H.I.M. HAILE SELASSIE I
by Mike Cutri
acutri@acusd.edu
Jah Children-Rasta Documents, 05/01/96
Haile Selassie was born Tafari Makonnen in Ethiopia in 1892. He married Wayzaro Menen in 1911, daughter of Emperor Menelik II. By becoming prince (Ras), Tafari became the focus of the Christian majority's approval over Menelik's grandson, Lij Yasu, because of his progressive nature and the latter's unreliable politics. He was named regent and heir to the throne in 1917, but had to wait until the death of the Empress Zauditu to assume full kingship. During the years of 1917-1928, Tafari traveled to such cities as Rome, Paris, and London
to become the first Ethiopian ruler to ever go abroad. In November of 1930, Zauditu died and Tafari was crowned emperor, the 111th emperor in the succession of King Solomon. Upon this occasion he took the name Haile Selassie, meaning "Might of the Trinity." This paper will focus on Selassie's progressive politics and attempts to modernize Ethiopia through technological advances and membership in the world community. Relevant to these topics is Ethiopia's struggle with Italy in World War II, Selassie's embracing of the League of Nations, and his popularity and attention worldwide because of his efforts towards humanitarianism and Ethiopian sovereignty.
Ethiopia was a culturally and resourcefully rich land recognized by the European colonial powers as sovereign from as early as 1900. Selassie's predecessor expanded his empire successfully in the 1880's and formed treaties with the Italians, who recognized the imperial potential of northern Africa. Relations became strained, however, in the 1890's when Britain and Italy agreed that Ethiopia should fall under Italian influence. Despite occasional conflicts, Ethiopia under Menelik remained sovereign, and thus we see a stage set for the leadership of Selassie: a free Ethiopia with Italian, British, and French colonies nearby, and an Italian will to expand its territorial claims when its power and opportunity arise. (Marcus, 52)
Well before Selassie's crowning as negus (king), he began work modernizing Ethiopia to rival that which he saw in Europe during his time abroad. He took steps to improve legislation, bureaucracy, government schooling, and health and social services in preparation for his new reign. More importantly in a diplomatic focus, Selassie acted to promote Ethiopian power and sovereignty and secure allies abroad. In 1919 Ethiopia applied for membership into the League of Nations but was banned because its practice of slavery was still strong. By 1923, working with the Empress Zauditu, the slave trade was abolished and Ethiopia was unanimously accepted into the League. He further acted to seek approval of other nations by emancipating existing slaves and their children and created government bureaus to do so. Also prior to his taking of power, Selassie promoted a twenty year treaty of friendship with Italy in 1928 and established legislation in 1930 to ban illegal sales of arms in Ethiopia, and to establish the government's right to procure arms for protection and internal unrest. (Marcus, 60-73)
In 1931, upon assuming power, Selassie established the first Ethiopian constitution, which aimed to re-focus governmental power from many rases to his blood line solely. This move was effective in aiding Ethiopia's modernization through bureaucracy and solidarity, and forced the many regional rases to either oppose him treasonably or join him with their support. (Marcus, 98-100) By 1934, after several suppressed revolts, all the major rases were either supporters or outside the empires influence in the outer regions of Ethiopia. Much of Selassie's loyalty was fostered by the building of schools, universities, and newspapers, as well as increased availability of electricity, telephone, and public health services. The Bank of Ethiopia was also founded in 1931 and introduced Ethiopian currency.
Though the changes in Ethiopia sponsored by Selassie and his new progressive government seemed very promising, there lingered a new threat to the growing country when Benito Mussolini came to power in Italy in 1922. The north African colony of Eritrea, held by the Italians, was harmonious in its African/Italian co-existence from the 1890's until 1922, when Mussolini's administration began to emphasize the superiority of Italian inhabitants, and even enforced the segregation of the population. As late as 1928, motions of peace were made by Italy, but it seemed as though Mussolini wanted Eritrea only as a strategic base for future conquest in Africa. (Marcus, 108) In December 1934, there was an incident seemingly provoked by Italian forces which involved an Ethiopian escort to the Welwel wells used by desert nomads. The League of Nations exonerated both parties in the battle in September 1935, and it seemed to Mussolini that he would not be condemned for his future hostilities. (Marcus, 148-49) Italy invaded Ethiopia one month later without declaring war; the League of Nations condemned Italy as the aggressor, but no actions were taken. The fighting persisted for seven months, and Ethiopia was pushed back quite forcefully. Selassie found his forces unmatched militarily and was shocked at the use of chemical weapons by Italy, and the lack of action taken by the League of Nations. He was forced to exile on May 2 of 1936, a move which raised harsh criticism from many who were used to a warrior emperor of Ethiopia. On June 30, Haile Selassie went to Geneva to seek help from the League of Nations. He made a powerful speech in which he addressed the lack of enforcement of the Italian arms embargo, and quite effectively illustrated the consequences of the League's stifled actions: either there would exist collective security or international lawlessness. (Selassie, Internet) His speech was taken quite emotionally by audiences around the world, especially in America, where he achieved much sympathy. Selassie succeeded in raising the support of the United States and Russia, at least verbally, but Britain and France still recognized the Italian possession of Ethiopia by Italy.
While Selassie was in exile, the Italian forces established new government and attempted to crush the continuing revolts by massacres and segregation. In Britain for most of his exile, he attempted to raise public support for the plight of his country, but gained little attention until Italy entered the war on the side of Germany in June 1940. After the entrance, Britain and Selassie worked together to rally the remaining revolutionary forces in Ethiopia. He proceeded to Khartoum in 1940 to be in closer contact with his troops and British coordinators. With an army of British, South African, African, and Ethiopian soldiers, Haile Selassie re-entered Addis Ababa on May 5, 1941, but fighting continued on Ethiopian soil until January 1942. During the years of war, Selassie controlled internal affairs, but with required British approval. Upon his return he, without consulting Britain, appointed a seven member cabinet and a governor of Addis Ababa. The British aided Ethiopia in training a new army with advisers, which helped him substitute experienced administrators in place of traditional nobility, but he rejected British help whenever the reforms threatened his own personal control over his country. His stubbornness and foresight to retaining power showed Selassie to be a determined dictator, but certainly not without Ethiopia's benefit in mind. The modernization's made by Britain concerning currency, industrialization, and bureaucracy made Selassie see the major importance in modernizing in order to survive. He attempted to secure Eritrea as Ethiopian, but the decades of Italian influence imparted an independent sense on the part of the Eritreans, and the British denied his wishes.
When Selassie returned to power, he realized the necessity of a dependable tax base and issued a flat tax based on the richness of the land. Unfortunately, the nobles of several provinces battled the tax and the path was lain for opposition to the newly re-established government. Selassie backed down from his new tax brackets and issued a flat tithe to all noble landowners who resisted, but this merely passed the tax on to the tenants of the regions, who carried the entire burden of taxation. Another huge reform made by Selassie was the 1948 change in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. He removed the responsibility of appointment of the Church's patriarch from Alexandria to himself, a move which revolutionized the sixteen century old tradition.
After World War II, Selassie saw himself as a humble, but emerging, world leader. (Prouty, 93) Ethiopia was a founding member of the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity. Haile Selassie, after his aid from Britain wound down in 1953, sought and developed an aid-based relationship with the United States, and later sought and received aid from such diversified nations as Italy, China, West Germany, Taiwan, Yugoslavia, Sweden, and the Soviet Union.
Within his country, Selassie favored political realism, and attempted to make peace with the many Ethiopian factions- ethnic, religious, and economic- through appeasement and compromise. Despite his growing international stature, however, his internal influence lacked major support which would, in the future, lead to problems in his stability as a ruler. The emperor attempted to further strengthen the national government by placing newly educated ministers with more specific powers, establishing a central judiciary and self-appointing its judges. He also proclaimed a new national constitution in 1955. The constitution was enforced by a new, younger, foreign-educated staff, who sympathized with Selassie's reforms and were intellectually supportive of his claims. It was also heavily influenced by Selassie's concern for international image, as many African countries were thriving under colonial support and Ethiopia was still laying its claim to Eritrea. (Prouty, 93) The new constitution emphasized Selassie's religious right to power, and while it promised several inherently American rights (freedom of speech, assembly, and due process), the Ethiopian population lacked the literacy and independence from local nobility to really appreciate its declarations.
Selassie's major changes in form of the Ethiopian government promised huge reforms, and when these were realized to be slowly obtained, a coup d'état occurred in Addis Ababa in December 1960, while Selassie was abroad on one of his frequent diplomatic missions. (Prouty, 40) While initially successful, the coup led by the Imperial Bodyguard, police chief, and intellectual radicals lacked the public support necessary, and fell upon the return of the emperor and his assertion of the loyalty of the army and air force, as well as the church. The coup's failure did, however lead to the polarization of the traditional and progressive factions, and the public awareness of the need to improve the economic, social, and political position of the population.
After the coup, Selassie tried to calm his opponents mostly through land grants to officials, but with little social or political reform. In 1966, a plan to reform the tax system with intent to destroy the landowners grasp on the economy was drafted, but opposed vigorously by the parliament, who were all landowners. The years prior to 1974 were filled with rising inflation, corruption, and famine, as well as growing discontent by many of the organized urban groups and unions. Selassie had organized his military so that each branch opposed each other in class, benefits, or treatment in order to keep one from becoming so powerful as to threaten his power. It was perceived that the droughts and famines within the army and the public were intentional, and that civil freedoms were increasingly disappearing. Mutiny in the army branch of the military began on January 12, 1974, and was followed by several provincial takeovers in February. In early June, a group of about 120 military officers formed a group known as the Derg (committee) who represented the military and worked behind closed doors to gain power militarily. Although they claimed allegiance to the emperor, they began arresting aristocracy and parliament members who were associated with the old order. This group effectively removed Selassie's means of governing, as they had complete military control. In July 1974, the Derg demanded a new constitution; when it was found to be unsatisfactory to their "Ethiopia First" ideology, they proceeded to undermine the emperor's authority, and enjoyed much public support. (Tareke, 204-13) The emperor's estate and palace were nationalized and in August, Selassie was directly accused of covering up famine of the early 1970's which killed hundreds of thousands of people. On September 12th, he was formally deposed and arrested and power was given to the Derg, formally renamed the Provisional Military Administrative Council. In August 1975, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie died under questionable circumstances under house arrest, and was secretly buried. (Prouty, 93) His early legacy of Ethiopian pride and sovereignty, had transformed itself to a major struggle of the old versus the new orders. The old order was effectively destroyed by 1977, and the Derg began its new agenda of socialism in the Ethiopian government.
Works Cited:
1. Marcus, Harold G. Haile Selassie I: The Formative Years, 1892-1936. Los Angeles:UC Press,1987.
2. Prouty, Chris, and E.Rosenfield. Historical Dictionary of Ethiopia. London:Scarecrow Press,Inc.,1982.
3. Tareke, Gebru. Ethiopia: Power and Protest. Cambridge UP.
4. Haile Selassie. Appeal to the League of Nations. 29 April 1996.
Ethiopia was a culturally and resourcefully rich land recognized by the European colonial powers as sovereign from as early as 1900. Selassie's predecessor expanded his empire successfully in the 1880's and formed treaties with the Italians, who recognized the imperial potential of northern Africa. Relations became strained, however, in the 1890's when Britain and Italy agreed that Ethiopia should fall under Italian influence. Despite occasional conflicts, Ethiopia under Menelik remained sovereign, and thus we see a stage set for the leadership of Selassie: a free Ethiopia with Italian, British, and French colonies nearby, and an Italian will to expand its territorial claims when its power and opportunity arise. (Marcus, 52)
Well before Selassie's crowning as negus (king), he began work modernizing Ethiopia to rival that which he saw in Europe during his time abroad. He took steps to improve legislation, bureaucracy, government schooling, and health and social services in preparation for his new reign. More importantly in a diplomatic focus, Selassie acted to promote Ethiopian power and sovereignty and secure allies abroad. In 1919 Ethiopia applied for membership into the League of Nations but was banned because its practice of slavery was still strong. By 1923, working with the Empress Zauditu, the slave trade was abolished and Ethiopia was unanimously accepted into the League. He further acted to seek approval of other nations by emancipating existing slaves and their children and created government bureaus to do so. Also prior to his taking of power, Selassie promoted a twenty year treaty of friendship with Italy in 1928 and established legislation in 1930 to ban illegal sales of arms in Ethiopia, and to establish the government's right to procure arms for protection and internal unrest. (Marcus, 60-73)
In 1931, upon assuming power, Selassie established the first Ethiopian constitution, which aimed to re-focus governmental power from many rases to his blood line solely. This move was effective in aiding Ethiopia's modernization through bureaucracy and solidarity, and forced the many regional rases to either oppose him treasonably or join him with their support. (Marcus, 98-100) By 1934, after several suppressed revolts, all the major rases were either supporters or outside the empires influence in the outer regions of Ethiopia. Much of Selassie's loyalty was fostered by the building of schools, universities, and newspapers, as well as increased availability of electricity, telephone, and public health services. The Bank of Ethiopia was also founded in 1931 and introduced Ethiopian currency.
Though the changes in Ethiopia sponsored by Selassie and his new progressive government seemed very promising, there lingered a new threat to the growing country when Benito Mussolini came to power in Italy in 1922. The north African colony of Eritrea, held by the Italians, was harmonious in its African/Italian co-existence from the 1890's until 1922, when Mussolini's administration began to emphasize the superiority of Italian inhabitants, and even enforced the segregation of the population. As late as 1928, motions of peace were made by Italy, but it seemed as though Mussolini wanted Eritrea only as a strategic base for future conquest in Africa. (Marcus, 108) In December 1934, there was an incident seemingly provoked by Italian forces which involved an Ethiopian escort to the Welwel wells used by desert nomads. The League of Nations exonerated both parties in the battle in September 1935, and it seemed to Mussolini that he would not be condemned for his future hostilities. (Marcus, 148-49) Italy invaded Ethiopia one month later without declaring war; the League of Nations condemned Italy as the aggressor, but no actions were taken. The fighting persisted for seven months, and Ethiopia was pushed back quite forcefully. Selassie found his forces unmatched militarily and was shocked at the use of chemical weapons by Italy, and the lack of action taken by the League of Nations. He was forced to exile on May 2 of 1936, a move which raised harsh criticism from many who were used to a warrior emperor of Ethiopia. On June 30, Haile Selassie went to Geneva to seek help from the League of Nations. He made a powerful speech in which he addressed the lack of enforcement of the Italian arms embargo, and quite effectively illustrated the consequences of the League's stifled actions: either there would exist collective security or international lawlessness. (Selassie, Internet) His speech was taken quite emotionally by audiences around the world, especially in America, where he achieved much sympathy. Selassie succeeded in raising the support of the United States and Russia, at least verbally, but Britain and France still recognized the Italian possession of Ethiopia by Italy.
While Selassie was in exile, the Italian forces established new government and attempted to crush the continuing revolts by massacres and segregation. In Britain for most of his exile, he attempted to raise public support for the plight of his country, but gained little attention until Italy entered the war on the side of Germany in June 1940. After the entrance, Britain and Selassie worked together to rally the remaining revolutionary forces in Ethiopia. He proceeded to Khartoum in 1940 to be in closer contact with his troops and British coordinators. With an army of British, South African, African, and Ethiopian soldiers, Haile Selassie re-entered Addis Ababa on May 5, 1941, but fighting continued on Ethiopian soil until January 1942. During the years of war, Selassie controlled internal affairs, but with required British approval. Upon his return he, without consulting Britain, appointed a seven member cabinet and a governor of Addis Ababa. The British aided Ethiopia in training a new army with advisers, which helped him substitute experienced administrators in place of traditional nobility, but he rejected British help whenever the reforms threatened his own personal control over his country. His stubbornness and foresight to retaining power showed Selassie to be a determined dictator, but certainly not without Ethiopia's benefit in mind. The modernization's made by Britain concerning currency, industrialization, and bureaucracy made Selassie see the major importance in modernizing in order to survive. He attempted to secure Eritrea as Ethiopian, but the decades of Italian influence imparted an independent sense on the part of the Eritreans, and the British denied his wishes.
When Selassie returned to power, he realized the necessity of a dependable tax base and issued a flat tax based on the richness of the land. Unfortunately, the nobles of several provinces battled the tax and the path was lain for opposition to the newly re-established government. Selassie backed down from his new tax brackets and issued a flat tithe to all noble landowners who resisted, but this merely passed the tax on to the tenants of the regions, who carried the entire burden of taxation. Another huge reform made by Selassie was the 1948 change in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. He removed the responsibility of appointment of the Church's patriarch from Alexandria to himself, a move which revolutionized the sixteen century old tradition.
After World War II, Selassie saw himself as a humble, but emerging, world leader. (Prouty, 93) Ethiopia was a founding member of the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity. Haile Selassie, after his aid from Britain wound down in 1953, sought and developed an aid-based relationship with the United States, and later sought and received aid from such diversified nations as Italy, China, West Germany, Taiwan, Yugoslavia, Sweden, and the Soviet Union.
Within his country, Selassie favored political realism, and attempted to make peace with the many Ethiopian factions- ethnic, religious, and economic- through appeasement and compromise. Despite his growing international stature, however, his internal influence lacked major support which would, in the future, lead to problems in his stability as a ruler. The emperor attempted to further strengthen the national government by placing newly educated ministers with more specific powers, establishing a central judiciary and self-appointing its judges. He also proclaimed a new national constitution in 1955. The constitution was enforced by a new, younger, foreign-educated staff, who sympathized with Selassie's reforms and were intellectually supportive of his claims. It was also heavily influenced by Selassie's concern for international image, as many African countries were thriving under colonial support and Ethiopia was still laying its claim to Eritrea. (Prouty, 93) The new constitution emphasized Selassie's religious right to power, and while it promised several inherently American rights (freedom of speech, assembly, and due process), the Ethiopian population lacked the literacy and independence from local nobility to really appreciate its declarations.
Selassie's major changes in form of the Ethiopian government promised huge reforms, and when these were realized to be slowly obtained, a coup d'état occurred in Addis Ababa in December 1960, while Selassie was abroad on one of his frequent diplomatic missions. (Prouty, 40) While initially successful, the coup led by the Imperial Bodyguard, police chief, and intellectual radicals lacked the public support necessary, and fell upon the return of the emperor and his assertion of the loyalty of the army and air force, as well as the church. The coup's failure did, however lead to the polarization of the traditional and progressive factions, and the public awareness of the need to improve the economic, social, and political position of the population.
After the coup, Selassie tried to calm his opponents mostly through land grants to officials, but with little social or political reform. In 1966, a plan to reform the tax system with intent to destroy the landowners grasp on the economy was drafted, but opposed vigorously by the parliament, who were all landowners. The years prior to 1974 were filled with rising inflation, corruption, and famine, as well as growing discontent by many of the organized urban groups and unions. Selassie had organized his military so that each branch opposed each other in class, benefits, or treatment in order to keep one from becoming so powerful as to threaten his power. It was perceived that the droughts and famines within the army and the public were intentional, and that civil freedoms were increasingly disappearing. Mutiny in the army branch of the military began on January 12, 1974, and was followed by several provincial takeovers in February. In early June, a group of about 120 military officers formed a group known as the Derg (committee) who represented the military and worked behind closed doors to gain power militarily. Although they claimed allegiance to the emperor, they began arresting aristocracy and parliament members who were associated with the old order. This group effectively removed Selassie's means of governing, as they had complete military control. In July 1974, the Derg demanded a new constitution; when it was found to be unsatisfactory to their "Ethiopia First" ideology, they proceeded to undermine the emperor's authority, and enjoyed much public support. (Tareke, 204-13) The emperor's estate and palace were nationalized and in August, Selassie was directly accused of covering up famine of the early 1970's which killed hundreds of thousands of people. On September 12th, he was formally deposed and arrested and power was given to the Derg, formally renamed the Provisional Military Administrative Council. In August 1975, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie died under questionable circumstances under house arrest, and was secretly buried. (Prouty, 93) His early legacy of Ethiopian pride and sovereignty, had transformed itself to a major struggle of the old versus the new orders. The old order was effectively destroyed by 1977, and the Derg began its new agenda of socialism in the Ethiopian government.
Works Cited:
1. Marcus, Harold G. Haile Selassie I: The Formative Years, 1892-1936. Los Angeles:UC Press,1987.
2. Prouty, Chris, and E.Rosenfield. Historical Dictionary of Ethiopia. London:Scarecrow Press,Inc.,1982.
3. Tareke, Gebru. Ethiopia: Power and Protest. Cambridge UP.
4. Haile Selassie. Appeal to the League of Nations. 29 April 1996.
Micke Björk 1996
Essay
In November 1930 Ras Tafari Makonnen was crowned Haile Selassie I, Power of the Holy Trinity, 225th Emperor of the Solomonic Dynasty, Elect of God, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah. To Rastafarians he was and still is the redeemer, the Living God of Abraham and Isaac, the Almighty, He Whose Name Should Not Be Spoken.
He was born on July 23, 1892 in Ejarsa Gora, Ethiopia. son of Governor Ras Makonnen of Harar and his wife Woyzaro Yashimabat. He is believed to be a direct descendant of the biblical King Solomon of Jerusalem and Queen Makeda of Sheba ( see 1 King chapter 10 ). Tafari was schooled by the French Catholic Priest Dr. Vitalen. He learned French, English and Ethiopian languages. He also studied ancient Ethiopian books such as the Book of Light, the 6 & 7 Books of Moses, the Book of Eden etc..., ancient Egyptian books such as the Book of the Dead and the Book of Two Ways. Another book that he studied was the very important Kebra Negest ( Glory to the Kings / or Greatness of Kings ). The 14 century Ethiopian "Bible" which contains 31 books from the Old Testament, 20 from the New, and many apocyphal stories. But the central story is about the Queen of Sheba's trip to King Solomon and the birth of their son Menelik who became the first Emperor of Ethiopia. An important part is how King Solomon sent Moses' Arc of Zion ( Arc of the Covenant ) to be safeguarded by his son and all first born sons of Jersusalem in Ethiopia. The Kebra Negest sets out to show that the Ethiopians are not the Hamites of the Old Testament, but rather descendents of Sem thru the seed of Solomon.
In 1905 the thirteen-year-old Tafari was made Dejazmatch ( Keeper or Commander of the Door ), for a section of Harar province. A year later his father died and Tafari was looked over by his fathers long time friend Emperor Menelik II. He eventually became governor of Harar and Sidamo province. After Menelik died Empress Zauditu took power with Tafari appointed as her regent. In 1928 he was namned Negus ( King ) and April 2 1930 Empress Zauditu died in circumstances that remain a mystery. On November 2, 1930 Tafari was crowned Emperor Haile Selassie I and people were invited from all over the world to Addis Abeba.
Immediately after his crowing Selassie launched a campaign to introduce democratic instutions in Ethiopia. Selassie struggled to even make the poorest people a part of the country. A primary and secondary school system was created, slavery was abadonded and roads were built. In October 1935 Italy invaded Ethiopia and Selassie went into exile the year after. Going first to Jerusalem and then to England. With the help of British troops the Emperor reentered Addis Abeba in triumph on May 5, 1941. He issued a new constitution in 1955 that granted universal suffrage and equal right under the law for all his subjects.
In 1960, when Selassie was on a visit to Brazil, thre was a palace-based coup attempt sanctioned by his son, Crown Prince Asfa Wossen, the chief of the Imperial bodyguard, Germane Neway, the chief of the royal gaurd, General Mengistu Neway, the chief of the royal police, Tsigue Dibou and the chief of security, Colonel Workneh Gebayehu. On December 13 the conspirators took power in Ethiopia, but it only lasted until December 16, when Haile Selassie's troops crushed the mutiny under command of Captain Kereji Haile Mariam and hung the ringleader Germane Neway.
April 21, 1966 Haile Selassie visited Jamaica were he was greeted by thousands of Rastafarians who praised him as the reurned Messiah.
In the early 1970s discontent was spreading among the general poplation in Ethiopia and on September 12, 1974 an organized force arrested the Emperor and he was put in prison. Months later, on the morning of August 27, 1975 the Lion of Judah was dead. In Jamaica the Rastafarian movement started with catchwords such as "Yuh nuh cyan bury Jah", "Yuh cyan't kill Jah", "Jah no dead" and "Jah live".
"...Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abanded. That until there are no longer first class and second class citizens of any nation. Until the colour of a man skin is no more significance than the colour of his eyes. That until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all, without regard to race. 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..."
H.I.M. speech
He was born on July 23, 1892 in Ejarsa Gora, Ethiopia. son of Governor Ras Makonnen of Harar and his wife Woyzaro Yashimabat. He is believed to be a direct descendant of the biblical King Solomon of Jerusalem and Queen Makeda of Sheba ( see 1 King chapter 10 ). Tafari was schooled by the French Catholic Priest Dr. Vitalen. He learned French, English and Ethiopian languages. He also studied ancient Ethiopian books such as the Book of Light, the 6 & 7 Books of Moses, the Book of Eden etc..., ancient Egyptian books such as the Book of the Dead and the Book of Two Ways. Another book that he studied was the very important Kebra Negest ( Glory to the Kings / or Greatness of Kings ). The 14 century Ethiopian "Bible" which contains 31 books from the Old Testament, 20 from the New, and many apocyphal stories. But the central story is about the Queen of Sheba's trip to King Solomon and the birth of their son Menelik who became the first Emperor of Ethiopia. An important part is how King Solomon sent Moses' Arc of Zion ( Arc of the Covenant ) to be safeguarded by his son and all first born sons of Jersusalem in Ethiopia. The Kebra Negest sets out to show that the Ethiopians are not the Hamites of the Old Testament, but rather descendents of Sem thru the seed of Solomon.
In 1905 the thirteen-year-old Tafari was made Dejazmatch ( Keeper or Commander of the Door ), for a section of Harar province. A year later his father died and Tafari was looked over by his fathers long time friend Emperor Menelik II. He eventually became governor of Harar and Sidamo province. After Menelik died Empress Zauditu took power with Tafari appointed as her regent. In 1928 he was namned Negus ( King ) and April 2 1930 Empress Zauditu died in circumstances that remain a mystery. On November 2, 1930 Tafari was crowned Emperor Haile Selassie I and people were invited from all over the world to Addis Abeba.
Immediately after his crowing Selassie launched a campaign to introduce democratic instutions in Ethiopia. Selassie struggled to even make the poorest people a part of the country. A primary and secondary school system was created, slavery was abadonded and roads were built. In October 1935 Italy invaded Ethiopia and Selassie went into exile the year after. Going first to Jerusalem and then to England. With the help of British troops the Emperor reentered Addis Abeba in triumph on May 5, 1941. He issued a new constitution in 1955 that granted universal suffrage and equal right under the law for all his subjects.
In 1960, when Selassie was on a visit to Brazil, thre was a palace-based coup attempt sanctioned by his son, Crown Prince Asfa Wossen, the chief of the Imperial bodyguard, Germane Neway, the chief of the royal gaurd, General Mengistu Neway, the chief of the royal police, Tsigue Dibou and the chief of security, Colonel Workneh Gebayehu. On December 13 the conspirators took power in Ethiopia, but it only lasted until December 16, when Haile Selassie's troops crushed the mutiny under command of Captain Kereji Haile Mariam and hung the ringleader Germane Neway.
April 21, 1966 Haile Selassie visited Jamaica were he was greeted by thousands of Rastafarians who praised him as the reurned Messiah.
In the early 1970s discontent was spreading among the general poplation in Ethiopia and on September 12, 1974 an organized force arrested the Emperor and he was put in prison. Months later, on the morning of August 27, 1975 the Lion of Judah was dead. In Jamaica the Rastafarian movement started with catchwords such as "Yuh nuh cyan bury Jah", "Yuh cyan't kill Jah", "Jah no dead" and "Jah live".
"...Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abanded. That until there are no longer first class and second class citizens of any nation. Until the colour of a man skin is no more significance than the colour of his eyes. That until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all, without regard to race. 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..."
H.I.M. speech
When pressure drop it cannot conquer dread, no...
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