RASTAFARIANS IN ETHIOPIA: 1948 -2011 by ALBERT WILLIAMS

Rastafarians, in Ethiopia almost 70 years, are still regarded as outcasts in a land promised to them by their God, Emperor Haile Sellassie.

Black activist and Rastafarian Elder, Ras Kabinda Habre Sellassie is one of the few Rastafarian, devotees to remain in Ethiopia despite the official retracting of the Land Grant by the Ethiopian administration. Since Emperor Haile Sellassie I (1894-1975) was deposed in 1974, and subsequently died while under house arrest the following year, this north-eastern African kingdom has been ruled by a revolutionary council, then a democratically elected government who both viewed Rastafarians with scorn because of their devotion to the deceased Emperor.

No one could have predicted following the coronation of a 36-year-old, Ethiopian Crown Prince, Ras Tafari Makonnen as Emperor Haile Sellassie I in Addis Ababa on November 2nd 1930, that by 2010 this event would inspire a world-wide movement that venerated him as The Almighty God.

In a 1928 speech, Marcus Garvey (1887-1940), Jamaican Pan-Africanist and promoter of a back-to-Africa movement, urged his followers to “look to Africa when a black king will be crowned, and when you see that the day of deliverance will be near.” His was a sentiment shared by black preacher Leonard Howell(1898-1981) who is known as the first Rasta. And so it was, in 1930, that the Rastafarian movement was born, its followers identified by their shaggy dreadlocks, sacred use of marijuana and insistent demands for repatriation.

As his ancestors had done for centuries before him, the Emperor was bestowed with the biblical titles: ‘King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and Conquering Lion of Judah.’ His ancestors had always claimed that their lineage could be traced back to the union of King Solomon and Queen of Sheba, and that he was the 225th in an unbroken line of successive monarchs. This was enough to convince Garvey and Howell and their followers in the city of Kingston, Jamaica, that the seven seals of the book of Revelation had been opened, and that redemption was near for a people who had been under the yoke of slavery for nearly 400 years.

The first settlers

In 1948 the benevolent Emperor donated 500 hectares of his personal estate in Ethiopia to the Rastafarians, members of the Ethiopian World Federation Inc and black people in the Caribbean and the USA in general. This was his way of saying thank you for their moral and financial support for Ethiopian monarchy and his troops during the Second Italo–Abyssinian War of October 1935 to May 1941. The promised land was in the region of Shashemane, “ a thriving market town” 150 miles south of Addis Ababa.

The first settlers to take up the offer of the Emperor and repatriate to Ethiopia were: Mr James Piper and his wife in 1955 who were nationals of the Eastern Caribbean island of Montserrat, followed by Dr. Gladstone Robinson from the United States of America in 1964. According to the record, Papa Noel Dyer arrived from the Bahamas in 1965. The exodus to the promised land was boosted following a visit to Jamaica by His Imperial Majesty in 1966, which saw the population soar to 2000 in its heyday.

Following the revolution, however, under a program of nationalisation, the revolutionary council reclaimed all but 11 hectares of the land grant which was to a large extent underdeveloped and underused by the Rastafarians. After this, Rastafarians were treated with disrespect and numbers soon dwindled to 300. The Rastafarians, who prior to the events leading up to the overthrow of the Emperor were regarded as a curiosity by Ethiopians, were now unwelcome guests – one Rastafarian even said he was spat upon.

Although Ethiopia is now governed by a democratic government, many of the policies, particularly the attitude of the Mengistu Haile Mariam regime towards the Emperor are still maintained even though, the dictator was ousted by a counter coup in 1991. The royal standard of the Lion of Judah has been removed from the nation flag. Mention of the role Emperor Haile Sellassie and Empress Menen had in shaping modern Ethiopia are all but erased from the official school syllabus, says Ras Kabinda.

Ras Kabinda, who first visited Ethiopia in 1989, and in 1992, has made Shashemane his home permanently, and has been involved in agricultural development and the building of additional classrooms for nearby schools. He is also actively involved in teaching Ethiopian farmers alternative farming methods such as integrated farming.

Part of the problem, Ras Kabinda cites, is the failure of some organisations to make good their promises for the development of acquired lands. He noted also that the import duty on vehicles for development purposes is almost 100 percent, and to obtain investor status one needs to give the government one million Birr (Ethiopian currency) or £48,056.50 British Pounds to obtain duty free concessions. In addition, Ras Kabinda calls on reggae artistes to make good their pledges to financially assist the brethren. “The pledges are not forthcoming, despite representation to the Ethiopian Government on their behalf,” according to Kabinda..

Personal problems

“It’s a struggle out here right now, “ Ras Kabinda told this author, when I met him in London earlier this year, “as legislation is being implemented that will greatly curtail the lands under I and I control. Limiting I to only 500 square metres per person.” Kabinda told me that previously, when he arrived in Shashemane he had an abundance of land to cultivate. His years in the Dominican forests had greatly prepared him for toiling the soil. “Presently,” he says, “I own 3,500 square metres which I plant with various vegetables and fruits so as to maintain a certain level of self-sufficiency…I have lived on these lands for twenty years, now it is seriously threatened by new urbanisation legislation.”

Ras Kabinda explained that the area where the Land grant was given back in 1948 was considered rural lands, but with the expansion of the town, Shashemane now seeks more lands for urban development. “Over the past two weeks, “the Rastaman continues, “I have been fighting an attempt by certain local authorities to breakdown I house on the grounds that it is in the path of an intended new road. This has been the 7th time they have tried to terrorise I man. Earlier this year, a gang organised by the local Kebele, tore down I fence, it cost I over 3,500 birr to repair it.” Kabinda continues to make representation to the Central Oromo Government under who’s jurisdiction the Shashemane town authorities fall.

Human rights

Meanwhile, in a recent communication, Kabinda lamented how the Ethiopia authorities continue to make it difficult for Rastafarians in prison to be afforded their human rights.

“Satan has been giving I and I a spiritual fight,” Kabinda said adding, “by preventing I and I from seeing Idren in captivity.” Kabinda says that the prison officials claim that if the individual is a British national, that he will not be able to see him unless accompanied by a member of the British Embassy. According to Kabinda, “the embassy gave I and I letters giving I and I multiple visiting rights yet dem still refuse I and I…”

The struggle continues….

Sources

King James Bible Revelation 5:5 & 17:14

The Earth’s Most Strangest Man by Mortimer Planno

Dread:The Rastafarians of Jamaica by Joseph Owens

Report on the Rastafari Movement in Kingston Jamaica (1960) by Smith, Augier and Nettleford

The Rastafarians (ISBN 978-0-8070-1039-6) by Leonard E Barrett

Chanting Down Babylon: The Rastafari Reader (ISBN 978-56639-584-7) Editied by Murrell and McFarlane

“Rastafarians promoting alternative farming method” Inter Press Service News Agency, ipsnes.net. Accessed Jan 2011

“Protest cloud Marley celebrations” Scotland on Sunday, scotland onsunday.scotman.com Accessed Jan 2011

“Little aceptance of Ethiopian Rastas not all harmoney in African country” The Jamaca Star, jamaica-star.com Accessed Jan 2011

“Rastafarians in the ‘promised land’ of Ethioipia” Ethiopian News, ethiopianreview.com. Accessed Jan 2011

“Messages from Ras Kabinda” Diablotin Magazine, openzine.com/diablotinmagazine. Accessed Jan 2011

“Haile Selassie dies at 83″ The New York Times, nytimes.com. Accessed Jan. 2011

“Emperors and leaders of the modern era” The Crown Council of Ethiopia, ethiopiancrown.org. Accessed Jan 2011

“Italian Conquest of Ethiopia 1935-1936″ Department of State, Publication 1983

“Leonard Percival Howell” The Leonard Percival Foundation, phfoundation.org. Accessed Jan 2011

“Emperor Haile Selassie I Part 1″ Angel Fire.com. Accesed Jan 2011

“Ethiopian Dictator Mengistu Haile Miriam” Human rights Watch, hrw.org. Accessed Jan 2011

Jamaica Star, jamaica-star.com Accessed Jan 2011

Read more at Suite101: Rastafarians in Ethiopia: 1948 – 2011 | Suite101.com http://www.suite101.com/content/rastafarians-in-ethiopia-1948–2011-a330608#ixzz1SSJ78yu7

MONOPOLY BREAKER: A REVIEW BY ALBERT WILLIAMS

Monopoly Breaker is a case study of how a Dominican entrepreneur, Ron Abraham, established Marpin Television and Telecoms that crushed a 25-year monopoly held by a corporate giant, Cable and Wireless only to find that within his own organisation were his most bitter enemies.

One would have thought that an offer from Abraham to the government in the late 1970’s to set up a television studio would receive a warm reception. On the contrary, opposition and struggles; and victories and disappointments form the subject matter of this publication. That in its informative and lucid style, outlines the tale of the uphill battle that was to confront him for over ten years to bring diversity to providers of information technology and television to this country.

Monopoly Breaker, ISBN 978-1-4490-9193-4 (75 pages; paperback) published by Author House and written by Ron Abraham in 2010 is informative, accurate and spellbinding. From the photograph of a small axe imbedded in the roots of a mighty tree on the front cover to the short blurb on the back that reads in part, “ A must read for anyone contemplating doing serious business of any kind in Dominica…”

Abraham bears his soul and shares object lessons learned from his journey. Making this book a useful tool for any business student, particularly those contemplating entering the telecoms industry. The book gives an account of the early history of Television in Dominica and the factors that made it possible for the introduction of internet and mobile technology and the legal obstacles that nearly kept Dominica in the dark side of the digital divide.
The book draws on anecdotes from his early childhood in St. Joseph, and his migration to the United kingdom in 1961 where he studied Electronics, Electrical Technology and Telecommunications Principles and accepted as a Fellow Member in the Institute of Incorporated engineers. Abraham is registered with the Engineering Registration Board of the United Kingdom.
The body of the publication is concerned with the formation of his company and the internal rivalry that would see him eventually lose control of the Company even while still being the largest shareholder with 14% more than the next closest.
It describes the constitutional battles of his legal team with Cable and wireless and the two successive administrations in the High Court in Roseau and right up to the Privy Council to effect a change to Dominica’s telecoms industry that would have wide reverberations across the Caribbean.
Included in the book are excerpts from the Dominica Sun and Independent Newspapers, correspondence between Marpin and Cable and Wireless. The book is dedicated to his mother, Mrs Una Darroux and deceased Senior Counsel, Jenner Armour.
Finally, this work is timely and timeless. An epic journey of one man that changed the lives of many. Abraham is an unsung hero, and perhaps this publication will preserve some of the facts that led to that momentous occasion when a piece of legislation that made it illegal for a citizen of Dominica to apply for a telecoms license was deemed unconstitutional paving the way for new entrants in the sector. Monopoly Breaker, (ISBN 978-1-4490-9193-4) written by Ron Abraham is a must read for both students of business studies and students of business law.
The book is available online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble Waterstones, WH Smiths and Authorhouse.

TOWARDS SAFER DRIVING IN DOMINICA

By Albert Williams

The ease of travelling from one point to another is one of the benefits that the use of motorised vehicles: cars, motor cycles and trucks has complimented modern life. The length of time of travelling particularly, long distance within Dominica has been considerably lessened. Our road networks for a long time, though made road travel longer than necessary and is still to some extent hazardous. But when these amazing machines take the lives of our loved ones in horrific accidents, it begs the question, are we making the best use of this technology.

I learned to drive in the United Kingdom four years ago at the ripe age of 45 and to date have clocked up 15, 500 miles. My longest journey has been to 243 miles to Yorkshire from Sussex which is a 4-hour drive along motor ways and A roads. I consider myself to be safe driver, mainly because of the excellent tuition I received during my student driving lperiod which included comprehensive theory and practical lessons, and a rigours examination which includes a hazard perception test, multiple choice theory test and a 40-minute road driving examination from which you had to score no more that 9 out of 15 mistakes; and no serious mistakes that could endanger other road users or yourself.

Commission for Global Road Safety

The spate of serious accidents and fatalities on our streets and roads in Dominica is of great concern to me having lived in Dominica from the 70 through to 2004, the authorities and indeed to the Commission for Global Road Safety who under the auspicious of the United Nations on May 1, 2011 launched a ‘Decade of Action for Road Safety from 2011 – 2020 with the aim of stabilising and then reducing global road deaths by 2020. 100 countries. Have pledged to the cause. According to the commission 1 million lose their lives to road accidents worldwide, while 15 million injuries have been recorded. The cost to national economies is between 1- 3 percent of the gross national product. Statistics from the Ministry of Health in Dominica reveal that between 2000 and 2009 vehicular accidents were leading cause of death among persons aged 15 to 24. Road-related accidents placed 2^nd in deaths among persons aged 25 to 44. In addition, the report revealed that the the majority of these deaths involved 4-wheeled vehicles, a quarter of which involved motor cycles and 1/5 involving pedestrians.

The Commission for Global Road Safety has devised a five-point plan to deal with this very serious problem: (1) Road safety management; (2) Safer roads and mobility (3) Safer vehicles; (4) Safer road users and (5) Post crash response. The Dominica Transport Board, is the advisor to government is surely looking at ways to increase road safety.

DRIVING SCHOOLS

One of the measures that could increase road safety in Dominica would be to ensure that driving instructors are accredited to modern driving standards. Learning of the high way code is basic and fundamental for driving courtesy. Another measure is the deciding of appropriate speed limits. A suggestions would be 20 miles-per- hour (mph) through villages through which run a major road. 50 mph on open roads and a reduction in roads with bends and dangerous cliffs. Again, school and passenger buses should be checked with a speed appropriate to the conditions.

Drivers need to be aware of road hazards such a wet surfaces during rain, and to some extent wind during storms. The use of mobile phones and eating and drinking while driving should be discouraged. The drivers' hands should be at all times on the steering wheel and elbows should not be hanging out of the window. Regular checks of your car's vital functions: do your tyres have sufficient tread; are your headlamps, brake and indicator lights working. Do you regularly check your rear view mirrors while driving or over-taking turning a corner.

How well do you anticipate the actions of the driver in front? Do you, tailgate: drive so close to the driver in front? Do you look through windows, under and over parked vehicles to see if a driver is pulling our from a parked position or to notice whether a pedestrian is stepping out onto the road without looking? Do you use 2^nd gear to make a turning and at the right speed? Do you even check all around you before you even pull out from a parked position?

Do you plan your journey to arrive early to avoid congestion in the city? Simple thoughts like wearing seatbelts, wearing a crash helmet, having your vehicle checked at least once a year by a qualified mechanic and observing acceptable best practices on the road, can go a long way in helping to make Dominica's roads safer for all. I think that we all should do our bit to save lives.