THE DIVINITY OF HAILE SELASSIE EXPLAINED

No man in recent post slavery era has been much talked about or revered like Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. He was a king and ruler of his people but his influence resonates throughout the globe mostly for his stand against all forms of oppression.

By the end of 1800, a growing self-consciousness amongst former black slaves led to a different, millenarian reading of the bible. Blacks of the diaspora identified themselves with Israel in exile, waiting to return (repatriation) to the promised land of Origin, the Garden of Eden that is Africa/ Ethiopia, as in medieval term, is the whole of Africa. Common verses in this so called Ethiopianism:

“Psalms 68:31. Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.” and

“Psalm 87:4: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there. And of Zion it shall be said, this and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.”

THE BATTLE OF ADOWA

On March 1, 1896 Italy lost the batlle of Adowa / Adwa in Ethiopia, against the Emperor Menelik II. This news crossed the world, making the black Ethiopianist churches aware that there was a black Emperor of a free and independent empire in Africa – with the oldest, living, dynasty on earth – who was victorious on the brutal colonialist powers.
This victory can easily be understood as a sign; Menelik seemed to turn the tide of colonization, slavery and repression. Whole the world knew now that in Africa, there was a powerful nation where blacks lived free, with their own language, identity and tradition. A nation that stood up against oppressors and fought for freedom. Surely, this sounded like the promised land.

THE PROPHECY

In 1928, Garvey spoke, before leaving for England: “Look to Africa, when a black king shall be crowned, for the day of deliverance is at hand”.

According to the Kebra Negast, an Ethiopian book (14th century?) that is used to legitimize the Ethiopian dynasty, The Queen of Sheba travelled to King Solomon and gave birth to a child of him, Menelik I. In a vision Solomon sees the sun leaving Israel. Menelik would later on take the Ark of the Covenant with him to ‘Ethiopia’ because God made the covenant now with this offspring of Solomon (and so, the later Ethiopian dynasty).

In this imperial bloodline, Haile Selassie is the 225 emperor to sit on the throne. (mark the biblical references here, the emperor is titles ‘the root of David’ and is to be seated on the ‘throne of David’. If a dead Jesus Christ as a white pariah is one side of the story, a living black emperor is the other side, so completing the circle.
This shift of Ethiopia being the ‘future’ Israel isn’t only important for Rastafari or Ethiopian Christendom. Also Jews (Beta Isreal) are living Ethiopia.

The Coronation
On November 2, 1930 Negus TafarI Makonnen, who already worked his way up to the crown during the reign of Empress Zewditu I, became Emperor Haile Selassie (“Power of the Trinity”). Amongst his titles are ‘King of Kings’, ‘Lord of Lords’, Prince of Peace, Defender of the Faith, Root of David, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah
This coronation was indeed highly covered by international media, and the cover of Time magazine and National Geographic reached Jamaica.

The prophesy (of the coming) of Haile Selassie as a messenger / Second coming Messiah / God on Earth (different readings, see further) is predicted according to some by biblical references. Some Rasta’s find this very important while others think the historical editing of the bible through the ages corrupted the original word of God, and ones have to find truth for themselves.

The most important ones:

• Rev.5:5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals. (Lion of Judah, Root of David are also HIM titles)
• Also Rev. 17:14 “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”(this is one of the verses that places the italo-ethiopian war in a biblical context)
• Rev. 19:14 “Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.

Many phrases are important to Rastafari, some concerning Haile Selassie, others the concept of Jah (Jahovia, Yahweh), the position of Ethiopia, way of life…just remember that the bible is for SOME a proof of his divinity.

CONQUERING LION OF JUDAH

In June 1936, His Imperial Majesty came to speak in front of the League of the Nations. He calls for help, because Italy is aggressively invading, with new deadly technologies, his country. He speaks out that this act is not only a danger for Ethiopia but might threaten the whole League and endanger every small independent county.
Help was refused. And so, in 1939, WWII became a fact.
With assistance of different countries and an Ethiopian rebellion, the Emperor & the Ethiopian empire once again conquers and regains its freedom.
For Rastafari, this was David beating Goliath, or the ultimate battle between Good and Evil. HIM became truly the Conquering Lion of Judah.
What’s even more, it looked like a fulfillment of Rev. 17:14, and so, this war is Armageddon and HIM comes with divine judgement for the wicked and deliverance for the righteous, on order to establish a New Jerusalem (according to Rastafari, the restoration of Eden/ Africa on earth)

WHO DO RASTAS SAY HIM IS?

His Imperial Majesty means different things to different people. To some, He is Christ reincarnated, while others see him as the Almighty God.

To Bob Marley who although never met Haile Selassie in person, he is earth’s rightful ruler, Christ in a new name. But Mutabaruka would disagree that His Imperial Majesty is Christ but sees him as an embodiment of divinity.

Who is Selassie to you?

Credit: Quora.