions of Haile Selassie I. knowledge. I believe that education is
Coronation got global attention The majority of Rastafarians value the key. I believe in the power of african
and press coverage. Haile Selassie`s speeches and his unity. I believe that Africa is the future
Marcus Garvey was reported to participation in the African liber- and the place to be.
prophesy the Coronation of an ation movements. Particularly his
African King, who shall be the re- speech at the league of nations and
deemer of the African people. Later, the co-founding of the OAU are
he had published an article in the often mentioned. way. Babylon is a construct, that
Jamaican Newspaper the Blackman, must be changed to the benefit of
where he reported about the Cor- Babylon and Zion the people of Africa.
onation of Haile Selassie Rastafarians do agree on the Opposed to the negativity of Bab-
I and His Majesty’s definition of Babylon ylon is the positivity of Zion. Zion
willingness to and its role in the is the promised land. Zion is Africa.
welcome life of Africans. While the repatriation to Africa was
African Babylon is a main goal for Rastafarians of the
people the colonial diaspora in early days, the physical
from or white repatriation is not the main focus of
the di- suprema- all Rastafarians anymore. Being in
aspora. cist society Africa is also seen as a mindset.
Mar- and the
cus political Language
Gar- system of
vey the west. It In the wake of the anti-colonial
further constantly spirit of the Rastafarian move-
referred disadvantages ment, Rastas developed their own
to a psalm Africans and it expressions to challenge the Euro-
in the bible, does also affect pean language, English. Fullticipate
which said that the reasoning of instead of participate, overstand
Princes shall come Africans in a detrimental instead of understand or downpres-
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