Rastafarians mark 117th anniversary

THE Rastafari movement in Ghana last Thursday celebrated the 117th birthday anniversary of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia with a commitment to promote unity within the movement.
The day, which was marked with an educational forum to educate the Rastafari movement and the public on the work and life of the man referred to within the Rastafari community as the King of Kings, was a departure from the usual musical shows that had marked the celebration over the years.
In an interview with the Director of Juddah promotion, the organisers of the programme, Jahknow Kojo Kombolo said the main purpose of departing from the usual musical show was to educate the public on the Rastafari movement.
Jahknow Kombolo added that it was also to disabuse the mind of the public about the negative images of Rastaferian.
???“People see the Rastaman as all the bad things one could think of on the street, no man, the Rastaman is a man of peace and integrity,” he said.???
Jahknow Kombolo said rasta was not all about wearing dreadlocks.He called on the public to disregard people who wear dreadlocks and do bad things around as they were not true Rastamen.
Ras Kofi Collins in a separate interview with the Daily Graphic, said the Rastafari Council had established the Black Star Line Cooperative Credit Union, (B S L C U) as part of efforts to empower their members to be economically reliant.
Ras Collins added that the main objective of the union was to foster wealth creation mentality within the Rastafari community and facilitate the culture of saving.
Haile Selassie was born Lij Tafari Makonnen translated literally to mean,??? child and serves to indicate that every youth is of a noble blood.???
He was later named Ras Tafari Makonnen, Ras, translated to mean, head, and is equivalent to the “Duke”, though it was often rendered in translation as Prince. In 1928, he was elevated to the position of Negus, meaning King.
Upon his ascension to the Emperor in 1930, he took the name Selassie, meaning “Power of the Trinity.”
Haile Selassie’s full title in office was His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the tribe Judah, and an Elect of God.