Final Report of the First Rastafari Diasporic Summit in the Hispanic World: May 23 – 30 2005
29 abril 2005 Página 2
“Our endeavor to help the people also presupposes that the people should help Us. . . . The realisation of such a plan to effect the overall development of the national interest requires the active participation of the people . . . . This also calls for the coordinationation of the efforts exerted . . . . “
-- HIM Haile Selassie I, January 19, 1963 29 abril 2005 Página 3
Greetings and Rastafari Blessings to the Rastafari Family Worldwide on this the 113th Earthlight of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of Judah, seven hundred and seventy-nine days before the Ethiopian Millennium.
It has now been fifty-four days since the close of the First Rastafari Diaspora Summit in Hispanic America. During this time, post Summit reports have been prepared by several of the 14 delegations that attended the Summit. We now present all of the reports that were submitted. Some of the reports are written in English, some in Spanish. Thus, the final report reflects the linguistic reality of the Summit.
It was hoped that the final report would contain full translations of each report submitted and released during His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I 113th Earthlight Ilebrations. Each delegation was asked at the close of the Summit to submit both an English and Spanish version of their report within three weeks, from which an Executive Summary would be written and attached to the reports, thereby making a complete Final Report. Except for the delegation from Puerto Rico no delegation submitted their report in both English and Spanish. Therefore, a complete Executive Summary could not be written. This Final Report is therefore provisional, awaiting a final translation. Nevertheless, there is enough in both the English and Spanish submissions for those who were unable to attend to get “a good sip” of the Summit proceedings. As the Coordinator of the Final Report, I humbly ask all those who can translate to give a strength and forward section translations to the email below.
On behalf of all the Summit delegates, I pray that the words and pictures contained herein be acceptable in the sight of HIM Haile Selassie I.
Most Heartically and Raspectfully, Ras Nathaniel, Coordinator Final Report of the First Rastafari Summit in Hispanic America July 23, 2005 [email protected] 29 abril 2005 Página 4 CONTENTS
1. Pre-Summit Draft Agenda p. 3 2. Actual Agenda p.10 3. Post Summit Press Release p.13 4. Observations & Suggestions from Ras Sela, organizer of the Summit p.15 5. Excerpts from Jamaican Member of Parliament Mike Henry’s Opening Address p. 19 6. 1ra Cumbre Rastafari Hispanoamericana en Panama (Puerto Rico) p. 21 7. 1st Hispanic America Rastafari Summit in Panama (Puerto Rico) p. 24 8. Informe Final de Hermanos Y Hermanas en Latinoamérica p. 27 9. Anexo paises Rastafari Hispanoamerica p. 34 10. Draft Report to the Caribbean Rastafari Organization (CRO) p. 43 11. Empress Mannen Presentation and Sealing Iwa compiled by Empress Aneita Robinson p.50 12. First Diaspora Rastafari Summit in Hispanic America: A Brief by Jake Homiak, International Rastafari Archives Project (IRAP) p.57 13. Self-Sustainable Organic Farming proposal submitted by Ras Eric Gomez Viluce p. 64 14. Global Rastafari Governance PowerPoint proposal submitted by IRASCOM p. 67 15. Repatriation Census Results and Analysis p.76 16. Summit Letter submitted to the Crown Council of Ethiopia p. 83 17. Delegate contact info p .85
29 abril 2005 Página 5 Rastafari Diasporic Summit in the Hispanic World: May 23 – 30 2005
Introduction: InI must live up to the Nyahbinghi creed Greeting Rastafari Family:
Hail His and Her Imperial Majesties, The Emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selassie I and the Empress Menen I for InI legacy of unity toward truths and rights.
“The goal of the equality in which man seek is the antithesis of the exploitation of a people by another. In which the documents of the history particularly those written on the African and Asian continents speak extensively…” H.I.M. October 6, 1963
How much longer should INI be exploited! Unification is THE solution. We give thanks and praises to the Supreme and Almighty Creators JAH Rastafari Emperor Haile Sellasie I and the Empress Menen I for life.
1st Diaspora RASTAFARI Summit in Hispanic America
The members of the RASTAFARI alliance in Panama, an NGO (non-governmental organization) registered in the Republic of Panama, announces "The First Diasporic RASTAFARI summit in Hispanic America" to be held may 23 thru 30, 2005.
The thrust of this path breaking historical initiative has various sources. Principal among them is Rastafari's global emergence with is numerical growth amounting to a significant cultural and political force. Now, liberation must include the largest concentration of Afro descendants living in Hispanic America.
With more than 150 million brothers and sisters spread across Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Chile,Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico and Venezuela, there exists a potential to interconnect and articulate a common agenda. Thus, the process is to effectively solidify a link to Rastafari in the Caribbean and a wider diaspora. The recent RASTAFARI conference in Puerto Rico (August 2004) gives testimony to that effect.
29 abril 2005 Página 6 Agenda:
Day 1: Monday 23 of May 2005
Arrival of the delegates, participants and observers (all day) Registration and accommodation.
Orientation on the laws of the land.
Ises 6 p.m. – Veracruz Tabernacle
Day 2: Tuesday 24
Breakfast is served daily from 7 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
9:30 a.m. Rastafari open market: arts, crafts and food.
9:30 a.m. - Summit Commencement
Expositions are primarily aimed at Rastafari youth, high school/university students and the general public. Rastafari delegates will meet concurrently to present workshops proposals.
Provisional workshops themes and presenters are as follows: Rastafari global government: IRASCOM Team Reparation/repatriation: Mama Makeda Blake-Hannah Trade: Counselor at Law E. Mapp (Ghana Specialist) Housing: Architect Joseph Medina (Ecological friendly) Census/Data Bank: Ras Nathaniel Farming (organic): Eric Gomez Viluce, Agricultural Engineer Technology: Ras Makonnen Blake Hannah Medical/dental care Clinic: Dr. Cirilio Lawson, Dir. Min. of Health Black Star Liner resurgence: Naval Captain Jacques Ramos, Naval Pan Africana Effort: Dr.Ras Ikael Tafari
· Please review the workshop list, if anyone wishes to present a proposal on one of the vacant workshop. Notify the alliance.
9:30 a.m. – Balboa Theater 10 a.m. - Opening of the summit, anthem of Panama and Ethiopia-Praises Introduction: President Rastafari Alliance Guest Speakers: Representative of Panama Government: Minister Calderon, Min. of the youth, family, infant & woman Minister Ruben Blades, Tourist Ministry Director Architect Reinier Ferguson, Institute of Culture Juan Carlos Navarro, Mayor of Panama City MP Jamaica Hon. Mike Henry Panama Ombudsman, Juan A. T. Espino Nyahbinghi Order, Ras Ivi Smithsonian Institute: Dr. Michael Mason Introduction of the delegates and the Rastafari Alliance 29 abril 2005 Página 7
Fusing the gap between the Rastafari globally Family - Ricardo Richards
10:45 – 11:30 a.m. - Dr. Miguel Brooks, Panamanian Psychologist, author of "Negus" and Translator of the "Kebra Negast: the glory of the Kings". His exposition focuses on the psychological impact of slavery and its traumatic effects.
11:30 – 11:55 Q & A
12:00 – 2:00 p.m. – Lunch
2:05 - 2:35 p.m. - Sister Justice, Patricia Romero from Spain, BA in Ethics. It exposes on “Unity within diversity: RASTAFARI in a Hispanic world".
2:35 – 2:55 p.m. Q & A
3:00 – 3:30 p.m. - Ras Benjamin Selassie Lumumba, Colombia, Pan african activist in Choco, Professional translator of the University of Puerto Rico; exposes on “One Jah, One Goal, One Destiny: Thinking Locally and Acting Globally”.
3:35 – 3:55 p.m. Q & A
4:00 – 4:30 p.m. - Pending, (TBA) Venezuela, exposes on "Hands and Hearts: Initiatives and strategies for the local sustainable development”
4:35 – 4:55 p.m. Q & A
5:00 – 5:30 p.m. - Sister Makeda Kamara on “OMEGA Rising: The Rastafari woman in the Hispanic world.” USA licensed R.N. & Midwife.
5:35 – 5:55 p.m. Q & A
6:00 p.m. - Drumming, Dinner and recess
Day 3: Wednesday 25 African Liberation Day
9:30 - 9:50 a.m. – Ises
10:00 – 12:00 p.m. - Workshops begin, with a lunch recess at 12 p.m.
Workshop will end at 4 p.m. Workshop caucuses will turn in written reports to the workshops committee, in order to consolidate a document at the end of the summit.
There will be a recess of 10 minutes each hour during the sessions.
Workshops Caucuses will conform around the following areas:
A. Spirituality: Ceremony, tabernacle, Bible, teachings of the Emperor and the Empress and fasting, Africana holistic B. Economy: Apparel design & production, Health food stores, restaurants, maritime company. C. Organic agriculture: Sustainable soy farming, fruits & vegetables, hemp and medicinal herbs. D. Education: Publishing on the past, present & future glory of Africa, academic, technical/vocational training. 29 abril 2005 Página 8 E. Social Programs: Rehabilitation & dental clinics, political policies, hospitals, preventative medicine and sports. F. Culture: Music, arts & crafts, theatre & musical tours, Smithsonian Institute (museum). G. Reparation and Repatriation: outline strategies, Global data bank & census. H. Housing: wind and solar energy ecological homes, waste management,environmental advocacy. I. Family: The principles of the Rastafari family translated to relations between parents and children. K. Rastafari Global Government: Retirement plan for the elders, secretariat, headquarter, chapters, selection and election of directors.
6:00 p.m. – Dinner
8:00 p.m. – Nyahbinghi in Veracruz
Day 4: Thursday 26 8:00 a.m. – Binghi seal and recess until 6:00 p.m.
Meals will be available during recess.
7:00 p.m. – Video Documentaries on the Panama Canal.
10:00 p.m. – Recess
Day 5 and 6: Friday 27 and Saturday 28
10:00 a.m. – Workshops evaluation
12:00 p.m. – Lunch
2:00 p.m. – Panama Canal Tour (Pacific locks)
Evaluations continue
6:00 p.m. – Dinner and recess Saturday is committed to preparing summit's documents.
7:00 p.m. - Tentative soccer match Rastafari vs National Police
Day 7: Sunday 29
10:00 a.m. – Review of documents
12:00 p.m. – Lunch at the West Indian town replica – Ancon
2:00 p.m. Trod to the province of Colon: Colon City and Portobelo. Full day/evening at Tabernacle.
Day 8: Monday 30 of May
11:00 a.m. -Black Ethnic Day Parade in Colon City – National Holiday
12:00 p.m. – Lunch – Jose Guardia Vega
2:00 p.m. - Selection of Hispanic Rastafari representatives and administrative team 29 abril 2005 Página 9
4:00 p.m. - Blessings and summit closure
5:00 p.m. - Coordination of ground transportation
6:00 p.m. - Dinner and farewell speech
8:00 p.m. - Concert in Colon: Fund raiser for Congo Queen home
Concert's theme: "Education is a must for all"
Bands: Negus Nagast and Jahbafana – Venezuela Alerta – Colombia, Raices y Cultura – Panama, more TBA Artists: Ras Daniel and Ras Mario – Panama, more TBA
Suggestions are welcome.
"We must become greater than Iselves, we must become members of a New Race"
H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selasie I
Please forward or copy and pass this text on to the Rastafari nation.
One perfect heart in Truths and Rights. Always do good with a clean Spirit.
Find list of delegates attached
Rastafari Alliance in Panama
Teléfono: 011-507-694-5337 or 238-8503 Email: [email protected] Panama postal address: Apartado 2023, Balboa, Ancon Panama International Postal address: PTY 4018 PO Box 025724 Miami, FL 33102 29 abril 2005 Página 10 Actual Summit Agenda
Day 1: Monday 23 of May 2005
Arrival of the delegates, participants and observers (all day) Registration and accommodation.
Small group reasonings until late in the night . . . .
Day 2: Tuesday 24 of May 2005
8:45 am -- First Issemble
10:00 am -- Bus to Balboa Theater, Chanting Ises on the bus in both English and Spanish
11:00 am – drumming
12:00 pm Opening Ceremony; Introductory remarks by Ras Ricardo Richards and Ras Sela (Carlos Seales); Anthem sung by Afro- Panamanian youth choir; Psalms 92 recited from memory by nine year-old youth;
12:18 pm Ethiopian National Anthem led by Sister Illete Holmes
12:30 pm Blessing, Psalms and Nyahbinghi Creed by Elder Bongo Tawney
12:37 pm Greetings by representatives of the Panama City Mayor’s Office
12:53 pm Address by Ras Ivi of the Theocratic Reign Order of the Nyahbinghi
1:15 pm Remarks by Ras Nini of the Rastafari Alliance of Panama; Presentation by members of the Kongo tradition of Panama; appearance of Kongo Queen
1:47 pm Address by Priest Rudolph Bailey of the Ethiopian African Black International Congress
2:19 pm Address by Honourable Mike Henry, Member of the Jamaican Parliament
2:45 pm Chanting of Ises
3:10 pm Seal-Up by Elder Bongo Shephan
3:15 pm Special Ises tribute to Kongo Queen of Panama
Break
3:40 pm Black Star Liner presentation by Maritime Captain Jacques Valentin Ramos
4:?? pm Introduction to the Repatriation Census and African Union by Ras Nathaniel
5:00 pm Update on International Rastafari Archives Project (IRAP) by Jake Homiak, Smithsonian Institute
29 abril 2005 Página 11 5:54 pm Introduction to the 1919 Ras Tafari Repatriation Movement in America by Ras Jaberi
Day 3: Wednesday 25 of May 2005: Afrikan Liberation Day
Early morning Sunrise Ises service by Ethiopian African black International Congress
9:00 am Breakfast
9:50 am Admonition to live up to the moral standard of Rastafari and Afrikan Liberation by Ras Sela
10:07 am HIM Haile Selassie Speech on Unity and Brotherhood by Ras Ivi
10:15 am Afrikan Liberation Day Ises
10:30 am Summit Workshop selection; ends at 12:15 without an agenda
12:15 – 2:27 pm Presentation of Dr. Miguel Brooks on the psychic trauma of the holocaust of the trans- Atlantic Slave trade
3:40 – 6:45 pm Workshop on spirituality; Ras Ivi presented on behalf of the Nyahbinghi; Priest Bailey presented on behalf of the EABIC
Bus ride to Vera Cruz Ibernacle
8:46 Arrival at Vera Cruz Ibernacle; Afrikan Liberation Day Ises
Day 4: Thursday 26 of May 2005
9:30 am Afrikan Liberation Day Ises Seal-Up
Bus ride back to Summit site
FREE DAY
Day 5: Friday 27 of May 2005
10:30 am to 12:22 pm Repatriation Census workshop cancelled due to lack of participation; EWF and Shashemane land grant question and answer session conducted by Ras Nathaniel
1:11pm to 2:54 pm IRASCOM presentation of a proposal for Rastafari Global Government by Ras Berhane
3:50 pm Panel discussion: Delegates of the Hispanic Countries
9:50 pm to 11:20 pm Presentation by David Hinds of Steel Pulse on Seeds For Africa project
29 abril 2005 Página 12 Day 6: Saturday 28 of May 2005
1:50 pm to 5:26 pm Empress Mannan presntation/dawta’s workshop chaired by Sister Aneita Robinson
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm Sistren’s Panel continued
10:00 pm to 11:57 pm Repatriation Census Workshop & Early History of Rastafari Movement in North America by Ras Nathaniel
Day 7: Sunday 29 of May 2005
9:50 am to 11:00 am Arrival at Afro-Panamanian Cultural Center; Teleconference with Pan African Commission of Barbados
11:00 am to 2:30 pm Market
4:30 pm Visit to Panama Canal
5:40 pm return to Summit site
10:00 pm to12:00 am Federation of Rastafari in Hispanic America working session
Day 8: Monday 30 of May 2005
Visit to Colon and Marching at the head of the Black Ethnic Day Parade
Summit Seal-up at Guardia Vega Auditorium in Colon
Soundsystem in the streets of Colon with Kafu Banton, Roots Natty, Steel Pulse, Ras Ivi, Jahbafanna, Negus Negast, and more . . .
29 abril 2005 Página 13
1st Diaspora Rastafari Summit In Hispanic America
Greetings in the name of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I and Her Imperial Majesty Empress Woizero Manan, 832 days before the Ethiopian Millennium.
The First Rastafari Summit in Hispanic America, May 23-30, 2005 has been sealed.
Representatives from the Theocracy Reign Order of the Nyahbinghi, the Ethiopia Africa Black International Congress (EABIC), the Caribbean Rastafari Organization (CRO), the Organization of African American Rastafari Unity (OAARU), as well as more than 100 representatives from 12 countries chanted Afrikan Liberation Ises and worked through seven days of Summit workshops under the single banner of Rastafari, proving that the spirit of African Liberation Day is prevailing and that no boundaries of geography, language or denomination can stop the Inity of Rastafari.
The delegates from Panama, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Mexico, Colombia and Uruguay came together and set a foundation for a Rastafari Federation in Hispanic America.
The Rastafari Family at the Summit in Panama and worldwide takes great joy sighting the nucleus of strength in the Hispanic region of the African diaspora.
Of the major decisions reached, the re-establishment of the Black Star Line (Shipping) was perhaps the most significant. A feasibility study will be conducted over the next six months to identify trading routes between Miami, the Caribbean, Latin America, South America and West Africa. A Study Committee will be set up to build a database of Rastafari Businesses and Pan-African merchant networks near each port. When the study is finished, merchant capacity and product inventories will allow the committee to propose final routes and negotiate with port authorities.
Another major outcome of the Summit was the completion of the first Repatriation Census exercise. The question, “Are you the descendant of the Africans taken into captivity in the west?” was added to the Census form and clarified many issues of identity among some Rastafari people in the Hispanic region. The Repatriation Census data that was collected and tabulated also revealed the importance of identifying and aggregating resources.
Proposals were also made by IRASCOM, diagramming its proposal for a Rastafari Theocratic Global Government. The proposal was created and operationalized by a 29 abril 2005 Página 14 team of Rastafari lawyers. In addition, David Hinds from Steel Pulse presented a proposal for a project called Seed for Africa and The Ethiopian World Federation provided Summit delegates with a pamphlet entitled “Ethiopia to Panama: Ethiopians in Panama and Costa Rica: Voices in The Voice of Ethiopia 1937”. A major reasoning on the standards of Rastafari marital relations were raised and sustained by a panel of Rastafari mothers, sisters and dawtas, with all sighting that the standard set by His and Her Imperial Majesty is the highest.
Details of the Repatriation Census results, along with workshop and proposal details, will be published in the final Summit Report.
However, over-riding the work of the Summit, was the Irit of Inity which smashed down all barriers between different kindreds and tongues. In the words of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I,
“We know that unity can be and has been attained among men of the most disparate origins, that difference of race, of religion, of culture, of tradition, are no insurmountable obstacles to the coming together of peoples.” (May 23, 1963).
“It is in this, We believe, that the real triumph of Africa lies today. Economic development may lag; difficulties may be encountered in working out unanimously acceptable programmes and policies; temporary dissentions may interfere with harmonious relations between individual states. But so long as the spirit of Africa prevails and stirs within us, so long as we continue to think and work and act within the African context which we have created, imbued by the African atmosphere which surrounds and pervades us, We are confident that the goals we seek shall be attained.” (July 21, 1964).
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Observation & Suggestions from the Rastafari Hispanic Summit
Hail H.I.Ms. Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Menen I, children that participated in the 1st Hispanic Rastafari Summit-Panama, May 2005. And those ones that were not able to trod.
“To those who contribute willingly, who in sweat and toil work for the good of the nation, with little thought of self? To them will much be given, even to governing of the land”… H.I.M. on Responsibility
It is within Rastafari honor that I share few moments which I observed that highlighted the historic development of the 1st Rastafari Hispanic Summit. Has the gap been cemented between InI extended families in the Anglo and Spanish phones and racial barriers were demolished amongst the ones present.
It is now obvious that the task to pave the road for the unification of the brethrens and sisters in Africa and Brazil and the world is a must. Delegates from the Hispanic and English regions should make all necessary attempts to establish links with Africa and Brazil. InI must take this task up before the next global Rastafari reasoning. Remember the largest descendants of African, outside of Africa reside in Brazil. This I high light because it was the concern of many delegates and it was not mention in any of the workshop.
Another important matter that must I mention is the presentation of Member of Parliament of Jamaica, Honorable Mike Henry on reparations on May 24. MP Mike Henry articulated the necessity of Rastafari as a collective to take a civic stand on the reparations issues in Jamaica. He mentioned that he will be advocating for reparations and debt relief in Parliament in Jamaica. 14 days after the summit, the World Bank freed 18 of the poorest countries of their foreign debt. The product of poverty is oppression (slavery) and now is the time for InI to take a stand as a global organization to advocate for reparation for all Africans.
The question is what the two major Rastafari houses in Jamaica plan to do with this proposal?
And so ones and ones move on to the workshop on Rastafari spirituality on May 25. Much was reasoned on the Divinity of H.I.M. Emperor Haile Sealssie I and Prince Emmanuel. At the end of the day all houses and mansions of Rastafari were giving thanks and praises to Emperor Haile Selassie I at the Tabernacle in Veracruz, Panama and the world over. Only a couple of Rastafarians did not participate in the All African Liberation Day praises, which was due to the early reasoning. 29 abril 2005 Página 16
InI must not follow western ways of religious doctrines. If InI look at the situation of religions today, InI will find that everyone stems from a major source and ramification exist among all. However, they all function well under Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism, etc… I hope Rastafarians overstand InI livity is African unity above it all. InI must keep the tradition of Africa alive through the tabernacle, drums, chants, bible, herb, the Kebra Negast, the teachings of H.I.M. and establish a solid economic foundation.
Therefore, Rastafari ceremonial activities are InI unifying force centered on Emperor Haile Selassie I mission of African Unity.
Rastafari demolished the racial barriers at the summit, when men, women and children from the 4 corners of the Earth pull together in harmony and toiled for Rastafari unification. Ones and ones work as a team on social issues and agreed to continue the works after the summit. Since the links are established which will allow InI to trod to the Americas and in the future Africa. InI must take advantage of these new avenues of opportunities for the global progress of the Rastafari nation.
The workshop conducted by Ras Nathaniel of Chicago, USA. Manifested the teachings H.I.M. on education has been carried out by Rastafari children in these modern times.
The census documents that I viewed had mathematical scientist, computer analysis, civil engineer, electro mechanical engineer, agricultural specialist, lawyers, construction workers, architects, economists, sociologists, professional musicians, arts & crafts specialists, graphic art specialists, public relations specialists, educators, administrators, plastic arts teacher, military specialists, international marketing specialists, priests, refrigeration specialist, solar energy specialist and many other career fields. InI have the skills bank needed to build a nation with this small segment of the nation. If InI conduct a global census, the skills bank will reflect a great work force to build the nation.
Strategies have to be implemented to accomplish this major task. I hope that ones who participated on the census project take charge and implement it in their regions. If this is done forward the census documents to Ras Nathaniel email:
The Rastafari family workshop created a great out cry for the betterment of the first unit of the nation. It was stresses that interaction among man, woman and children must improve and education should be not just for the children, but the whole family. Moreover, it was reasoned that Rastafarians should follow the example of the Emperor and Empress, whereas one should have one wife. This example should be the standard for the Rastafari family. However, InI will forward into the future and see the result with the growth of the nation.
One high moment of the summit was the presentation of the resurgence of the Black Star liner. The presenter of this proposal was Maritime Captain, maritime educator and ship restorer Jacques Valentin Ramos. Email address: [email protected]
29 abril 2005 Página 17 During the presentation he was assisted by Etherbert Mapp a maritime and commercial lawyer and a Pan African. Email: [email protected]. The intent of this proposal is to set up all necessary legal documentation of a maritime company with the travel chart of the sea vessel(s) in and around the Caribbean, Central, North, South America and Africa. The objective of this maritime company is for the dream of Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey back to Africa efforts be activated and to institute trade and repatriation efforts among the African in the Diaspora and Africa.
Also, a telephone conference was conducted between members of the Pan African Commission of Barbados, several of the summit delegates which included members of the Nyahbinghi and Bobo Ashanti houses, the Hispanic & USA delegates and Pan Africans of Panama. Ras Ikael Tafari, Director of the commission in mentioned was the main speaker on the proposal ref.: Black Star liner.
The outcome of the telephone conference was to establish a committee to develop the legal documentation to set up the maritime company and find the finance to purchase or lease the first ship for the implementation of the maritime company. The emails above and below: 1. Attorney Dr. Abdulkhabeer Muhammad,[email protected], 2. Professor Geraldo Maloney, Sociologist belongs to the key players that can be contacted to install a committee for the proposal shown above. I hope the keys players start the process and incorporate Rastafarian and Pan African Organizations to implement this maritime venture.
Other projects were presented on sustainable development programs for the economic backbone of InI nation. Such projects are organic agriculture presented by Negus Eric, organic agricultural specialist and a Rastafari community project presented by two young architects from the University of Panama sustain by alternate solar energy. Another project was presented by David Hinds (Steele Pulse) on Aid to Africa for the AIDS program. The intent of Ras David Hind’s project is to organize fund raising concert tours to fund to AIDS project. However, Ras David Hinds wants the funds to be managed by Pan African organizations.
I left the Global Rastafari Government proposal last because it is a very sensitive matter. However, it is a matter that InI must consider in order to forward Rastafari future generations into and beyond the future of InI livity. IRASCOM presented a well thought out document that can be utilized to facilitate a global Rastafari government. If the Rastafari houses and mansions accept this proposal it can serve InI aims for the unification and to establishment InI nation among the world organizations and governments. The Hispanic delegates priority on their return home will be to set up Rastafari NGOs and thereafter form a Hispanic Rastafari confederation.
This document will be part of the summit final report and it will be available to all houses and mansions of Rastafari. During the summit the Hispanic and English delegates agreed to work as a team to manifest this proposal with the assistance and support of the Rastafari global collective.
Rastafari way of life as taken on dimensions which have transcended all spiritual movements. Rastafari has become a commercial industry globally. Business organizations in Asia, America and Europe are producing and selling InI culture icons as fashion. To protect InI way of life and preserve it as a life culture, InI must be one unit to 29 abril 2005 Página 18 demand the legal rights from the commercial giants of the world. A Rastafari Global Government is a must!!!
I suggest that the nation develop an agenda for the next global reasoning and that a election of officer for the Rastafari Government be the focus. Also, that all houses and mansions participate in the development of the agenda, select representatives for the election process, acceptance of a Rastafari Organizational Document and the selections of the reasoning venue and the Headquarter for the Global Government.
Therefore, I Ras Sela humble servant of Ethiopia’s King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Menen I give these observations and suggestions for the ones views and I give full support to the unification of InI nation unconditionally.
Raspestfully,
Ras Sela.
29 abril 2005 Página 19
Excerpts from Jamaican Member of Parliament Mike Henry’s Opening Address to the 1st Diaspora Rastafari Summit In Hispanic America
“As a Jamaican, and a politician, and one who is born close to Rastafari, it is my belief that the way forward for Rastafari is to ensure that the government of Jamaica recognizes and accepts it as a faith and a religion, which indeed the Jamaica government must lead forward in the world that all governments across the world accepts Rastafari as a faith and a religion. . . .
It still baffles me how we in Jamaica were later to come to the quite unfortunate alienation of the Rastafari, culminating in the Coral Gardens incident. And I publicly apologize as part of a political system to you all for that incident. For indeed it is a blot on the pages of Jamaica’s history of religious tolerance and appreciation of its people. It failed to recognize -- the Jamaican society failed to recognize that Rastafarians were in search of their and our identity, the identity of a people placed in a strange land by the middle passage, a people yearning to once again find themselves their history and true beginning, which lead them to the land Ethiopia, the place at the beginning of man, and the recognition of Haile Selassie and the true descendant of the House of David. . . .
And so to today, which has come out of yesterday, all my life I have advocated that my country, the founding country of Rastafari, recognize that it is a religion, and by so doing appreciate the sanctity of its believers and the sincerity of its proponents, and the Divinity of the association of the herb, distinctly its meditation and its creation.
For indeed, as I discuss this with my colleagues in government, I ask them, when you call a meetings of churches do you not call the Roman Catholics, the Methodists, the Seventh Day Adventists, the Anglicans, the Higher Lord Church, the Greek Orthodox, the Presbyterians, the Salvation Army, the Evangelicals, and aren’t all these tribes of Christianity? So why do they not accept the tribe of Rastafari? . . . .
And how very different is it really for me to go to the Roman Catholic Church and drink wine. But how different is it to go the Rastafari to share in the Holy Herb? . . . .
In Jamaica I will continue to lead the fight for the recognition of Rastafarianism as a faith and marijuana as a sacrament of that faith. I will fight to remove the incongruity and the inconsistency as they cry for Bob Marley to be named a national hero without accepting Marley’s faith and Marley’s commitment to the herb. . . .
29 abril 2005 Página 20 I am going to support, with every fiber of my being your search for Repatriation . . . . because the one thing that I’ve learned about the world that I know, you can’t do it all without money and with respect to everyone, that is why I am going to fight for Reparations
I made a commitment last year that I would take the Reparations debate to Parliament. I took that debate that the government made and fought over . . . . ANY DAY YOU ARE READY TO LEAD THE MARCH ON GARDEN HOUSE FOR REPATRIATION AND REPARATIONS, CALL ON ME, I AM READY FOR THAT FIGHT. . . .
And thus, as I say before the body of the Jamaican Rastafari who are here, and those of you who are spread across the South American, Central American, and North American diaspora, that I intend to embarrass anyone of the government, including those who seek to be Prime Ministers, who were also part of the Rastafarians at one time, I shall be taking this back to Parliament and I urge your support in Jamaica, I urge your commitment . . . .So I say, to those who want repatriation, it should be supported by us all, and it must be the right thing to want to return to your place of origin. And so I close, but I do so with a [word unintelligible] of Rasta, of the reach which Jah has charged you with. I offer you my continued personal pledge and commitment to fight for what is right and just. And I fearlessly call on the governments of the world to recognize Rastafarianism and the embodiments of the faith and the belief of a people in their beginning. And I feel that Jah will see to it that Good and Right shall always triumph over might."
Ras Ivi, Summit Delegate from the Theocracy Reign Order of the Nyahbinghi in Jamaica took to the rostrum after MP Mike Henry and said,
“I&I can state categorically, that this has been one of the most powerful presentations on behalf of all Rastafari ever heard in the history of the movement.”
29 abril 2005 Página 21
1ra Cumbre Rastafari Hispanoamericana en Panamá 23-30 de mayo de 2005
Saludos y Bendiciones en el nombre del Más Alto Emperador Haile Selassie I y la Emperatriz Woizero Mennen, Jah Ras Tafari
Este evento, aparte de ser uno histórico a nivel local en Panamá, es histórico para Rastafari como movimiento universal. Ha sido algo trascendental para nosotros como delegación en el camino Rastafari. Se congregaron hermanos y hermanas de Chile, Colombia, Perú, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Panamá, Puerto Rico, México y Argentina, representando nueve países de habla hispana. También estuvieron presentes hermanos y hermanas de Jamaica, Anguila, Bélgica, Estados Unidos, Inglaterra y un hermano de ascendencia china. Todos los que allí estuvimos respondimos el llamado de Rastafari para conocernos, organizarnos y centralizarnos. Damos gracias a Jah Ras Tafari por haber podido vivir esta experiencia enriquecedora.
Cada delegado se presentó ante el resto del grupo y verbalizó su propósito en la cumbre. El factor común fue aprender más para aplicar al diario vivir, además de establecer los lazos de comunicación imprescindibles para continuar con la agenda de la Cumbre.
Al comenzar el día de presentaciones orales en el teatro Balboa de la Ciudad de Panamá recibimos la bendición de un niño Rasta quien compartió un salmo, bendiciendo el momento y nuestras vidas. La Alianza Rastafari de Panamá dio la bienvenida a los delegados de la Cumbre y representantes del Ministro de Turismo, del Alcalde de la Ciudad y del Presidente de Panamá nos recibieron con mucho amor y respeto. En representación del gobierno de Jamaica pudimos contar con la presencia del ministro de parlamento Mike Henry, quien pidió disculpas en nombre del gobierno jamaiquino por la persecución de la cual ha sido víctima el movimiento Rastafari durante todos estos años. Hizo énfasis en que seguirá trabajando a favor de que se reconozca en el gobierno el derecho de Rastafari de congregarse y de practicar su espiritualidad como es propio.
Se le hizo un reconocimiento a la reina Congo, panameña de linaje real africano, quien ha mantenido la tradición cultural africana por medio de la música, la danza y la vida en plena celebración de sus raíces africanas. Además, una presentación de danza Congo fue hecha por un grupo de jóvenes de Panamá.
29 abril 2005 Página 22 Se discutió a fondo el plan de reactivar la línea de comercio marítimo “Black Star Line”, establecida por Marcus Garvey, y se llegó al acuerdo de conducir un estudio de viabilidad de seis meses para proponer una ruta de intercambio entre Estados Unidos, el Caribe, Centro y Suramérica y África, con el propósito de contribuir al plan de repatriación.
Se llevaron a cabo talleres en los que se expusieron los siguientes temas:
- El primer tema desarrollado fue el de la espiritualidad, en el cual representantes del Orden Nyabingui y Bobo Ashanti hicieron presentaciones en relación al orden de cada casa. Las diferencias fueron expuestas y discutidas. Se contestaron varias preguntas y luego salimos en unidad a una gloriosa noche en el Tabernáculo de Veracruz, Panamá. Aquí los ancianos prendieron la Llave de Fuego, dando inicio a la asamblea Nyabinghi, la cual duró toda la noche hasta que salió el sol. En el ambiente reinó la unidad sobrepasando las diferentes perspectivas que existen dentro de Rastafari, apoyándonos en lo que todos estamos de acuerdo: Haile Selassie 1ro es el verdadero Dios viviente. Esto fue un ejemplo bien importante dado por nuestros hermanos y hermanas mayores. La enseñanza de tolerancia, respeto y unidad quedó establecida más allá del verbo, con la acción, manteniendo la armonía.
-El doctor en psicología Miguel Brooks, panameño radicado en Jamaica (traductor del Kebra Nagast), hizo una presentación sobre el holocausto de la esclavitud y cómo hoy día continúa afectándonos psicológicamente. Esta realidad se refleja a través de conductas de división y discusión, tanto dentro como fuera del movimiento Rastafari. De esta manera se explica el hecho de que a pesar de reconocer a Rastafari, todavía muchos cargan con miedos, inseguridades y conductas defensivas innecesarias. El tema quedó abierto y es necesario darle seguimiento en futuras reuniones donde se expongan remedios prácticos para contrarrestar esta marca dejada en nosotros a raíz del holocausto de la esclavitud tras-atlántica.
- El tema de repatriación fue expuesto elocuentemente por el hermano Ras Nathaniel de EU., quien llevó a cabo un censo de repatriación para aquellos que estén considerando volver a África. El censo arrojó luz sobre lo importante que es trabajar en unidad, fortaleciéndonos unos a otros. Aunque la fecha de repatriación varía debido al proceso de cada individuo, se entiende apropiado estar en Etiopía antes del cambio del verdadero milenio; septiembre 2007.
- El panel de las hermanas surgió de manera natural. Se reunió la congregación y las hermanas mayores abrieron la sesión. Tanto las mayores como las menores expusieron sus puntos. Se discutieron temas como la importancia de la mujer desde tiempos pasados, haciendo referencia a citas bíblicas donde se mencionan profetizas de suma importancia para la historia bíblica. Se hizo énfasis en el tema de la educación de los niños y la importancia de complementar la educación académica regular con elementos que fundamenten su origen, cultura y espiritualidad. Luego de mucho razonamiento sobre la unión del hombre y la mujer Rasta, la congregación estuvo de acuerdo en que el ejemplo puesto por Su Majestad Imperial Haile Selassie 1ro y la Reina Menen es uno digno a seguir: un Rey y una Reina. Su Majestad estableció este 29 abril 2005 Página 23 precedente a pesar de venir de un linaje de reyes polígamos, como lo fueron David y Salomón en su dinastía.
-El hermano Ras Berhane Mariam vino en representación de la organización IRASCOM, proponiendo un gobierno global para Rastafari. El proyecto ha sido elaborado por un grupo de profesionales Rastafari, que buscan establecer un organismo central para Rastafari a nivel mundial.
-David Hinds (vocalista de Steel Pulse) expuso el proyecto “SEED for Africa” (Self Empowerment and Economic Development), el cual se encarga de recaudar y administrar fondos por medio de la música y de inversionistas privados de ascendencia africana para ayudar directamente a África, destruyendo la imagen que visualiza a los africanos incapaces de ayudarse a sí mismos.
El 30 de mayo visitamos el pueblo de Colón para llevar a cabo una marcha celebrando el Día de la Etnia Negra. Fue un momento bien especial. La comunidad Rastafari marchó al frente en plena celebración del origen etíope de la humanidad. A pesar de las difíciles condiciones de vida en este sector de Panamá, donde la mayoría de los edificios necesitan mantenimiento, los niños y todos los presentes demostraron estar llenos de amor manteniéndose receptivos al mensaje de Rastafari. Luego se llevó a cabo el acto de clausura de la Cumbre, durante el cual se hicieron varias manifestaciones de agradecimiento por parte de los representantes de cada país. En la noche, los artistas presentes expusieron sus talentos musicales para el deleite de la gente de Colón, en una actividad histórica en la calle, completamente gratis.
En los días que le siguieron se propuso entre los delegados de habla hispana formar una Federación Rastafari Hispanoamericana, para establecer una red de comunicación efectiva donde nos fortalezcamos regional e internacionalmente, haciendo reuniones periódicas para fortalecer a los países visitados por las delegaciones. Esperamos que la unión manifestada en este evento continúe siendo expandida por todas las zonas del mundo con rectitud, orden y amor. Que el Todopoderoso nos guíe y nos proteja en este armagedón, y que nos dé la energía para seguir luchando por la liberación africana en unidad y amor.
¡UN PERFECTO AMOR!
Respetuosamente, La Delegación Rastafari en Puerto Rico Igziabeher inc.
29 abril 2005 Página 24
1st Hispanic America Rastafari Summit in Panama May 23-30, 2005 Puerto Rico Delegation Review
Greetings and Blessings in the name of the Most High Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Woizero Mennen. Jah Rastafari
This event, besides from being historical on a local Panama level, is a historical one for Rastafari as a universal movement. It has been very important for InI as a delegation trodding the Rastafari path. Brothers and sisters from Chile, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Panama, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Argentina represented nine Hispanic- speaking countries. There were also brothers and sisters from Jamaica, Anguilla, Belgium, United States, England and a brother of Chinese ascendance. There, each and everyone answered the calling of Rastafari in order to know each other and organize and centralize. InI thank Jah Ras Tafari for this inspiring experience.
First, each delegate introduced him/herself to the rest of the group and expressed his/her purpose in the Summit and everyone agreed that they were there to learn. This was done as a way of establishing essential communication channels, indispensable for the gathering.
During the first part of the oral presentations at the Balboa Theater in Panama City, we received the blessing of a Rastafari child who shared a Psalm, blessing the moment and InI life. Then, the Rastafari Alliance in Panama offered the official welcome to the delegates of the Summit. Representatives on behalf of the Minister of Tourism, the Mayor of Panama City and the President of Panama received InI with love and respect. From Jamaica there was the Minister of Parliament Mike Henry, who apologized on behalf of the Jamaican government for the persecution that the Rastafari movement has suffered throughout all these years. He emphasized on the works that have to be done inside the government for the acknowledgement of the right that Rastafari have to gather and practice its spirituality freely as it is supposed to be.
The schedule continued and recognition was given to Reina Congo, a woman in Panama with royal African lineage, who maintains African tradition through music, dance and through her life in an evident display and celebration of her African roots. 29 abril 2005 Página 25 Furthermore, a Congo dance presentation was made by a group of young people from Panama.
The reactivation of the “Black Star Line” was seriously discussed. A six month viability study was arranged with the objective of re-establishing the trans-Atlantic Back- to-Africa route originally established by Marcus Garvey. This project will begin as a commercial exchange route between the United States, the Caribbean and Central and South America with Africa, and in a near future it will transport people back to Africa.
The following themes were exposed throughout the Summit in different workshops:
-The first workshop was spirituality, in which delegates from the Nyabinghi and Bobo Ashanti orders made presentations. Differences were reviewed and there were answers to questions. After that, InI went on a glorious night at the Tabernacle in Veracruz, Panama. It was there that the Elders lit the Fire Key to open the Nyabinghi assembly. Praising, chanting and drumming took place all night until the sun was up. The teaching of Tolerance, Raspect and Inity was established beyond the spoken word with action in the tabernacle, where, overcoming the different perspectives and points of view, everyone was together in perfect love and Inity holding on to what all agreed: Haile Selassie I is the True Living God. This was a very important example given to us by our elder brothers and sisters.
-Dr. Miguel Brooks, Panamanian psychologist who lives in Jamaica (translator of the Kebra Nagast), made a presentation about the holocaust of trans-Atlantic slavery and how to this day it keeps affecting InI psychologically. This reality is reflected through misconducts of discussion and division, both inside and outside of the Rastafari movement. By this it is explained the fact that even though a numerous amount of people acknowledge Rastafari as the living God, many still carry burdens of fear, insecurity and unnecessary defensive behavior. The workshop was left open for next gatherings, where there may be given practical remedies to counterattack these effects bestowed on us as a consequence of trans-Atlantic slavery.
-The repatriation workshop was eloquently developed by Brother Ras Nathaniel from the U.S., who carried a repatriation census for those considering going back to Africa. The census enlightened InI on the importance of working together in Inity and strengthening InI towards repatriation. Although the dates of repatriation vary in the individual level due to each one’s own process, a vast majority overstand that it would be appropriate to be in Africa before the real change of the millennium: September 2007.
-The Sisters workshop was given in a natural way. Everyone gathered and the elder sisters opened the session. Both the elder and the younger sisters exposed their points of view. Themes like the importance of woman from ancient times were discussed making reference to biblical quotes mentioning prophetesses of great importance in the history of the Bible. Emphasis was made on the importance of education for the children and complementing it with elements of their origin, their culture and spirituality. Then, after much reasoning about the coming together of the Rasta man and the Rasta woman, the 29 abril 2005 Página 26 congregation agreed in that the example set by His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I and Empress Mennen is one worth following: a King and a Queen. His Imperial Majesty established this example even though he comes from the lineage of polygamous kings like David and Solomon.
-Brother Ras Berhane Mariam was in the Summit representing IRASCOM, an organization proposing a global government for Rastafari. This project has been developed by a group of Rastafari professionals who wish to establish a central government for Rastafari on an international level.
- Steel Pulse vocalist David Hinds presented SEED for Africa (Self Empowerment and Economic Development), a project intended to administer funds raised through music and private investments from peoples of African ascendance, to help Africa directly, destroying the idea that holds the African Race as being incapable of assisting itself.
On the 30th of June InI visited the town of Colon to take part on the African Race Day celebration march. It was a very special moment. The Rastafari community marched in front, celebrating the Ethiopian origin of mankind. Despite the harsh living conditions in this town of Panama, where most of the buildings need urgent works of maintenance, the children and all of the attendants proved to be full of love by being receptive to the Rastafari message at every moment. After that, the closing of the Summit was conducted, in which various thanksgiving manifestations were made by the delegates of each country. At night, an artistical event took place, where local and international artists displayed their talents for the people of Colon in an open street free of charge.
In the days that followed, the creation of a Hispanic America Rastafari Federation was proposed between the delegates of the Spanish-speaking countries in order to establish an effective communication network that InI can use for the national and international strengthening of Rastafari.
InI pray that the Inity manifested in this event keep spreading to every place on earth with righteousness, order and love. May the Almighty guide and protect InI in this Armageddon, and give InI the strength to free Africa in Inity and love.
One Perfect Love!
Raspectfully, InI Rastafari Delegation in Puerto Rico Igziabeher, Inc. 29 abril 2005 Página 27
1ER. ENCUENTRO RASTAFARI EN LATINOAMÉRICA Del 23 al 30 de mayo de 2005 en Arraijan, Panamá.
Informe Final de Hermanos y Hermanas en Latinoamérica
1.- INTRODUCCION
"Alabad a Jah, porque Él es bueno; porque para siempre es su misericordia. Díganlo los redimidos de Jah, los que ha redimido del poder del enemigo y los ha congregado de las tierras del oriente y del occidente, del norte y del sur." (Salmo 107: 1-3)
JAHludos en el nombre de su Ivina Majestad Imperial Haile Selassie I y su Emperatriz Woizero Menen I. El poder de la Sagrada Trinidad, la Luz del Mundo, León Conquistador de la Tribu de Judá, ha prevalecido. Damos Gracias y alabanzas por la bendición del Más Alto que nos dio esta esperada oportunidad de reunirnos con nuestros Hermanos Mayores, los Honorables Ancianos, Sacerdotes y Emperatrices, Nuestra Familia Real.
Somos Etíopes de la dispersión, que habitamos en los continentes que el invasor llamó "americanos" y que hablamos el idioma español. Se nos ha revelado a travès del reconocimiento de la Divininad de Su Majestad Imperial HAILE SELASSIE I el Primero, nuestra identidad afroascendente. Nuestra identidad etíope está fundamentada en la Biblia (Isaías 11: 10-12 por ejemplo) y nos amparamos en la Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos, que señala libertad de nacionalidad y credo, para practicar nuestra Fe, nuestras formas de adoración al Más Alto y para asegurar nuestro desarrollo en el país en que nos encontremos.
En nuestros corazones arde el fuego de la Justicia e igualdad de derechos, nuestro espíritu busca que la rectitud dirija nuestros pasos y que el Amor de JAH llene nuestras vidas. Reconocemos que la humanidad nació en Afrika. La cultura del Hombre se desarrolló en Afrika. Etiopía es Afrika y la humanidad proviene de Afrika. Es nuestra raiz y Yo&Yo debe volver a sus raíces. Afrika es la madre de la humanidad y nosotros honramos, defendemos y edificamos a nuestra madre: REPATRIACIÓN INTERNACIONAL, para la reconstrucción de Afrika.
Nuestro reconocimiento como etíopes tiene cimientos en las escrituras bíblicas, las cuales nos enseñan el origen de la humanidad en Etiopía (génesis Cáp. 2:13-15). Por lo mismo podrán llamarnos con el titulo de panameños, jamaicanos, venezolanos, mexicanos, colombianos, puertorriqueños, costarricenses, argentinos o chilenos, porque sabemos que Babilonia nos esclaviza y divide con ese tipo de clasificaciones. Tampoco nos identificamos culturalmente como Latinos o hispanos, somos RASTAS, somos Hijos Reales de Etiopía. Todos somos africanos en esencia desde la creación del mundo.
Nuestra comunidad esta integrada por afroascendentes de hermanos y hermanas traídos en cautiverio. También encontramos a muchos que a través de las revelaciones, han empezado a sentir un gran amor 29 abril 2005 Página 28 por Afrika, identificándose con el continente originario de la humanidad y la cultura. Es decir, por todos los que hemos escuchado el llamado de JAH RASTAFARI. Entendemos que la rectitud es el fundamento y la disciplina la forma de llegar a los objetivos. Creemos en la Redención de la Humanidad en una sola Hermandad, viviendo cada cual bajo su viña y bajo su higuera, en paz.
En este tiempo su Divina Majestad Imperial Haile Selassie I ha cortado las cadenas de la esclavitud mental y nos llama a luchar contra el racismo para conseguir la paz. Lo que señaló en su discurso ante las liga de las naciones en Ginebra el 6 de octubre de 1963 esta vigente:
"Hasta que la filosofía que sostiene a una raza superior y a otra inferior, sea finalmente y permanentemente desacreditada y abandonada; hasta que no hayan más ciudadanos de primera y segunda clase en cualquier nación; hasta que el color de la piel de un hombre no sea más que el color de los ojos; hasta que los derechos humanos sean garantizados igualmente a todos sin distinción de raza; hasta ese día, el sueño de una paz duradera, ciudadanía mundial y la norma de moralidad internacional permanecerán en nosotros como una ilusión fugaz por perseguir pero nunca alcanzar, y hasta que los innobles e infelices regímenes que sostienen a nuestros hermanos en Angola, Mozambique, Sudáfrica en esclavitud subhumana, sean derribados y destruidos; hasta que la intolerancia, prejuicio y maliciosos intereses propios inhumanos sean reemplazados por el emprendimiento, tolerancia y buena voluntad; hasta que todos los africanos se paren y hablen como seres libres, iguales en los ojos de todos los hombres como ellos están en los ojos del cielo; Hasta ese día, el continente africano, no conocerá la paz. Nosotros los africanos lucharemos, si es necesario y sabemos que ganaremos, pues confiamos en la victoria del bien sobre el mal."
En consecuencia, el llamado es para trabajar por la edificación de nuestros templos, para prepararnos para la reconstrucción de África: Luchar por la emancipación y progreso de Afrika, es luchar por toda la humanidad.
2.- CRONOLOGIA
LUNES 23: -Llegada de los delegados de distintos países al lugar de encuentro en ARRAIJAN. -Por la noche en la primera reunión algunos de los delegados se presentaron ante la cumbre, contestando la razón y el propósito por la cual habían venido a este encuentro. -posteriormente se meditó sobre la GanJah y su uso responsable y espiritual.
MARTES 24: -Apertura en el TEATRO BALBOA -Presentación de la Reina Congo. -Asistencia de Estudiantes Afro ascendientes de Panamá. -Cantos NYAHBINGHI. -Palabras de RAS Sela, Presidente de la Alianza RASTAFARI de Panamá. -Palabras de Delegados de Panamá. -Palabras de Delegados Alianza RASTAFARI. -Palabras de un congresista de Jamaica que lucha por los derechos de Rastafari -Foro de conversación sobre el nuevo desarrollo de la BLACK STAR LINE.
MIÉRCOLES 25 : (Día de la liberación Africana) -Lectura de Salmos y Llamado Real por parte de La Orden BOBO ASHANTI, para la celebración del Sabat Etiope. -Meditaciones, Razonamiento y NYAHBINGHI -Espiritualidad: presentación de casa BOBO ASHANTI y casa NYAHBINGHI -Salida hacia el TABERNÁCULO NYAHBINGHI DE VERACRUZ -Ceremonia NYAHBINGHI.
JUEVES 26 -Termina Ceremonia NYAHBINGHI -Regreso al mediodía al centro de reuniones en ARRAIJAN 29 abril 2005 Página 29 -Cantos NYAHBINGHI -Presentación de Videos: -JAH LIVES (BONGO SHEPHAN) -SILVER JUBILEE OF THE CORONATION OF HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY
VIERNES 27 -Reunión de los delegados de cada País -Repatriación y Censo Rastafari, por Ras Nathaniel -Presentación de IRASCOM "Sobre Gobierno Rastafari " -Exposición de los delegados y representantes de HISPANOAMÉRICA y la visión e historia africana de cada País -Exposición del proyecto S.E.E.D. (Por David Hinds) Taller sobre música como negocio sustentable
SABADO 28 -Celebración del SABATH por la Orden BOBO ASHANTI desde las 6 A.M. hasta Medio Día. -Razonamiento OMEGA -Censo de REPATRIACIÓN
DOMINGO 29 -Viaje al "PUEBLITO AFRO-ANTILLANO" (Día de la CELEBRACIÓN DE TODOS LOS AFRICANOS) -Conferencia telefónica con Ikael Tafari para crear una Ruta Comercial Marítima para el mercado de productos entre África y América. -Muestra de Artesanía -Cantos NYAHBINGHI -Visita al Canal de Panamá -Preparación por la Noche del documento final de CUMBRE RASTAFARI EN HISPANOAMERICA
LUNES 30 -Bendiciones y Cantos NYAHBINGHI -Salida hacia la Ciudad de COLON -Acto de celebración de la ETNIA AFRICANA en un gimnasio, canto Nyahbinghi como homenaje -Desfile por las calles de COLON de la ETNIA AFRO-ASCENDIENTE -Acto de clausura en la escuela "GUARDIA VEGA" -SOUNDSYSTEM en las calles de COLON con presentaciones de KAFU BANTON, ROOTS NATTY, STEEL PULSE, RAS IVI, JAHBAFANA, NEGUS NAGAST.
MARTES 31 -Orden por parte de cada delegación sobre el documento final -Despedida de Hermanos y Hermanas de las diversas delegaciones -Muestra e Intercambio Artesanal entre I&I -Proyección de documentales: - "Abba nazarhia" - "Coronación de H.I.M. y personas que lo acompañaron en su recorrido por Jamaica". Bodas de Plata.
MIÉRCOLES 01 DE JUNIO Conclusión del Texto del INFORME FINAL del Encuentro Rastafari
3. DESARROLLO
- REPATRIACIÓN Y REPARACIÓN
Martes 24 de mayo 29 abril 2005 Página 30 Nos dirigimos al teatro Balboa. Se habló de diferentes temas y el último tema fue una exposición y foro donde un capitán de navío, expuso los conocimientos básicos para entender como se desarrolla un proyecto naviero, la nueva BLACK STAR LINE. en las intervenciones el protagonista fue Ras Nathaniel. Se discutió acerca de la toma de conciencia en relación al problema que afronta nuestra madre Áfrika en este tiempo, defender la majestuosidad de nuestra Realeza Etiope, (Etiopia Madre Tierra) y tener un pueblo unido por su raíz.
Viernes 27 de mayo En la exposición de “REPATRIACION Y CENSO RASTAFARI” se comunicó la urgencia de enviar africanos con profesiones que se encuentren en el exilio, a fin de brindar servicio en el trabajo de reparación de los daños ocasionados por las constantes guerras y la edificación de Etiopía. Posteriormente, se expuso el proyecto del “Reino Teocrático de Rastafari”. Un completo plan para la organización, reparación y repatriación del Movimiento Rastafari Internacional. Al mismo tiempo Priest Bayley, de la Casa Bobo Ashanty , aclaró que este proyecto ya había sido anunciado anteriormente por Prince Emmanuel Edwards y, por lo cual el Ethiopian African Black Internacional Congress (E.A.B.I.C), es el congreso encargado de la repatriación de la Casa Negra de Israel a Etiopía.
Sábado 28 de mayo Ras Nathaniel expuso como parte de la conferencia, la historia de los grupos denominados “Proetíopes”, del movimiento de un pueblo hacia su cielo anhelado. Luego continuó con un censo de la población Rastafari hispanoamericana. El censo consto de varias preguntas tales como; Cuándo y dónde ser repatriado, a qué lugar de África querría ir. La pregunta que nos hacemos como comunidad naciente es; ¿Quién se permanece en Hispanoamérica educando a la gente y trabajando duro para quemar a Babilonia, si todos nosotros, futuros ancianos del movimiento Rasta Hispanoamericano, nos vamos a Afrika? ¡Es una pregunta para meditar!
Luego se habló de Shashamane (Tierra donada por Su Majestad Haile Selassie I a los africanos en el exilio) y su administración desde las manos de la casa Nyabinghi y la necesidad para incorporarse al espacio, sin contar con la membresía de la Federación Mundial Etiope (F.M.E). De igual manera se mencionó que en Shashamane hay un espacio de tierra en manos del E.A.B.I.C, así como se declaró que los miembros Nyabinghi pertenecen a la F.M.E. antes de formarse como Orden o Casa Nayhbinghi.
Como necesidad del pueblo, MAS QUE COMO ORGANIZACIONES, es importante enfatizar los principios de los movimientos de repatriación del Honorable Profeta Marcus Mosiah Garvey y los requisitos y recursos que necesitamos para obtener las acciones de membresía a la Black Star Line, según su visión. También el carácter eclesiástico en el aspecto de repatriación o cumplimiento profético de la organización de un pueblo esparcido a los cuatro vientos que vuelve a la promesa (casa). Por lo que todo, absolutamente todo, debe llevarse a cabo en el cumplimiento de la palabra de Dios. Llegando a Afrika con papel en mano o no, como miembro de una organización o no; “todo Rastaman debe volver a África. Cada hombre a su propia viña e higuera”
- GOBIERNO RASTAFARI
Ras Berhane de IRASCOM, expuso un proyecto del “REINO TEOCRÁTICO DE RASTAFARI”. El objetivo de esta exposición fue recordar y hacer cumplir las palabras de su Majestad Haile Selassie I, "Organized and Centralized fi Repatríated to Ethiopia". Vale destacar que el proyecto es el más completo plan que hemos percibido para la organización Movimiento Rastafari Internacional. Lo más importante es el encuentro con la definición de “gobierno resistente”, ese es el fuego que hemos venido a tomar, precisamente la enseñanza de que exista un plan establecido buscando lo mejor de los recursos de cada hermano y el asentamiento de un gobierno Rastafari en todos los aspectos de la sociedad (excepto los gubernamentales) mientras se trabaja a la vez en el proceso de la repatriación usando los contactos y las organizaciones Rastas existentes. La información acerca del Gobierno Rastafari depende fundamentalmente del grado de unidad Rasta que puedan tener los miembros de una sociedad. Lo más importante es diseñar una campaña para difundir las enseñanzas de H.I.M. en las que resalta la importancia de tener una educación cada vez más avanzada, poder crecer competitivamente con nuestro dones y talentos, para eso debemos asociarnos y enseñar ese principio. Crear asociaciones donde competitivamente se distribuyan los productos para la 29 abril 2005 Página 31 vivencia Rasta de los hermanos y exigir lo necesario para que se cumpla la justicia de vivir en Sión en donde quiera que nos encontremos viviendo.
!!!RASTAFARI VIVE Y SE VIVE POR SI MISMO!!!
- REINA OMEGA
Sábado 28 de mayo Se llevó a cabo un espacio de información, preguntas y respuestas acerca de la mujer Rastafari. Las mujeres mayores de la Orden Nyabinghi y Bobo Ashanti expusieron los siguientes temas para edificar el balance Omega en Rastafari.
1.- Mujer Virtuosa Prov. 31 vers. 25 – 31 25 "Fuerza y honor son sus vestiduras; y se ríe de su porvenir. 26 Abre su boca con sabiduría y la ley de clemencia está en su lengua. 27Considera los caminos de su casa y no come el pan de balde. 28 Se levantan sus hijos y la llaman bienaventurada; y su marido también la alaba. 29 Engañosa es la gracia y vana es la hermosura. 30 La mujer que teme a JAH, esa será alabada."
2.- Período menstrual La mujer Rastafari debe permanecer en su hogar durante el ciclo menstrual, en el que se lleva a cabo un proceso de limpieza, de purificación. En la Orden Bobo Ashanti la mujer debe estar fuera de la comunidad y el tabernáculo durante la ceremonia de los 21 días de purificación. En la Órden Nyabinghi, la mujer debe abstenerse del contacto con la comunidad durante 8 días. Tampoco puede asistir al Tabernáculo ni se congrega en alabanza.
Cada Orden tiene sus principios bien definidos. Estos principios deben ser cumplidos por toda mujer Rastafari dependiendo a la mansión a la cual pertenezca.
3.- Educación Para la educación Rastafari de los niños es necesario darles el ejemplo de vida en casa para fortalecerlos en espíritu, mente y cuerpo. Es fundamental que nosotras las madres tengamos el saber de los derechos humanos, para hacerlos valer en nuestros hijos y nuestra comunidad. Como Madres de la Creación debemos atender este punto educándonos como Princesas, Reinas y Emperatrices de la Real Etiopía; así se asegurará el desarrollo de Rastafari mediante fortalecimiento de nuestros hijos, el futuro de la Nación. Si deseamos establecer un centro educativo con principios Rastafari, debemos hacer un estudio de las libertades que nos ofrece la constitución del país en que vivimos. Para asegurar un buen presente y futuro de los niños Rastafari, debemos conocer a fondo la carta de los derechos del niño, ya que ésta nos ayudará a defenderlos del sistema y sus discriminaciones babilonicas.
Ya conocidos nuestros derechos hemos de desarrollar un pensum que organice la educación Rastafari. Seleccionar valores, contenidos y objetivos a desarrollar. Debemos tener siempre puestos los anteojos de Etiopía, ocupándonos en especial de entregar conocimientos de la Historia real del mundo, la Africana, Etiope, así como su lengua, el Amárico. El enfoque principal de la educación es la Repatriación mental y posteriormente física de las raíces y hemos de visualizarla enseñando nuestra Real Historia. A través del rescate de la historia y la cultura hemos de fortalecernos y liberarnos. Ya fortalecido el espíritu, la mente y el cuerpo por medio de la educación y la vivencia o Livity Rastafari, estaremos edificándonos para repatriarnos a Sion.
4.- Salud La salud en la vida Rastafari se consigue a través de una alimentación “Ital”. Rastafari sabe que una dieta balanceada hace un cuerpo balanceado, así se obtiene un sistema inmunológico apto y una mayor fortaleza para combatir. La limpieza es Divinidad, debemos recibir lo que Rey Alfa y Reina Omega nos entregan para nuestro sustento y evitar contaminar nuestro templo con muerte o productos artificiales. 29 abril 2005 Página 32
5.- Orden natural de dar a luz El proceso de traer vida al mundo es el proceso más natural en la existencia del ser humano. Por respeto al orden del Todopoderoso, no debemos alterar sus preceptos. Durante el embarazo se debe tener en consideración una buena alimentación y ejercicio físico, para que en el proceso de dar a luz no ocurran complicaciones. De esta manera podemos tener una parto natural en el hogar, con la asistencia de hermanas que estén preparadas.
4- CONCLUSIONES Y PROPUESTAS
Damos Gracias porque la barrera del idioma ha sido quemada, el sobrentendimiento de Yo&Yo, ha sido reafirmado. Desde el primer día el JAHmor primó por sobre todo, fluyendo el cariño, el respeto y las ganas de trabajar y aprender, por todos los corazones. Rastafari confirma que es una Familia Real Universal que se ama y que el sobrentendimiento de Yo&Yo está por encima de los idiomas y las etnias.
CONCLUSIONES
1- REPATRIACIÓN. Es una necesidad urgente del Pueblo de JAH en la dispersión que debe tomarse con la máxima seriedad para poder llevarla a cabo realmente. Hay que comenzar desde ya los planes de Repatriación, con el establecimiento de redes de intercambio comercial entre Yo&Yo de América y Afrika, por vía marítima.
2- GOBIERNO RASTAFARI. Yo&Yo concluyó que la TEOCRACIA es nuestra forma de Gobierno y que necesitamos del establecimiento de un Gobierno Rastafari para gobernarnos y progresar universalmente. No hubo acuerdo en la forma.
3- LIVITY. Lo espiritual es lo que rige nuestra forma de vida, ante cualquier situación o duda con respecto a nuestro livity, el primer ejemplo es Su Divina Majestad, nuestra primera atención es hacia Él, Su palabra y actuar es nuestra guía.
4- NYAHBINGHI. Los tambores tronando, nuestros cantos desde el corazón, el fuego fundamental ardiendo, reafirman que nuestra ceremonia es UNA para todo Rastafari. Que en el Tabernáculo, en la alabanza y el juicio, somos UNO. Razonando con hermanos y hermanas, resaltamos el memorable e histórico momento en el Movimiento Rastafari Internacional en el cual la representación de la casa Bobo Ashanti, participó en la celebración del “Día de la Liberación Africana” en el tabernáculo de la casa Nyahbinghi, evidenciando que cuando se dan alabanzas, cantos y rezos a SU IVINA MAJESTAD HAILE SELASSIE I no hay diferencias entre casas Rastas sino una notable y ejemplar unidad de espíritu. Cabe destacar que este hecho difícilmente hubiera podido suceder en la isla de Jamaica, por lo que damos gracias y alabanzas una y otra vez por presenciar y ser testigos Yo&Yo de tan memorable hecho histórico. La Orden Bobo Ashanti y el Orden Nyabinghi, como órdenes Rastafaris se asemejan en que hay siete sacerdotes alrededor del altar, en que ambas órdenes guardan el sábado, comparten los mismos tambores y reconocen que Su Majestad Imperial Haile Selassie I, es el verdadero Dios viviente.
5- ALFA Y OMEGA. Con respecto al tema de la poligamia en la familia Rastafari, los sacerdotes de las órdenes Nyahbinghi y Bobo Ashanti coincidieron en que el hombre y la mujer Rastafari deben seguir el ejemplo de Su Majestad Haile Selassie I, al tomar una sola mujer por esposa y al coronarla como emperatriz junto con Él, definiendo como monógama la práctica Rastafari. También se aclaró que no existe ningún impedimento para que las Hermanas Rastafaris fumen del Cáliz Rasta al igual que los Hermanos.
6- NIÑOS DE JAH. Se concluyó que nuestros esfuerzos fueran abocados a darle la mejor educación a nuestros hijos: una educación Rastafari. Esta debería ser UNA para todos, en base a un plan de estudio universal de Rastafari, aplicado a cada país según su propio sistema de estudios.
7- COORDINACIÓN. Rastafari en Latinoamérica necesita de una real coordinación para lograr los objetivos comunes. Debemos establecer una red de comunicación entre las regiones representadas en la 29 abril 2005 Página 33 Cumbre, con la posibilidad de expandirla a los países que no asistieron. Hemos decidido crear un organismo que se encargará de coordinar, a través de estas regiones, charlas y conferencias sobre nuestra cultura, y de abrir espacios donde se enfatice la práctica del modo de vida Rastafari.
El Amor con que fuimos recibidos y guiados por la comunidad Rasta internacional y la unidad lograda, demuestra que los jóvenes Rastafari de habla hispana, tienen una misión que cumplir y que los Honorables Ancianos, responsables de transmitir la sabiduría y enseñanzas de SU DIVINA MAJESTAD, esperan que la llevaremos a cabo, así como ellos han fundado todo este movimiento ancestral que continuó en 1930 con la coronación de Rastafari como HAILE SELASSIE I.
PROPUESTAS
1.-Crear un organismo que se encargue de coordinar y centralizar al movimiento en Hispanoamérica. 2.- Contactar e invitar a los Hermanos de habla hispana, de los países que no asistieron a la Cumbre. 3.- Crear los nexos de comunicación para una coordinación permanente con los mayores del Movimiento, con las Órdenes, y otras organizaciones Rastafaris. 4- Realizar un encuentro anual de la comunidad Rasta en un país diferente cada año para expandir el mensaje de JAH RASTAFARI y su GOBIERNO TEOCRATICO UNIVERAL.
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BENDITOS HERMANOS Y HERMANAS UN JAHMOR RASTAFARI
RAS DON 29 abril 2005 Página 34
ANEXO países RASTAFARI Hispanoamérica
Delegación Rastafari en Chile.
Saludamos en el nombre de Su Majestad Imperial Haile Selassie I y Emperatriz Menen I , dando gracias y alabanzas por las bendiciones recibidas. Agradecemos por la invitación a la alianza Rastafari en Panamá, a participar de la Primera Diáspora Rastafari en Hispano América. Somos del sur de América, esto es, Chile y sus regiones Norte, Centro y Sur.
El génesis de las revelaciones del movimiento Rastafari en Chile, dice relación con distintos hechos y manifestaciones proféticas presentadas en el siguiente orden histórico:
• A finales del siglo 16, llega por medio de los españoles el cañamo y se plantan grandes extensiones de tierra, costumbre que se mantuvo hasta hace 20 años, por lo que su uso en la confección de cuerdas y alpargatas (calzado integralmente confeccionado de fibras vegetales) y su semilla como alimento de pajaros principalmente, es tradicional y muy popular todavía. En los 60’s cuando comenzó a fumarse la Ganja no se vendía, si no que se cosechaba de noche en las grandes plantaciones que no tenían vigilancia. Al llegar de vuelta a la ciudad se compartía con los amigos. Así la Ganja sigue siendo muy popular en todo tipo de personas a lo largo del país. • En 1808, llega a Santiago de Chile unja mujer Etiope acompañando a un oficial español, Ella se queda en Santiago dejando descendencia. • En 1926, visita Chile el Honorable Profeta Marcus Mosiah Garvey. En esa época los puertos chilenos, en especial los del norte del país, tenían gran cantidad de población Africana, aunque en esa época el puerto de la zona central, Valparaíso, albergaba a la mayor descendencia africana en todo Chile, cerca del 40%. Hoy Valparaíso es patrimonio de la Humanidad. • A principios de los 70 la situación política de Chile y Jamaica son similares, son los dos primeros países en el mundo en elegir presidentes socialistas por vía electoral y la situación de crisis que Rastafari, en Jamaica evita y en Chile desemboca en un golpe militar fascista. .
29 abril 2005 Página 35 Orden cronológico del desarrollo del movimiento Rastafari en Chile:
• En los 80`s, vuelven los primeros exiliados a Chile, algunos de los que vienen de Europa y Centroaméricatraen, traen música reggae y las primeras historias de los encuentros con Rastas. • A finales de los 80´s, se ven los primeros Dreads y se comienza a escuchar el nombre de Su Divina Majestad HAILE SELASSIE I y llega el primer Hno. Rastafari afrikano. Él ilumina a todos los jóvenes Rastas de ese tiempo y deja su semilla, un príncipe que vive en Chile. • A principio de los 90’, el Rasta con mas conocimiento (estuvo en 12 tribus), transmite durante casi dos años un programa de reggae-rasta, cultural de alta vibración, en una de las radios F.M mas escuchadas. • En 1992 se celebra el 100 JAHNIVERSARIO de Su Majestad Imperial, con un concierto que reunió a toda la naciente comunidad. • A mediados de los 90’, el grupo de reggae Gondwana, comienza a popularizarse, y se realizan conciertos masivos de reggae con bandas internacionales. Y llegan las primeras letras Rastas en español a través de Lumumba, banda Rasta de Argentina.- • En 1997, llega Doctor Dread con los primeros libros de cultura Rasta, y concerta la primera reunión de hermanos de Chile con Honorables Elders de Jamaica que viven en Washington. • En 1998, se editan los primeros boletines de educación Rastafari, hechos en Chile y llegan, posteriormente, los “Leones de Cobre”, material educativo de alta meditación. Comienza a expandirse Rasta en todo Chile. • En el año 2000, se realiza el 2° encuentro con los Honorables Elders. En ese mismo año, a raíz de un aviso televisivo que discriminaba a los Rastafari, financiado por el laboratorio químico mas grande de Chile, junto a la querella judicial contra la discriminación que presentamos como respuesta a este ataque, produjo expectación pública nacional durante varios días. Finalmente los Tribunales de Justicia fallaron a favor nuestro, sentando un precedente a favor de la lucha contra la discriminación en los tribunales chilenos. Por otro lado, la banda de reggae Gondwana liderada por tres Rastas, llega a convertirse en la agrupación musical mas popular de esos tiempos en Chile. Es profético el nombre de la banda reggae más popular de Chile, GONDWANA, el antiguo continente en el que America del Sur y Afrika estaban UNIDOS en una sola tierra. El concepto de la unidad de Afrika y América del Sur en el pasado, presente y futuro. También en este año, comienzan a nacer los primeros hijos de hermanos Rastafari, Bendición que no ha cesado y nos ha llenado de regocijo hasta ahora. Hay mas de 30 Jahchildren que llevan nombres de realeza y los educamos bajo la luz y el amor de Jah Rastafari. • En el año 2001, se funda Casa I & I en Santiago, un lugar de trabajo y educación cultural de la comunidad Rasta en Chile. Aquí se realizaban los Jah works. Había un estudio de grabación, una sala de ensayo, una sala dirigida por Omega donde se realizaban talleres culturales y se recibían a las visitas reales y una cocina comunitaria donde fuimos educándonos naturalmente en las preparaciones Ital y del pan. En el Jardín interior se cultivaba la Ganjah y otras hierbas medicinales. Se recibía a Hnos. y Hnas. De todo Chile e internacionalmente. Funcionó por más de 2 años. 29 abril 2005 Página 36 En este mismo año se realiza el concierto de reggae mas masivo en Sudamérica, donde asistieron cerca de 70.000 personas, quienes en su mayoría llevaban los colores reales Etíopes. • En el año 2002 se logra que el Registro Civil Chileno acepte que los hijos reales etíopes en Chile puedan usar su Corona Real o el turbante en la fotografía de su identificación nacional e internacional. Rastafari representado por dos hermanos participan en una exposición sobre la cultura Rastafari, organizada por una prestigiosa universidad. • En el año 2003 la comunidad en todo Chile realiza una campaña de recolección de fondos, a través del “Bono de cooperación de Yo y Yo” para la publicación del libro Rastafari Fe Viviente. En el invierno del mismo año, visita el norte de país, Iquique y Arica, el honorable Elder Ras Kassa y sus tres hijos. Ellos venían desde Santa Lucía – en el caribe- haciendo un trabajo de esparcimiento de la Fe Rastafari por Sudamérica durante 10 años, que consistía en exponer trabajos de escultura y artesanía Rasta en los lugares visitados, además de charlas sobre la cultura.
Con el despertar, en Chile, de nuestra Fe viviente comienza el proceso de búsqueda y descubrimiento de nuestras raíces, y el esfuerzo por encontrar la conección con la madre de las naciones, Africa. El encontrarnos espiritualmente con Africa, nos da la seguridad para realizar un trabajo de educación centrado en interiorizarnos con nuestra identidad cultural Real y con los valores que la cultura RasTafari conlleva. Creemos que esta es la oportunidad para que la gente del sur del mundo, la Comunidad Hispana, se presente formalmente ante las organizaciones fundacionales y oficiales de Rastafari. Para así, seguir con nuestro proceso de educación en pro del desarrollo de la Nación Etiope Universal. El que la Diáspora Rastafari se reúna por primera vez en el contexto hispanoamericano, nos dió la posibilidad de acercarnos de manera más directa a la realidad actual del Movimiento Rastafari. De esta manera, hemos podido obtener la fortaleza necesaria, a través de la guía, conocimiento y ejemplos recibidos de la comunidad Rastafari Universal. Con este, acercamiento también hacemos mas fuerte nuestra visión y acción en armagedón, rompiendo así con los mitos y prejuicios creados en la sociedad occidental en contra de Rastafari y el divino orden teocrático triunfante. Habernos congregados con lo pilares fundamentales de la Nación Rastafari, que nos entregan las Reales tradiciones, reafirma la espiritualidad en I n’ I y manifiesta el cumplimiento de las profecías. Así Rastafari Universal se sincroniza para concretar nuestros objetivos, trabajando realmente como UNA sola Nación. Así como sabemos, que el remanente de Israel esparcido por las cuatro esquinas de la tierra debe ser recogido, creemos firmemente que esta instancia hace cumplimiento de aquello; Dándose apertura a la integración de la diáspora Rastafari en Hispanoamérica a la familia Rastafari global. Deseamos manifestar, que si bien hubo traductores en la mayoría de las charlas, creemos que esta labor puede mejorar a futuro, a modo de critica constructiva, nosotros al no manejar el idioma Ingles de manera integral, nos vimos imposibilitados en alguna medida en el entendimiento de la totalidad de los puntos tratados. Esta crítica también nos la hacemos nosotros y nos motiva a educarnos e 29 abril 2005 Página 37 interiorizarnos mas y mas con el idioma Ingles, idioma el cual esta sirviendo de puente transmisor del movimiento Rastafari a nivel mundial. En definitiva, esto nos deja como enseñanza lo indispensable que es considerar dentro de estos encuentros, las condiciones de cada región en la que la diáspora se encuentra, así como sus detalles y especificidades.
Por último, damos nuevamente las gracias a Haile Selassie I y Emperatriz Menen I, por bendecir y guiar este profético encuentro, Así como también agradecemos a todos los hermanos y hermanas que hicieron posible esta reunión de la familia Rastafari Universal.
Delegación Rastafari de Colombia
Colombia esta situado en el extremo nor-oeste de sur-América; por este lugar, específicamente, por el puerto de Cartagena llegaron la gran mayoría de esclavos negros al nuevo mundo para los cultivos de caña en el sur- oeste del país y la minería de oro y piedras preciosas en el centro- oeste.
El principal factor de la población colombiana es el mestizaje teniendo un 20% de población negra a un 80% de mestizos pues fueron producto del encuentro brutalizado entre tres razas de esta manera es un tanto difícil encontrar una identidad o sentido de pertenencia con llámese patria, tierra o nación. Por eso es muy difícil para Colombia caer en imperialismos en conflictos armados que oprimen a la gente mas pobre, que cada vez es mas.
Por ello es indispensable cuanto antes imponer nuestra presencia, la presencia de SELASSIE I , rey protector de todos no importando el color de la piel menos el de los ojos; por ello hay que presentar e invadir el lenos con el orden que el mas alto con sus enseñanzas y con su imagen produce una campaña de información, toda la información disponible ha de ser bien presentada y masiva accesible a todas; esta también requiere de un comité para correcciones, el cual el cual repara cualquier lesión que se haga mujer , los símbolos la ideología y el credo es decir cualquier cosa que afecte el liviti de rastafari ha de ser corregido para evitar confusiones y malas interpretaciones. También aumentar los lazos y fortalecer los vínculos logrados con los países y organizaciones aquí encontrados para mantener comunicación y formar una red indestructible que se apoye cada vez mas fácilmente y en continua atención de cada caso particular en torno de nuestra teocracia universal rastafari. Babilonia tiene que caer y en Colombia hay mucho que hacer, es fundamental es fundamental poder hacer varios tabernáculos, debido a la extensión del país, aprobados y establecidos por nuestros por nuestros amados donde podamos fundar la sede de nuestro gobierno y por medio y por medio de nuestros cantos, tambores y meditaciones de amor perfecto; alimentar la fe y la unión de todos los hermanos los que hay y los que faltan.
Ojala sean todos los colombianos. 29 abril 2005 Página 38 También establecer otro nombre con el cual llamar y a nosotros, estamos seguros que no podrá ser posible algo “oficial “ pero entre los hermanos debemos deshacernos de cualquier rasgo de esclavitud hay que identificarlos y transformarlos al mandato del DIOS SELASSIE I.
Delegación Rastafari de Puerto Rico
Introducción
Durante la presente conferencia a la cual asistimos se procedió a discutir temas de enorme importancia para la cultura Rastafari, tenemos como la espiritualidad de Su Majestad Imperial Haile Selassie I Jah Rastafari I, la repatriación de los descendientes de los esclavos tomados del continente africano, la trata de esclavos, la situación contemporánea de las tierras de Sheshemane. La realidad de Rastafari como un gobierno global, la situación primordial de las reinas Omegas, la música en la comunidad Rastafari, la centralización y la adoración alrededor del Tabernáculo.
Observaciones
-Fortalecimiento en la union de la hermandad hispanoamericana de Rastafari . -Union de la Casa Orden Nyabingui y los sacerdotes Bobo Ashanti en la alabanza a Su Majestad Imperial Haile Selassie I Jah Rastafari I, dentro del Tabernáculo. - Es necesario para la Nación RastafarI fortalecer el fundamento de la Creación Orden Nyabingui y la consagración del Sabbath. Es vital cultivar una cultura de paz y Amor promoviendo la educación, organización, autosuficiencia y repatriación. - Para poder unirnos la hermandad de naciones en rectitud, conciencia moral, disciplina mental en obediencia a los mandamientos, líneas guías y decretos de HIS Imperial Majesty. Amar a Dios sobre toda las cosas y amar a nuestros hermanos como a nosotros mismos. Para que nosotros hermanos y hermanas seamos confortados por nuestra Nación Madre Etiopía y Padre Creador haile Selassie I JAH RASTAFARI I&I Emperatriz Menen.
Resultados -Se probó que las diferentes casas u ordenes Rastafari si pueden interactuar en armonía hacia el perfecto amor de Jah Rastafari I. -El estableciemiento de la futura reunión o conferencia Rastafari el 17 de agosto del 2005. -Realizamos la medicion y tabulacion del numero de afro descendientes que desean la repatriación. Los resultados son los siguientes:
29 abril 2005 Página 39 *Repatriation Census Tabulation # de formularios administrados : 41 de 120 (34%) # de africanos : 19 (46%)
Promedio de edad : 27.9 (66/10)
Masculino: 31 Femenino: 10
# de años viendo a H.I.M. : 346.85
Promedio de años : 10.2 H: 51 L:3 días
# de años con dreadlocks : 373
Promedio de años : 10.9
US$ para la repatriación : 73.305 +1000 balboas +2sponson
Fecha: Ahora : 4 Lo antes posible : 1 Mañana : 1 En 3 meses : 1 : 2 : 14 : 2 : 1 : 1 : 2 : 1 ??? : 3
Destino para ser repatriado: Itiopia : 25 Africa : 3 Zimbabwe : 1 Mozambique : 1
29 abril 2005 Página 40 Delegación Rastafari de Perú
REINO TEOCRATICO DE JAH;
• La comunidad africana en el Peru, llegó ahí a causa de la piratería española, ellos fueron quienes llevaron esclavos africanos al país. Para ese entonces el territorio peruano era colonia española. • La opresión eropea en esos tiempos estableció a la población esclava africana en un sitio llamado Chincha, a unas horas de Lima - la capital-. • Muchos esclavos africanos de allá llegaban por los puertos de Cartagena, Colombia y otro puerto en Brasil, los hermanos cautivos africanos eran procedentes del Congo y de Angola en mayoría. • La población afrodescendiente en el Perú, desarrolló toda una cultura, desarrollaron bailes, comidas, tradiciones religiosas, estilos musicales y hasta instrumentos propios con los cuales interpretan su música. • Por lo tanto en el Perú, existe una notable presencia africana, y por lo tanto un notable aporte de parte de los afrodescendientes en el país. • En cuanto a Rastafari, una persona congregación se empezó a formar en Lima, en los años noventa, conociendo a Rastafari mediante las líricas de las canciones de Reggae-Rasta, y ciertos recortes de peridicos, a pesar de la escasez de información sobre la cultura real de Etiopia y la falta de educación verdadera; algunos hermanos se interesaron en el mensaje de su Majestad Imperial, y empezaron a conocer el Livity correcto de rectitud. • La mayoría de los hermanos empezaron a hacer música reggae, con el fin de dar a conocer lo que ellos conocieron y de la misma manera en que ellos lo conocieron también por la música. • Gracias a la creciente curiosidad por la cultura y la tradición, empezó a aparecer información sobre estas. Con la salida del internet, esta disponibilidad de información aumentó. • Por diferente medios, la gente en Perú conoció y aceptó a Ivina Verdad, Haile Selassie I. • La comunidad se consolidó mucho con la venida de Rastaman, músicos de diferentes lugares, de los paises aledaños, mas que nada de Chile, a partir del año 2000. • Hoy en día, existe una productora para eventos, la cual es llevada por las hermanas Omega, la organización se llama "Queen Omega producciones". • Uno de las funciones de esta organización es el recaudar fondos para diferentes fines como salir de la ciudad para dar Ises en fechas importantes como proximamente el 23 de Julio, natalicio de H.I.M., y el 2 de noviembre, Día de la Coronación de Tafari Makonen y Wayzaro Menen I. • Son las emperatrices y princesas quienes estan unificando la comunidad de I&I. • En mi humilde opinion; lo que la hermandad Rastafari en Perú, debido al incremento de jóvenes realmente identificados con Rastafari, y la falta de hermanos mayores para proporcionar el conocimiento y la guía sin dejar atrás la principal enseñanza y guía de más alto JAHOVIA. • Pienso que es imprescindible que haya contacto entre los elders y la comunidad en el Perú. • Es necesaria la experiencia y la sabiduria que ellos nos pueden traspasar. • "Los soldados necesitan a sus generales, para servir bien al Rey" 29 abril 2005 Página 41
Delegación Rastafari en Venezuela
Nosotros los miembros de la delegación Venezolana que asistió y participo en la “Primera cumbre de la Diáspora Hispanoamericana” y que fuimos invitados por la “Alianza RASTAFARI de Panamá” (en calidad de músicos) notificamos nuestras sinceras conclusiones:
1.- “La cumbre de la Diáspora Hispano Americana cumplió con el objetivo de unificar las visiones y el pensamiento de conciencia espiritual alrededor de RASTAFARI, estableciendo un legado histórico en el camino de la evolución y desarrollo de RASTAFARI al congregar a los miembros de las diversas “Mansiones” o “Casas de Orden y Amor RASTAFARI” (NYAHBINGHI, BOBO ASHNATI) y diferentes organizaciones que buscan la unidad de todos los hijos de la Diáspora Africana alrededor del mundo como la IRASCOM, RAStafarI Centralización Organización, Instituto Smithsonian (Washington D.C.)Representantes del Gobierno Panameño, la Alianza RASTAFARI de Panamá , Dr. Miguel Brooks (Psicólogo Autor del “Negus” y traductor del “Kebra Nagast”) Las diversas delegaciones de Hispanoamérica y Europa que asistieron a la cumbre.
2.-En esta cumbre se discutieron y plantearon importantes aspectos que guardan relación con el reconocimiento y la reivindicación, nuestra raíz Africana y de cómo a través del entendimiento de la vida RASTAFARI se puede hacer realidad tal reconocimiento que representa pues la historia de la Humanidad y para su equilibrio y evolución un hecho vital es el reconocer que los seres vivos somos uno con el creador, venimos de un mismo origen, la Madre Tierra, y por naturaleza debemos vivir en igualdad, justicia y armonía, bajo la rectitud y bendición del Altísimo y regirnos por el Amor que es la esencia de la vida de RASTAFARI. Los aspectos principales que se discutieron en la cumbre fueron:
REPATRIACIÓN:
Opinamos que es el elemento fundamental para recuperar la unidad de los hijos de la Diáspora esparcida alrededor del mundo, para volver a nuestras raíces y reconstruir el legado y vida de nuestros ancestros a quienes les debemos respeto y devoción por toda su lucha y resistencia en el pasado.
GOBIERNO RASTAFARI:
Concluimos que es necesario y vital estar congregados y representados bajo un gobierno que se organice bajo las directrices de la vida RASTAFARI: El Amor, La unidad, la justicia, la rectitud y la conciencia espiritual para estar preparados el momento de llevar a cabo la Repatriación y el encuentro con nuestra tierra, con nuestra historia, con nuestras raíces . 29 abril 2005 Página 42
ESPIRITUALIDAD:
Coincidimos con lo reflejado por todos los hermanos presentes en la cumbre. Es de vital importancia el saber y reconocer nuestra conciencia Espiritual como un bastión inquebrantable que nos debe unir, mas allá de nuestra diversidad Histórica, Étnica, Política y Social. Mas allá de nuestros pensamientos ideológicos, la conciencia y desarrollo de nuestra espiritualidad es la senda principal que nos va a llevar a entender a RAStafarI y su divinidad, la conciencia espiritual es la practica del Amor, es el I&I, es la conexión con Dios y el equilibrio entre el hombre y todo el universo, es lo que nos hará entender el legado de su MAJESTAD IMPERIAL HAILE Selassie I JAH RASTAFARI.
3.-Otro de los legados mas importantes de la cumbre es el reconocimiento por parte de los ELDERS (guerreros y luchadores ancianos de experiencias dentro de la vida rastafari, dentro y fuera de JAMAICA) de que existe una realidad creciente y en evolución de RASTAFARI y sus preceptos en toda Latinoamérica y en el caribe, y que existe la necesidad dentro de estos países y regiones de la búsqueda de las enseñanzas y criterios de la vida RASTAFARI para crecer, para vivir como RASTA, para sentir como RASTAFARI, para comer como RASTAFARI, pensar como RASTAFARI BAJO EL AMOR Y LA BENDICIÓN Y LA DEVOCIÓN DEL MAS ALTO Y SU DIVINIDAD...
El reconocimiento de H.I.M como el verdadero dios viviente sin tocar las diferentes visiones y criterios que existen en las diversas mansiones y ordenes alrededor de RASTAFARI, y resaltando el respeto y la bendición que debe reinar entre cada uno de los hermanos que se congregan y se resguardan bajo el manto de JAH.
4.-Pensamos que este encuentro RASTAFARI debe generar los nexos y los lazos en toda la comunidad RASTAFARI de todo el mundo, tanto la que se congrego en esta cumbre como la que no pudo asistir físicamente y extender a todas las regiones el legado histórico de esta primera cumbre de la ALIANZA RASTAFARI DE PANAMÁ y de las vivencias y aprendizajes recogidas en este encuentro, que reunió históricamente a los NYAHBINGHI,. ELDERS DE JAMAICA a la orden BOBO ASHANTY, a los hermanos de toda hispano-América, a las diversas organizaciones de lucha e investigación acerca de RASTAFARI y personajes de relevancia dentro del movimiento RASTAFARI por así decirlo; además de la presencia de artistas y músicos del reggae internacional que luchan a través de su música y trabajo por la identidad cultural africana y por la conciencia espiritual RASTAFARI
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DRAFT Report to the Caribbean Rastafari Organisation Rastafari Hispanic Diaspora Summit Panama, May 23-30, 2005
Introduction
In the name and service of His Imperial Majesty, Haile Selassie I, His I-loved Empress Menen, I submit this contribution to the report on the recently concluded Rastafari Hispanic Diaspora Conference held in Panaman from May 23-30, 2005. I give thanks for ancestral Irits and the Matriarchs and Patriarchs of the RasTafari faith and movemant whose legacy afforded I and I and I the privilege of another opportunity for the international gathering of the Rastafari community, this time in Panama. Utmost thanks and Ises to the Most High JAH Rastafari for that glorious experience and profound thanks also to the host organization, the Rastafari Alliance of Panama whose hard work resulted in a successful gathering. Thanks are also due in no small measure to the CRO and to Ras Bobby Olivacce for contributions that enabled me to meet the high cost of my travel to Panama. The sale of CRO T-shirts during the Summit was made possible by Co-Chair Ras Touzah JAH Bash and while this put me in financial debt to CRO, it improved the cash flow in Panama and I am thankful.
This report highlights significant moments of the Rastafari Hispanic Diaspora Conference that warrant further deliberations and/or actions. It shares some of the ways in which the Summit made a personal impact as well as insights that can be useful in furthering relations between the Caribbean Rastafari Organisation and the Spanish-speaking Rastafari community and ends with a list of recommendations. Elements of this summary will be incorporated into the comprehensive Summit Report being prepared by Ras Nathaniel of IRIE.
Family Gathering
To cite the letter of invitation from the Alliance, "Now, liberation must include the largest concentration of Afro-descendants living in Hispanic America.Thus the process is to effectively solidify a link to Rastafari in the Caribbean and a wider diaspora." In spite of minor logistical challenges and differences that exist and persist, those of I and I who speak the colonisers' language, English and those who speak the colonisers' language, Spanish, came together and enjoyed strengthening the bonds of family, faith and nation in Panama. However, the strength of Mama Africa dominated the gathering and the rainbow colours of African skin were most evident and celebrated. It was therefore nothing short of unadulterated joy and affirmation to commune with so many young members of the family from Central and South America. The family feeling was evident throughout the gathering and as I-legates arrived from Panama, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Venezuela, I could not help reflecting on the song, "Love In Any Language - straight from the heart." Give thanks and Ises to the Most High.
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Panama was a real inspiration with the high point for I being the living together and giving Ises together between Nyahbinghi and Bobo Shanti who share the roots of I and I faith and who continue to provide I and I with the means of religious and spiritual _expression that fuels our everyday sustenance and work as a people. The road to Inity is still rocky but I discern a new resolve to step up the trod in recognition of the I-Majesty's appeal to give "prompt _expression to unity in our common cause."
When I enquired about the surprisingly large number of Bobo Shanti I-dren from South America, I was informed that the EABIC has a website in Spanish and so the joy was increased to have those young ones guide I through the rites of worship during the Sabbath morning service.
I also could not fail to notice the invited and increased fullticipation of the Sistren in the Nyahbinghi administration and feel confident of the day when there is sufficient trust that will allow that full and practical recognition of Her Majesty's throne.
The sistren brought some sticky issues to the table and demanded answers to the question of polygamy. While it was recognized that some ones practice polygamy in its best and worst forms, the example set by HIM Haile Selassie I in the practice of faithful monogamy was the guiding principle for I and I family livity. It was very interesting to find myself explaining the 21 day principle of separation and purification to a couple of young sistren who asked about that and to help draft a menstrual calendar for those who observe that as well as for those who observe the 8 day principle. The practical value of the principle as well as its being an ancient African-Hebrew tradition were emphasized. These are also some of the areas to be included among I and I educational programmes for the Rastafari family.
PanAfrican Economic Possibilities
Of high interest in the programme was the preliminary proposal being developed by a young Panamanian ship's captain for the purchase and refurbishment of a cargo ship to restore Marcus Garvey's Black Star Line. That reasoning coupled with the presence of South America, brought the buzz of excitement when connected to President Lula´s current South-South initiative. The movement towards a concrete plan brought home the necessity to link plans for repatriation with those for economic advancement and presented to the Caribbean, the option of looking South for trade and integration possibilities. It is my view that with seriousness of purpose, Rastafari can organize to reap the benefits of these connections more easily without the bureaucratic and Babylonian obstacles that challenge other governmental entities such as CARICOM. The effort will require a massive and global fundraising initiative and the Garvey UNIA model must therefore be in the mix as I and I recognize the now urgent need to establish a global Rastafari organization.
Also of significance is the opportunity for Rastafari to drive a mission that will not be exclusive to I and I but that will have the same Pan-Africanist focus as the Hon. Prophet Garvey intended. For this and also for other Pan African collaborations, it was therefore very important to have met, reasoned with and shared contact information with other PanAfricanists in Panama. The telephone link and communication regarding this most important venture with the Government of Barbados' Commission for PanAfrican Affairs, also signaled a level f readiness to act and this was echoed by the Commission's Director, Dr. Ras Ikael Tafari, who indicated the possibility of the Commission's Trade Mission funding the feasibility study for the new Black Star Line project.
29 abril 2005 Página 45 It is easy to see the big picture but the experience of using I and I gatherings as opportunities for trade needs more thoughtful planning and Panama was no exception. Mitigating circumstances caused by social unrest in the country limited the opportunities for exhibition and sale and this was not always adequately communicated. However, the lesson I am learning is that there needs to be the deliberate creation of a market by bringing the buyers and the sellers together in a more deliberate manner. This is being strongly recommended to CRO who have similarly left the realization of trade up to chance and have also not maximized the opportunities for trade during gatherings. Nevertheless, there was some evidence that I and I supported each other and the Summit would have been poorer without the rich offerings of Sister Dawn, King Pele, Ras Ivi and the diversity of craft offered by the South American brethren and sistren.
Rastafari International
Though the establishment of the international organization was not on the agenda, it was very much the rallying call of the Elders who trod from Jamaica. Global Co-ordinator??? of the Nyahbingi Order, Ras Irie Lion and Elder Bongo Shephan used every opportunity to urge the setting up of a global secretariat. In one such reasoning, I was able to clarify that the first priority was to establish the organizational structure for which the Secretariat would provide administrative services.
The IRASCOM presentation was quite comprehensive and in this regard very useful. The practicality of some aspects can be questioned and in terms of the scale of organizing required, some of the organs proposed could turn out to be too large and unwieldy to be effectively managed. Careful note was made to the responses to that presentation and all indications are that there is still a kind of "turfism" being expressed in the approach to establishing an international Rastafari organization.
Those responses have contributed to my recommendation that the next international/ global/Iniversal Rastafari gathering, should have but a single agenda item and that should be the formation of an international organization that can represent the interests of the Rastafari Nation worldwide. This entity is needed at this time also because the African Union would like to respond to some of the concerns being raised by I and I in their new thrust to have strengthened relations with the Diaspora and have signaled that they have not been able to identify that single representative structure.
In one of the non-programmed reasonings on the subject, I was able to identify the following international entities that have engaged in a level of organizational development from which many contributions can be made in terms of a representative international organization. This list is not by any means exhaustive, the organizations are not presented in any order of priority and UNIA model should not be excluded.
1.. Ethiopian World Federation (including IEWF & other branches) 2.. Nyahbinghi Order/ 3.. Judah Coptic 4.. Ethiopia Africa Black International Congress (Bobo Shanti) 5.. Twelve Tribes of Israel 6.. Caribbean Rastafari Organisation/ 7.. Solidarity Foundation 8.. IRIE 9.. IRASCOM 10.. Empress of Zion 11.. OAARU 12.. La Sainte Famile JAH 13.. It is envisaged that after the Panama Summit, there will be a stronger impetus to organize and so other sub-regional and regional organizations can be expected to emerge and will need moral and other forms of support. 29 abril 2005 Página 46
Costa Rica continues to express interest in becoming a member of the CRO and would like very much to host a mission there. The recommendation is for this to take place around the end of January-early February 2006.
Repatriation Census
With the exception of IRIE, whose initiative it is, and La Sainte Famile JAH who have already repatriated to Benin, all of these organizations should be asked to complete the Rastafari Census form which has had slight modification which will be re-sent by Ras Nathaniel. The form recognizes that not everyone wants to repatriate to the African continent and for some of those already living in the continental space of South America, as well as for some of us on small Caribbean islands, this provision reflects that reality.
It is recommended that the CRO have its delegates complete the form during the 10th Summit in Guyana. It is further recommended that a modified version of the form can be used by the Caribbean PanAfrican Network's Repatriation Committee that is headed by Ras Ikael Tafari.
Reparations
A very stirring presentation was made by Jamaican opposition MP, Hon. Mike Henry regarding his support for reparations. Following his presentation and because he could not stay for extended reasoning, I passed him a signed note asking him to table the subject for the CARICOM HOGs and Opposition Leaders scheduled to meet in July 2005.
Spirit of Africa
".the spirit of Africa grows steadily more powerful and all pervasive."
Africa is alive and well in Panama. That was evident during the opening ceremony of the Hispanic Rastafari Diaspora Conference that is winding down as I write to you on the evening of Anguilla Day. One of the persons honoured during the opening ceremony was the Congo Queen of Colon and the degree of honour and regard shown by all present was certainly not just ceremonial but a reflection of the psychological necessity to protect and preserve the Congo culture that has been handed down from generation to generation. The Rastafarians also paid homage to her and recognised the significance of her being born in 1930, the same year as the coronation of Haile Selassie I. The Queen appeared a bit tired and her daughter who will shortly inherit her crown, explained that she was unwell. All signs of tiredness and sickness disappeared however, once a group of children began the Congo dance. At one point in the performance, she joined them with an energy that belied her age and condition and for an all too brief moment, we were all transported to the Congo.
The Spirit of Africa was even more strongly evident in Colon. The visit to that city held personal significance for me as a descendant of Robert Athlyi Rogers whose Holy Piby also took root and sprouted branches there. I could feel his and the other ancestral spirits as we entered the main part of the town and could not help noticing the poverty that let us know that neither Athlyi´s nor Marcus Garvey´s work in Colon has even begun properly in spite of the history. All that changed when we entered the auditorium 29 abril 2005 Página 47 where the Black Africa Day ceremony was taking place. Once again the Congo and all things African loomed large and it was clear that this was an occasion in which everyone ensured they had an African garment ready for wear. Well almost everyone for among the many officials present, there were a few in Western wear. It was no surprise though, that once the Congo drums started and the dance began, those jackets came off and the Africans came out, holding nothing back in the dance. Coming from Anguilla, where Africa seems to be suppressed in the stranglehold of colonialism, you cannot imagine the joy of being among a community of people who are so very proud of their African heritage.
As we marched through the streets of Colon with its residents on Africa Day, 30th May, with the Lion of Judah standard among the flags leading parade, all that I could think of was that predetermined destiny of our return to the Motherland.
Panama
As someone for whom travel is always a learning experience, Panama did not disappoint. During the informal reasonings at mealtimes and otherwise there was much new knowledge to be gained about the history and geography of the land in which many Caribbean lives were lost during the construction of the Panama Canal. They were remembered during a most memorable visit to the locking system of that engineering wonder at Miraflores. To witness the process of the ships passing through the Canal and then out to the Pacific brought home anew the age old vision of repatriation.
I hope my considerable ignorance will be forgiven but during those reasonings I also learned that Panama was once ruled by Columbia and its independence from Columbia is celebrated on November 3rd while November 4th is celebrated as Panama's Flag Day and November 5th commemorates Colon's struggle for independence from Spain. Rastafarians in Panama have much to celebrate that week beginning with the anniversary of the coronation of HIM HIS on November 2nd. Given the historic and socio-political landscape, it was no surprise to learn that the poorest of the poorest of the poor in Panama are to be found among the indigenous peoples, followed closely by African people. Also new to me was knowledge of the State of Choco????? that is on the Panama-Columbia border and is known for the dominance of its Africanity.
RAS SELA - PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT I GOT ALL THAT INFORMATION RIGHT AS I WOULD NOT LIKE THIS REPORT TO MISINFORM AND MISEDUCTATE. WILL REMOVE THE WORD DRAFT AND DELETE THIS AFTER I HEAR FROM THE I..
Water woes at the camp became dread at one point but since I live in the dry land of Anguilla and have experience water shortages in several countries, I was able to take that in stride as showers became bucket baths and those became essential spot jobs if only cups full were available. The learning for CRO and others organising major conferences is to always have a Plan B in place for water especially.
What I enjoyed tremendously about Panama, apart from the family togetherness was how inexpensive was. I paid only fifty cents for one hour of Internet time and not more than three dollars for well balanced meals if we needed to eat off camp. The expected destitution did not therefore set in and both I and Ras Sela were happy about that.
29 abril 2005 Página 48 The Singers & Players & Writers
Wherever the family gathers, the singers and players of instruments are expected to be there and Panama was no different. It was a special pleasure to have the presence of David Hinds and Steel Pulse and to see the wonder of the small boys who seemed to be enjoying the street concert on Black Africa Day in Colon as much as I was.
It was also a special blessing to have had the presence and the translation services of Dr. Miguel Brooks with us for the duration of the conference. His sharing from his most recent book, Negus led to the recommendation regarding how we can collectively engage to undo the psychological trauma of the Willie Lynch syndrome. Time to lynch ole Willie.
Closing Remarks
The Panama Summit was historic in more ways than one and it also revealed certain patterns in I and I development as a nation. Where the family is young there is much persecution and discrimination but there is a level of tolerance that departs from the historic scenario that gave licence to bring in all dreadlocks - dead or alive.
The Spanish-speaking Rases came with many questions as they sought guidance from the Elders. The diversity of religious differences often prevented less than crystal clear responses and at one point I felt moved to remind those who thought that the answers lay with the Elders, to I-call that I and I Elders had no one to turn to but they were armed with the inspiration of the Most High who ultimately, has all the answers.
On reading Dr. Brooks' Negus on the way home from Panama, all my own fears about religious differences and their mismanagement were stilled by the realisation that we are Ithiopians behaving just like Ithiopians of old, seeking favour from our JAH and King and fighting those zealous and jealous angelic wars to be Iver closer to HIM.
Recommendations
1. The next international RasTafari gathering must have but one single item on the agenda and that is the formation of an international structure and its secretariat. There will be many aspects to that reasoning and conclusion and all houses, mansions, organisations, federations etc. should come prepared to establish that organ in a firm and representative way.
2. CRO to engage I-legates in completing the Repatriation Census forms at its 10th Summit in Guyana this August 2005.
3. CPAN be encouraged to establish a timeframe by which to complete the Repatriation Census exercise among the wider community in the insular Caribbean and Costa Rica, which also falls within its mandate. 29 abril 2005 Página 49
4. Ensure that there is a Plan B for water in Guyana during the 10th Summit as Guyana is known to have water shortages from time to time.
5. Learn Spanish - those who live in countries where there is a Venezuelan institute should take full advantage of the classes usually offered. Those members who are fluent in Spanish can also offer classes for a fee as fundraisers for their organizations.
6. CRO trod to Costa Rica first quarter of 2006.
7. Make a studied rasponse to the ways in which I and I interpret matters of religion and spirituality so that I and I can focus on rising to the level of the mystics where there is Inity of Spirit no matter what the differences are in the personal practice of religion.
8. CRO & the Guyana organizing Committee to identify Rastafari Art & Craft buyers to deliberately create the market during the Summit in August.
9. Request Dr. Brooks and possibly his fellow psychologists to develop perhaps a large group therapy model than can help us to move beyond the dire details of diagnosing our post-traumatic slave syndrome. We need to identify all our mental health personnel for this exercise. Contact psychiatrist brethren in Canada who was at Global Reasoning in 2003, with this same proposal.
One Perfect Love
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Date: June 15, 2005
To: Washington, D.C. Rastafari Community; Ras Sela (Panama); Ras Flako (Montego Bay, Jamaica)
From: Jakes Homiak, International Rastafari Archives Project (IRAP)
Subj: First Diaspora Rastafari Summit in Hispanic America: A Brief
Great are the words and works of Jah Rastafari, Emperor Haile Selassie I, and great are they who publish and perform them.
The First Diaspora Rastafari Summit in Hispanic America was held in Panama from May 23 to 30, 2005. The Rastafari Alliance of Panama (Alianza Rastafari de Panama) sponsored the event with support from the Mayor’s Office of Panama City and the Tourism Board of Panama, among others. The event coincided with celebration of All-African Liberation Day (May 25th) marking the founding of the Organization of African Unity and it took place within the context of Black Heritage Month in Panama.
Ras Tawney, the Kongo Queen, and Bongo Shephan Irie Ions, Ivi, Sippo (a Kuna woman), Jahbari, and Ras Nathaniel
I. ‘Many Languages but Only One Sound:’ Unprecedented Regional Networking
This historic event brought over 130 delegates from Panama, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Mexico and Uruguay as well as the United States and the Virgin Islands together with representatives from several Rastafari organizations (ICOMRAS, Caribbean Rastafari Organization, Organization of African American Rastafari Unity, and EWF) as well as Elders from the House of Nyahbinghi and the Ethiopian African Black International Congress (EIABC/Boboshanti) in Jamaica. The opening session of the Summit, held at Balboa Theatre in the Amador section of Panama City, was covered by Channel 4 Television in Panama. Among the highlights of the opening day were:
* Introductory remarks by mestro of ceremonia (master of ceremonies) Ras Ricardo Richards and an address by Ras Sela (Carlos Seales), the presidente de la Alianza Rastafari en Panama (President, Rastafari Alliance of Panama)
29 abril 2005 Página 58 * Chanting of the Ethiopian National anthem and binghi drumming by participants from Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and Colombia, among others.
Opening I-ses, Balboa Theatre, Rastafari Summit, Panama City Sistren with the Kongo Queen of Panama at Opening Ceremony
* Greetings by representatives from the Mayor’s Office and various ministries of the Panamanian government.
* An address by Ras Ivi of the House of Nyahbinghi from Jamaica covering the history of Rastafari struggle in Jamaica to reach the current point of outreach and recognition around the world.
* Remarks by Ras Nini of the Rastafari Alliance of Panama leading to a cultural presentation by members of the Kongo tradition of Panama. This included dancing and music by youth members of this tradition and an appearance by the Kongo Queen of Panama. Ras Nini pointed out the important of the “Kongo tradition” to Afro-Panamanians and its resonance with Rastafari. This tradition is much like Kumina in Jamaica and it was officially recognized by the Republic of Panama in 1930, the same year as the coronation of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I.
* An address by the Honorable Mike Henry, Member of the Jamaican Parliament (Clarendon) and an advocate for reparations and for official recognition of Rastafari as a religion and for recognition of the holy herb as the sacrament of this religion. Mr. Henry spoke of his early connections as a boy with Rastafari at Pinnacle and affirmed his support for the Rastafari goal of repatriation. At the close of Mr. Henry’s address, Ras Ivi mounted the stage and made the following statement: “Beloved brothers and sisters of Panama, we your brothers from Jamaica, tasted every minute of this presentation…and on behalf of the delegation from Jamaica, I-n-I can state categorically that this has been one of the most powerful presentations on behalf of Rastafari every heard in the history of the movement.”
Irie Ions, Jakes, and Bongo Shephan at the conference site Sister Ester, Mike Henry, Irie Ions, Ras Ivi, Ras Tawney, Opening
* An address by Priest Rudolph Bailey, Ethiopian African Black International Congress from Jamaica on the vision of the Congress with respect to repatriation.
29 abril 2005 Página 59 * An address by representatives from Panama on plans to revive the Black Star Liner as a means to develop commercial links among Diasporic African communites and communites in Africa. A feasibility study is to be conducted on this over the next six months identifying trade routes between Miami, the Caribbean, Central and South American and West Africa.
* A presentation by myself, Dr. Jakes Homiak, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution on the slated exhibition at that Institution on Rastafari. An outline of the five themes of the exhibition—the divinity of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I, the history and struggle of the Rastafari movement, Rastafari livity, reparations and repatriation, and the global outreach of Rastafari—were all discussed.
News and media coverage of the event certainly served to raise the profile of Rastafari in Panama—positioning the Rastafari community there (the Rastafari Alliance of Panama) as a major nexus for cultural exchange among other Hispanic Rastafari communities.
Its should be noted that tremendous strides have been made by the Rastafari Alliance of Panama in establishing Rastafari in that country and gaining recognition for the culture as part of the Black ethnic heritage of the Isthmus. I, along with my research partner Carole Yawney, first linked with Rastafari in Panama in 1998 and then again in 2000 and 2003. I can say that that in these years there were just a handful of Rastafari present and only one or two Rastafari women in either Colon or Panama City. In the few intervening years —due largely to the tireless efforts of Ras Sela (aka Carlos Seales) and other officers of the Rastafari Alliance of Panama (including Ras Rick and Ras Gilberto Toro), there is now a sizeable Rastafari community, along with many young Rastafari sistren who are linked with other bredrin and sistrin in the region.
II. Panama as a Bi-lingual Nexus & Regional Connection
The bi-lingual nature of the Panama Rastafari community (many members of which trace descent to the Jamaican and Anglo-Caribbean migration to Panama in the early 20 th century), positions it ideally to develop a host of transnational linkages between Rastafari in the Spanish-speaking and English-speaking world. Some of these linkages were put in place when three Rastafari Elders—Bongo Tawney (Portland Cottage), Bongo Joe (Red Hills) and Ras Earlites (Cypress Hall) traveled to Panama in 2003 to livicate the first Nyahbinghi tabernacle there. However, this First Summit in Hispanic America truly marks the development of unprecedented linkages between Rastafari in the English-speaking and Spanish-speaking communities of the Caribbean, Central and South American region. In this regard, this Summit built upon similar linkages that have developed out of connections between English- and Spanish-speaking Rastafari in Puerto Rico and the annual conferences that have been held their over the past 2-3 years. A constant refrain that was heard around the sessions and many impromptu gatherings during the Summit was: “Yes…there are many languages of I-n-I, but there is one name and one sound: Emperor Haile-I Selassie-I!” As prophecy shows, there is no tongue or language in which HIS name is not known.
The Jamaican delegates in attendance included Bongo Tawney (a Jamaican Elder recently returned from Ethiopia and the Africa Unite celebration of Bob Marley’s 60th earthstrong), Bongo Shephan, Ras Irie Ions, Ras Ivi, Sister Dawn, Empress Fiya, and Ras Pele of the Nyahbinghi House and Priest Rudolph Bailey, Priest Alan Buckley, Priest Richard and Sister Ester of the Boboshanti House. There were also large delegations from Panama, the host country, Costa Rica, Colombia and Puerto Rico. One of the likely developments to follow from this Summit will be delegations of bredrin and sistrin traveling from their own lands of domicile to Jamaica to ground with members of the Nyahbinghi and Boboshanti Houses. Members of the delegation from Puerto Rico, most of whom had already linked with Bongo Tawney during his visit to that island earlier this year, expressed a strong I-sire to trod to Jamaica and establish further links with the House.
Many of the Hispanic delegates—most of whom are younger brethren and sistren—expressed joy at being able to link directly for the first time with their counterparts in other Hispanic countries. And many expressed the feeling that “ this was the first time they really felt that they were with there Rastafari family.” The Elders from Jamaica all provided great strength to the delegates not only in dispensing knowledge about Rastafari principles and cultural practices, but in sharing their own testimony in the struggle to manifest the culture. Brethren and sistren from Costa Rica and Colombia, among other places, provided testimony about the struggle that Rastafari face in these nations due to racism, denigration of the African cultural heritage, and misrepresentation in the media. The struggle that these fledgling Rastafari communities face in Hispanic America is not much different from what Rastafari faced in Jamaica during the early decades when Rastafari trod the winepress there. I reasoned with several bredrin and sistrin from Costa Rica and Colombia—countries adjacent to Panama—who spoke of the persecution of Rastafari as a ‘sect’ in these predominantly Catholic nations. This is not unlike the way in which the early Rastafari movement 29 abril 2005 Página 60 was dismissed as a ‘cult’ in Jamaica. In these countries, however, being labeled as a “sect” means that Rastafari must seek formal government permission to hold meetings. They are looked upon as a potentially subversive element in society. Young Boboshanti Rastas in Costa Rica have even been labeled as “Taliban” by the media and it is said by Rastafari in both Costa Rica and Colombia that they are subject to arrest if found speaking with children younger than 18 years of age.
During the past year the Boboshanti community in Costa Rica was maligned and misrepresented in the media (including being labeled as “Taliban”). This kind of thing again repeats the earlier experience of Rastafari in Jamaica. By this time, however, the international Rastafari community should be in a position to respond to these kinds of misrepresentations. This experience confirms my own longstanding view that the international Rastafari community needs a “global media watch” that monitors and responds to these kind of abuses of Rastafari in the media.
l-r: Ras Junglest, Sister Alika, two unidentified, and Ras Dom Elders reasoning; Sister JahMito & Ras Dala of Colombia (seated)
III. ‘Jah-Jah Want More Ises…’: Models for the Practice of I-n-I Livity & Spirituality
In addition to simply serving to link English- and Spanish-speaking Rastafari in an unprecedented way, the sessions of reasoning devoted to Rastafari spirituality provided young bredrin and sistrin from the Hispanic world with models of practice for livity. These sessions were frequently augmented by I-ses and Nyahbinghi chanting—but most importantly, there were sessions organized by Ras Sela in which chanting was done bilingually—chanting first in English so that the Hispanic delegates could become familiar with the rhythm and cadence of chants, and then repeating the chants in Spanish. From my reasonings with ones-and-ones, this stimulated a deep interest in learning the chants and in obtaining text copies of the chants that could be translated into Spanish. In fact, the Rastafari Alliance of Panama is spearheading such an initiative for the Hispanic countries.
Perhaps the most important manifestations in bolstering Nyahbinghi spiritual practice was the celebration of Nyahbinghi Ises on All African Liberation Day (May 25). On this day, the delegates relocated from the conference site at Nuevo Chorilla to Veracruz where an I-tiful Nyahbinghi tabernacle had been erected at Ras Sela’s gates overlooking the Pacific Ocean. For most of the Hispanic delegates, this was the first time that they had experienced a formal Nyahbinghi celebration held in a tabernacle with Elders presiding at the event. The event was truly an inspiration to all and will no doubt serve as a model of practice for the delegates as they return to their countries of domicile. Ras Ivi, Bongo Tawney, Irie Ions, Bongo Shephan, Sister Dawn, Empress Fiya—all of the Nyahbinghi House in Jamaica; and Ras Jabari and Ras Nathaniel of Atlanta as well as others provided much appreciluved ritual inspiration. Later, Priest Bailey of the Ethiopian African Black International Congress stated that “the most important thing that I-n-I have done at this Summit was to give Ises to His Majesty.”
Similarly, members of the Boboshanti House provided their own livitical forms of inspiration to the delegates during the course of their observance of their Sabbath on May 27-29. During these days an observance of Boboshanti churchical Ises was held in the outdoor yard spaces at Nueva Chorilla.
IV. ‘Omega Rising’: The Presence of the Sistren
As I noted above, when I first trod to Panama in 1998 there were virtually no Rastafari sistren in Panama. This situation has changed dramatically over the past seven years. There are now many young Rastafari sistren in the 29 abril 2005 Página 61 Isthmus. In part, this reflects the work of members of the Rastafari Alliance of Panama who have promoted Rastafari over this period and worked in common cause with various Afro-Panamanian organizations and with the Panamanian government and ministry of culture to involve Rastafari in the annual Black Ethnic week celebrations.
Sister Aneita takes the floor (center); representatives from Puerto Rico; Sister Ijahnya (l) with Mama Fiya and Sister Iffyia at table
Rastafari sistren were well represented at this Summit by individuals from the Nyahbinghi House including Sister Dawn, Mama Fiya, Sister Aneita and by Sister Ijahnya Cristian representing the Caribbean Rastafari Organization. The EABIC was represented by Empress Ester. All were extremely active participants in many of the scheduled sessions. They were particularly inspirational to younger sistren from the Hispanic lands including Puerto Rico and Colombia, both having sent large delegations that included a balance of bredrin and sistren. A special session was held by sistren from Hispanic countries in which they shared an understanding of their struggles and vision. Empress Ester was very articulate in reasoning upon the livitical protocols of the Boboshanti House with respect to observances surrounding the 21 day seclusion of Boboshanti sistren. There was also a very lively reasoning on the appropriateness of ‘polygyny’ as it is practiced by some Rastafari. Sister Ijahnya was among those who, at various points, suggested contemplation about whether there would ever be a recognized place for Queen Omega (Empress Menen) within the Rastafari Godhead.
V. ‘Many Mansions in I Father’s House’: Nyahbinghi-Boboshanti and Unity within Diversity.
One of the most heartening manifestations of the Summit were the open exchanges between representations of the House of Nyahbinghi and the Ethiopian African Black International Congress. I am aware that in recent years there has been increasing communication and openness between these two foundational mansions of Rastafari in Jamaica. But it was my view that some Nyahbinghi bredrin and sistren were hearing for the first time some of the differences between themselves and the EABIC. It should be noted that exchanges were open, constructive and respectful and can only lead to further positive coordination among the houses in Jamaica—much as it appears to be taking place in Shashemane among the members of the Jamaican Rastafari Development Community there.
This, in my view, indicates that Rastafari is both principled and flexible enough to be unified without being ‘uniform’ and that it can accommodate diversity and principled freedom within a broader diversity of purpose and vision. I regard this flexibility to be important within the broader Hispanic region where both Nyahbinghi, Boboshanti, and presumably Twelve Tribes orientations have already taken root. It is clear, for example, that there is a strong and developing Boboshanti presence in Costa Rica and that presence should be encouraged. Just as some bredrin and sistren from Trinidad and Bermuda have traveled to Jamaica and taken up domicile in the Boboshanti commune in Bull Bay, so too has at least one prophet from Costa Rica. The principled and respectful coordination between delegates from both mansions was Ilafull to behold and attests to the unity of Africans that Rastafari has always promoted.
VI. ‘And the Singers and Players on Instruments Were There…. ’
A number of the Hispanic delegates also represented varied expressions of reggae in the Hispanic world. These included Roots Natty (Ras Max Rivera) of Puerto Rico whose band has just released its second CD, Ras Pulga 29 abril 2005 Página 62 Nagast (Ras Luis Enrique Sanchez) of Venezuela, Ras Dom (Dago Perez) of Chile (associated, I believe, with the reggae group Gondwanaland) and Sister Alika of Argentina.
There was considerable reasoning about the distinctions between Rastafari and reggae. Members of the Boboshanti delegation pointed out that they do not support reggae in any form and that even though several Jamaican artists— notably Sizzler, Cappleton, and Anthony B—appear to have embraced a Bobo identity—they are not formally considered members of the EABIC.
Ras David Hinds (of Steele Pulse); Seeds for Africa session Ras Max Rivera with Sister Sandra (background)
While reggae has never represented anything approaching the foundational livity of Rastafari, there are ‘conscious’ artists who have used this medium to help to spread the message of Rastafari. This has unquestionably been the case with respect to the development of Rastafari communities in Africa—Rastafari in South Africa being a notable case. I believe that a similar argument could be made for Central and South America. From my observations, members of the delegations from Jamaica, the United States, and the Virgin Island did much to help ground many of those who have “come in” through reggae but are still seeking for the deeper roots of Rastafari.
The high point of the reggae presence was a presentation by Ras David Hinds, lead singer for the British-based reggae group Steele Pulse. The bredrin and his spar, Ras Charlie, showed a video on a project entitled “Seeds for Africa.” This project seeks to reverse the pattern of African reliance upon white European economic aid to assist in the development of Africa. The project seeks to tape into resources developed by successful Diasporic Africans. White Euro-American aid, it is rightfully argued, only serves to reinforce a psychology of dependency among African peoples and to communicate the message that “only Europeans” or “Americans” can save them. Seeds for Africa is a project that seeks to tap into African self-determination both at home and abroad. In this sense, it is squarely within the tradition of Marcus Garvey and his UNIA. After Ras Hind’s presentation, Ras Charlie provided an outline for how reggae musicians can tap into new technologies for downloading and marketing their music via the worldwide web. In this regard, the Summit provide the basis for networking among those professional musicians at the gathering.
VII. ‘Scribes and Pharisees at the Gates of Zion’: Postscript
My second to last day at the Summit was highlighted by an impromptu intervention made with me by Sister Dawn (formerly of the Portland Rastafari School) and Ras Pele, one of her former students and a representative from the Nyahbinghi House in Jamaica. As is typically the case, my reputation as one of the ‘scribes and Pharisees’ among the ‘binghi House preceded me to Panama where individuals like Sister Dawn and Ras Pele—who had never previously reasoned with me—scrutinized my motives for moving amongst members of the House and for my presence in Panama. Sister Ijahnya of the Caribbean Rastafari Organization was also part of this 2 hour discussion and reasoning. Ras Pele suggested that we tape record the discussion and I provided a tape recorder for that purpose. We filled a tape with an hour-and- a-half of reasoning which Ras Pele stated he would be sure to share with the House.
Among the topics and questions covered in this reasoning were:
29 abril 2005 Página 63 * My movements among the House and why these have not led to financial gain for the House and/or its members. Elaboration is on the tape.
* The rationale behind and accomplishments of the missions of Elders to New York and Washington, DC in 1988 and 1989 that were facilitated by the Smithsonian and myself. Elaboration of these are on the tape. However, please note that I promised Ras Pele that I would send my 200 plus page report to the House care of him. I also noted that I have previously given copies of this report directly to Bongo Thyme, Bongo Shephan, Ras Ivi and had mailed a copy to Scott’s Pass to the attention of Ras Wake Eye. There seems to be concern that the report has never been circulated or shared, hence my willingness to send other copies.
* Concern over the Smithsonian exhibition on Rastafari that is slated to open in May 2007 in the Africa Hall of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. It is my understanding that Sister Desta Meghoo-Peddie was formally appointed by the House of Nyahbinghi to represent the Council of Elders and the House in this matter. She has represented herself to the Smithsonian in this regard. Ras Pele, however, assures me that no reports have been forthcoming to the House from her and he asked me whether other representation could be found. Find elaboration of this on tape.
* There was also reasoning about my personal relationships with several Elders in the House. I have had many positive and long term relationships with such individuals over the years and many of these individuals are part of my own ‘grounding’ within Rastafari. This includes having had close ties with Bongo Poro, Pa-Ashanti, Ras Derminite, Bongo Lloyd, Bongo Bud, Bongo Lou Ras Benji, Bongo Macky, Sister Nora, Sister Merriam, Bongo Pidow, and Bongo Bigga—just to name a few of those who have transitioned. However, my our discussion with Sister Dawn and Ras Pele focused more specifically on Bongo Tawney and Bongo S Ras Jabari Franklin of Atlanta and Ras Nathaniel of Chicago (now of Atlanta ). It is my understanding that both of these Elders has been persecuted and accused over the years for having “…sold out the House to the Smithsonian and Jakes.” Nothing could be farther from the truth. There is considerable elaboration of this on Ras Pele’s tape. Suffice it to note here I have never done any problems with Rastafari at the Smithsonian or anywhere else that involve money-making ventures. I do not believe that the culture is for sale and I refuse to be part of any scheme to sell it. I have and I will, however, work with Rastafari who share my view of the need to edify the public about the true nature of Rastafari. This is what Bongo Tawney and Bongo Shephan did on their missions to the United States in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Ultimately, as I pointed out on the tape recording now held by Ras Pele, their works in the United States—along with that of other Elders, bredrin and sistren like Ras Headfull, Bongo Pidow, Bongo Bigga, Mama Bubbles, Ras Marcus, Ras Iriz Ions, Sister Ina, Ras Ivi, and others—helped to consolidate and ground and link the developing Rastafari communites in Washington, D.C., New York, Baltimore, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and even Chicago. I cite Ras Jabari of Atlanta and Ras Nathaniel of Chicago (now of Atlanta) as witnessed to the positive works of the Elders. These are two bredrin have been very active in advancing the interests and vision of Rastafari in the United States through their work with the Organization of African American Rastafari Unity. Ras Jabari, in particular, was grounded by Bongo Shephan, Bongo Tawney and others during their sojourn in Atlanta during the early 1990s when they were in the United States. Again, consult the taped reasoning for further fullness on these points.
On the topic of this reasoning with Sister Dawn and Ras Pele I’d like to say that I found our exchange very positive and wish to commend them for their diligence and patience in covering the ground we went over. As His Majesty has said, “communication quicken progress” and, I would add, that it is also a basis for developing overstanding and mutual respect.
With all praises to the Most High, Jah Rastafari, I conclude this brief report. It will be shared with members of the Washington, DC Rastafari community as well as Ras Sela of the Rastafari Alliance of Panama and individuals from the House in Jamaica who have requested that I forward it.
One Perfect Love,
Jakes Homiak Washington, D.C. June 14, 2005 [email protected]
29 abril 2005 Página 64
29 abril 2005 Página 65
SELF-SUSTAINABLE ORGANIC FARMING By Ras Eric Gomez Viluce, Agricultural Engineer
First, let us define the concept of organic agriculture: It is a production system that avoids or excludes, in a wide manner, the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators, and additives to crops. The organic farming system is based on crop rotation, agricultural subproducts, manure, legumes, organic waste, mineral rocks, and biological plague control aspects, and all of this to keep the soil and crop productivity to provide nutrients to the plants and to control insects, weed and diseases.
The concept of self-sustainable farm: The profitability of a self-sustainable farm in the rural environment, depends on offering solutions following this model: - More endogenous (to have all needed resources belonging to the farm). - More self-managed (the farm can solve its own needs). - More self-generated (to posess the economical resources for the acquisition of needed - supplies). - More efficient (to make the resources produce in its full potentials).
INTEGRAL PLANNING FOR SELF-SUSTAINABLE ORGANIC FARMS
1. Farm components: Farms are composed of 3 large activities: a- The continuous organization and training aspect. This will give sustainability to the projects. b- The farming, forestry, and non-traditional or renewable energies production. Which is composed by the diverse areas that will be developed, so as the needed supplies and costs. c- Finally, the complementary feeding. Consists of providing foods to all members who participate in the farm.
2. Stages for farm development: The development of the farms in the national scope needs to be done in stages: a- The first one is to obtain the political and financial viability. b- Then meetings between the executory organizations are made (NGO’s, Government, University and Responsible technician). c- A technical team is being formed by representatives of the present institutions. d- Trainings for the technical and administrative personnel are made to explain the farm dynamics. e- Monthly meetings for evaluation of works done. 29 abril 2005 Página 66 f- Finally, monitoring, supervisions and evaluations will be made to guarantee the impact and sustainability.
3. Project Phases: The project is composed by 3 large phases: a- Localization of lands throughout the personnel of the Agrarian Reform and NGO’s Technicians. b- Location of personnel and work teams. c- Availability to do agricultural work. This farm implementation phase, involves research, as well as technical and administrative work with the community that will bring as a result the development of the farm.
4- Responsibility Levels: The responsibility of the NGOs, institutions and people directly involved in this phase is being defined. ONGs coordinate everything related to the farms and the Government (Departments, Universities, Schools), and works for the technical part of the project. Since it is the responsibility of public entities, to assign the needed personnel, so as the logistics for the technical part of the project.
5. Activities for Operationalize the Farm: There are 4 large activities that must be accomplished for a better efficiency and efficacy of the project: a- Elaboration of projects. b- Delivery of supplies. c- Appropriate technology. d- Food production.
ACTIVITIES FOR OPERATIONALIZE THE FARM
- Organization and Training. - Acquisition and Cleaning of Land. Delimit the land totally. Requires conditioning the land. Parceling of the land in production areas.
- Buying and Delivery of Tools. After cleaning the land, the tools that will be used for the development and implementation of the farm are delivered. Wheelbarrows, machete, hoes, shovels, rakes, mattocks, diggers, shovel-diggers, hammer, 5 gal. spray pump, sprinklers, hand saws, power saws, shears, hoses, screwdrivers, axe, metric tape.
- Acquisition and Installation of the Drain and Irrigating System. Installation of the irrigating system is vital to the farm, so as to its development. 29 abril 2005 Página 67
- Development of infrastructure Building of different rooms, workshops, storage rooms, is important so as lodging for personnel. Housing, meeting room, tool warehouse, laundry, shower, latrine, are some of the most needed infrastructures.
- Farming Production Farming production is divided in two parts: Agricultural and Cattle production. Agricultural Production: Vegetables, Roots, Medical Plants, Beans, Fruit trees. Cattle Production: Apiary, Poultry yard, Rabbit breeder, Duck and fish pond, Iguana breeder.
- Agroforestry Production: Seed Bank Creation. Building of Seedbeds. Building of Greenhouses. Reforestation.
- Application of Non-Traditional Technologies: Non-traditional technology application is based on alternate sources of energy. Biodigester, Sun Dryer, Manure Collector, Windmills, Photovoltaic Energy.
- Complementary Feeding of Participants.
FARM’S MISSION:
To promote service programs for people with limited resources. To train small producers of the area, in a well-organized manner to produce their own food. To feed underage children who are members of the collaborating families.
FARM’S VISION:
To boosten changes in society and its surroundings, in a way that human sustainable development can be achieved. To develop agro-industrial systems from products elaborated as canned goods. To develop eco-tourism activities, so as to promote agro-ecotouristical farms. To stablish a model farm for continuous preparation and training. 29 abril 2005 Página 68 GLOBAL RASTAFARI GOVERNANCE
Copyright 2002-2005 © The InIversal RasTafari Community, Inc. 29 abril 2005 Página 69 TOPICS COVERED IN THIS WORKSHOP
The present state of the Rasta Movement and the need for a Global Rasta Government. Why and how previous attempts to organize Rastas have stalled? Why IRASCOM is the best solution to organize Rastas? The Mechanics of IRASCOM. IRASCOM Purpose at this conference.
1. The Present State of the Rasta Movement and the need for a Global Rasta Government The increase in the number of Mansions and Houses. Shashamane Rasta Community.
Rape & Robbery of Rasta Music, Culture & Arts that can be protected by a government. Repatriation & Reparations. Economic underdevelopment and political Isolation.
29 abril 2005 Página 70 2. Why and How previous attempts to organize Rastas have been stalled? (Coordinator note: This section was not presented at the Summit so it has been omitted in this Report)
3. Why IRASCOM is offers the best solution to organize Rastas?
Professionalism Experienced & Skilled personnel (Accountants, lawyers, techs, etc.) Open transactions & Financial Accountability. Equality of members, races, genders, mansions, creed, etc. Theocratic Government with Democratic Action.
“What Our country needs now is an increase in the supply of trained and skilled manpower, men, of professional integrity.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, July 16, 1969
“Democracy is necessary in some cases and we believe some African peoples might adopt it. We are all adherent, whatever our internal political systems, of the principles of democratic action.”
H.I.M Haile Selassie I, on Government “We need well-qualified people who are proud of being Ethiopians; people who are proud of being Africans; people who are prepared to execute the plans that have already been envisioned.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, July 2, 1963.”
29 abril 2005 Página 71 4. The Government of IRASCOM Internal Amerar Council Secretariat ICORE (InIversal Council ofRastafari Elders) GARA: General Assembly of Rastafari Ambassadors
a) INIVERSAL AMERAR COUNCIL
(MANAGEMENT COMPANY)
The IAC is the nucleus of IRASCOM. This organ, the principal decision-making body, is a merger of the other principal organs of IRASCOM. The IAC manages and monitors the affairs of IRASCOM internationally and is responsible for the approval of budgets and of members (on recommendation of the Security Council).
It is also responsible for the discussion and questioning of any issues in the scope of the IRA that affects the powers and functions of any organs of IRASCOM and must ensure that all organs function complimentary to each other and in compliance to the guidelines outlined in the IRA. 29 abril 2005 Página 72 A chart depicting the make-up of the IAC is given below.
SENIOR SECRETARY OF INTEL YETSETITA TSEHAFI
GARA SECRETARIAT SENIOR SECRETARY SENIOR SECRETARY SHUM TSEHAFI
PRESIDENT LIKE MENBER ADVISORY I COMMISSION CORE SENIOR CHIEF ADVISOR OFFICER SHUM AMEKARI SHUM BALE SILTAN SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT MIKTIL LIKE MEMBER CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER ENIOR ALEKA BAJIROND PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER DEPUTY VICE PRESIDENT HULETENYA MIKTIL LIKE MENBER
b) SECRETARIAT The Secretariat of IRASCOM principally provides services to the other organs of IRASCOM and administers the projects, programs and policies of them. It is responsible for the analysis of the economic, social and other trends and problems IRASCOM encounters internationally, the preparing of studies, the organizing of conferences and summits, the monitoring of the extent to which the decisions of IRASCOM’s bodies are carried out. It translates documents and conduct information programs on the organizations activities.
The Secretary General is the highest official of the Secretariat. He or she is appointed by GARA on the recommendation of the security council for a five years turn. In addition to his/her administrative duties, he/she attends sessions of various IRASCOM bodies, collate the budget and submit it for approval; he/she has the authority to bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his/her opinion threatens the peace and security. Each year he/she reports the yearly activities of the Organization and its plans and projections for the upcoming year. 29 abril 2005 Página 73 The chart below depicts the make-up of the Secretariat.
GENERAL SECRETARY
DEPUTY
GENERAL
SECRETARY
UNDER UNDER UNDER UNDER UNDER SECRETARY SECRETARY SECRETARY SECRETARY SECRETARY GEN. OF GEN. OF GEN. OF GEN. OF ASIA GEN. OF AMERICA CARIBBEAN AFRICA EUROPE
UNDER UNDER UNDER UNDER SECRETARY SECRETARY SECRETARY SECRETARY OF GEN. OF GEN. OF GEN. OF FINANCE PUBLIC SECURITY RESEARCH
c) INIVERSAL COUNCIL OF RASTAFARI ELDERS ICORE shall be responsible for determining and developing an Inified Doctrine of Rasta Theology, Principles and a defined Culture of Rasta to be accepted by All Mansions, considering all policies, projects, strategies and courses of action related directly to RasTafarI teachings and practices.ICORE shall be composed of the following Elders/Eldresses listed including those officials appointed to serve in this body as decided by this body: a) Three Representatives from the Twelve Tribes of Israel b) Three Representatives from The Order of The NyahBinghi c) Three Representatives from The Bobo Ashanti d) Three Representatives from The Ethiopian World Federation e) Three Representatives from The Ethiopian Orthodox Church f) One Representative from Each Sub-House (Subject to approval) g) One Representative from Each Existing Rasta Organization h) One Representative from Suggested International Organizations
29 abril 2005 Página 74 The chart below depicts the composition of ICORE
NYAHBINGHI 3 REPS REPS 3 REPS 3 REPS REPS TWELVES TRIBES BOBOASHANTI OF ISRAEL
3 REPS. 3 REPS. ETHIOPIAN ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX WORLD O
REP. 1 REP CORE RASTAFARI ORG UNIA CHAIRMAN
I REP. I REP. RASTAFARI ORG RASTAFARI ORG
I REP. RASTAFARI ORG I REP. RASTAFARI ORG I REP. RASTAFARI ORG.
29 abril 2005 Página 75 d) GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF RASTAFARI AMBASSADOR
As laid down in the IRA, the General Assembly shall serve as the appointmentpool for members of the committees, commissions and autonomous bodies.Their duties shall include working is conjunction with ICORE to determine anddevelop a unified doctrine of RasTafarI acceptable to all mansions of RasTafarI.
GARA shall also act as the main deliberative organ of IRASCOM and is responsible for examination of reports and budgets from all organs, electing the members of those organs and the appointing of the General Secretary on recommendation of the Security Council.
GARA is composed of one Ambassador from each country, one ambassador from each major city or state and one member from each island. The members of GARA shall be formed into committees and commissions to deal with the different aspects of the work of IRASCOM. Committees shall be formed to deal with trade, labor, agriculture, health, human rights and defense etc.
5. GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO RASTAFARI REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEES COMMISSIONS Annual and Regional Conferences Advisory Commission Trade Royal Priesthood Agriculture Commission Labor Appointment Commission Education Music and The Arts Financial Health Commission Social Development Information & Legal Defense and Human Rights Media Commission
Repatriation and Reparation Fund Language Committee
29 abril 2005 Página 76 The following chart depicts the composition GARA
5. IRASCOM’s Purpose at this Summit
Conclusion Registration of Latin American Representatives
Introduction to 2007 IRASCOM Elections
29 abril 2005 Página 77
REPATRIATION CENSUS
By Ras Nathaniel
The Repatriation Census embodied a vision that I saw while attending the first Extraordinary Session of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, February 3-4, 2003. After that AU session which discussed the inclusion of the African Diaspora in the African Union, I attended other meetings at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Development Bank (ADB) and meetings with Ministers of Finance, Planning and Development. I studied their voluminous project proposals and learned the language of development spoken by policy planners in Africa. I also studied their blueprint for economic development called The New Economic Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). I learned that two of the AU’s top priorities are
1) Reverse brain drain 2) Increase capital inflows
After studying various project proposals to reverse brain drain and increase capital inflows, I realized that they were spending way too much money to bring the “wrong people” home to Africa. For example, one project proposed to spend $1,000,000 Euros to bring three ex-patriot doctors home for three-to-six month “glorified working vacations.” The African Union was looking at ways to bring home the global African elite that voluntarily left Africa after they received advanced degrees – the ones that created the brain drain. Like the other global elite, they wanted to live the high life with all the materialism of their European peers. This was going to be very costly.
It then came to me as a revelation that the AU was “barking up the wrong tree”. Instead of trying to woo the ones that wanted to leave Africa, why not bring home those who want to return to Africa? Throughout the entire African Diaspora, there is only one group of people who have consistently demanded their return to Africa: the Rastafari. Rastafari people are the only people in the African Diaspora who don’t have to be “convinced” to repatriate to Africa. I realized the African Union could get “more bang for their buck” by repatriating Rastafari people who have a commitment to repatriate and develop Africa. Why? Because Repatriation, as defined by Rastafari people, is not dependent on the materialism and consumerism of the global elite.
Since the African Union was now stating that the African Diaspora was an important group needed in the building of the African Union, why not submit a Repatriation 29 abril 2005 Página 78 proposal to the AU on behalf of the Rastafari people worldwide to take advantage of this historical opportunity?
This was the birth of the Repatriation Census.
The idea was to identify all the Rastafari people who have made a commitment to repatriate to all parts of Africa IN THIS LIFETIME, and to collect the raw data needed to formulate a proposal that the AU would take seriously. If we could show them the who, what, where, when and how, then there would be a basis for negotiating transportation, citizenship and housing provided by AU member governments. The Repatriation Census was designed to collect the information needed to answer the questions. Census information would be used to organize and centralize the Rastafari Repatriation Movement through a Global Secretariat that would set up staging areas, training programs and negotiate with African Governments during 2006 in preparation for the first group of Repatriates to depart during the summer of 2007. These and other logistics were laid out in the Star Order Five Year Plan.
Why would African Governments begin serious negotiations with the Rastafari Movement? Once they see that we are organized, centralized, and how much human resources and capital resources I&I represent, they would see that it is in their interest to provide transportation, duty-free importation of all I&I worLdly possessions, and citizenship in order to secure I&I resource allocation throughout the continent.
Consider now the results of the Repatriation Census Summit Workshop.
Repatriation Census: Summit Workshop Results
# of forms collected: 41 out of 120 delegates (34%)
# who identified themselves as descendants of Africans taken into captivity in the west: 19 (46%) note: some didn’t complete or answer this question; one answered yes because all Humanity comes from Africa; some who came in late never added the question to their form
Average age: 27.9 Hi: 66yrs Low: 10 yrs
Male: 31 (3 answered “king”) Female: 10
County/Region: Panama: 1 Panama – Aaraijan: 1 Panama – San Miguelito: 1 Panama – Central 2 Panama – Panama City:3 Colombia – Central: 1 Chile – Primera Region (Iquique): 1 Chile – 4th Region: 1 Chile – 8th Region del Bio Bio: 1 29 abril 2005 Página 79 Chile – Santiago: 3 Jamaica: 4 Jamaica – Central: 2 Jamaica or Costa Rica: 1 Costa Rica – Eastern, Limon: 1 Costa Rica – San Jose: 1 Puerto Rico: 2 Puerto Rico – San Juan: 4 Puerto Rico – Cardina:1 Puerto Rico – North: 1 St. Kitts: 1 Venezuela – Caracas: 2 No Answer: 6
Average # of years sighting the divinity of HIM Haile Selassie: 10.2 Hi: 51 Low: 3 days other answers included: “creation”, no answer (4), “from birth” (2), “since I was a kid”, “I just sighted the Divinity of His Imperial Majesty at the Nyahbinghi (at the Vera Cruz Ibernacle Ises)”
# of years having dreadlocks: 10.9 Hi: 51 Low: 0 (7 people)
Amount of personal savings available for Repatriation: US$73,305 + $1,000 Balboas + 2 sponsors
Answers included:
US$300 US$32,000.00 airline ticket: 3 “I can get some sponsors” US$7,000 + sponsors US$500.00 “yes” US$6,000.00 US$1,500.00 $1,000.00 balboas “I don’t know” US$20,000 US$5.00 $0 (19) No answer (6)
Desired date of repatriation: Now: 4 Judgement Day/Tomorrow: 1 ASAP: 2 3 months: 1 2anos/years: 1 29 abril 2005 Página 80 2006: 2 2007: 11 22julio 1999 (ET)=22 July 2007: 1 September 2007: 1 September 10, 2007: 1 2010: 2 within 7 years (2012): 2 2015: 2 2020: 1 I don’t know: 2 No answer: 6 Solo Jah dispone; no se: 1
Desired Location: Africa: 3 Ethiopia: 21 Shashemane: 3 Gondar, Ethiopia: 1 Zimbabwe: 1 Mozambique: 1 Chile/Brazil: 2 Colombia: 1 No answer: 7 ???: 1
Skills and training:
A/C technician: 1 Artists/Musician: 13 Organizer: 2 Agriculturalist: 2 Computers: 4 Engineering/Environmental Management: 1 Fashion Designer: 1 Coconut farmer: 1 Carpenter/construction: 3 Telecommunications cableing: 1 Sound engineer: 2 Radio producer: 1 Architect: 1 Pharmacy: 1 Social work: 2 Fuballers: 2 Ital cooks: 4 Webmaster: 1 Teacher: 2 Sewing/knitting/weaving: 2 Marketing and promotions: 2 Logistics Planning: 1 Military: 1 29 abril 2005 Página 81 Ceramic specialist: 1 Printer operator: 1 Electrician: 2 Driver: 1 Students: 7
Analysis:
The Repatriation Census workshop was originally scheduled for Tuesday morning, Day 2 of the Summit, in hopes of securing the full Summit attendance. When the Summit abandoned the original draft agenda, some confusion and chaos caused a complete restructuring and scheduling of workshops. The Repatriation Census workshop was repeatedly scheduled for the following day until, at last, on May 28th at 10:00pm, I conducted the Repatriation Census Workshop – the last workshop of the Summit.
Only 41 forms were collected, meaning that only 36% of the Summit participated. The lateness of the workshop was a major reason for this low turn-out. Members of the EABIC delegation communicated that they could not participate without express permission from their headquarters in Bull Bay, Jamaica.
Of the 41 participants, 19 (46%) identified themselves as descendants of the Africans taken into captivity in the west. The question, “Are you the descendant of the Africans taken into captivity in the west” was added to the Repatriation Census form to deal with the lack of clarity on the definition of Repatriation. Throughout the Summit I had many small group reasonings with Summit delegates from Hispanic America who identified themselves as “mestizo” – or the descendants of indigenous peoples mixed with Europeans. Many confessed that they were not sure where they fit into the Rastafari movement, particularly as it was concerned with Repatriation. Some stated that they felt that to be in the Rastafari movement they had to go (or want to go) to Africa. The question, “Are you the descendant of the Africans taken into captivity in the west?” tended to clarify everything.
Since Repatriation was defined as the justice due to those descendants of the Africans taken into captivity in the west (in the form of their return with reparations), then only those who identified themselves as such could participate in Repatriation. This was not to be confused with the right under the Declaration of Human Rights Article 2, to go anywhere on earth.
Repatriation was also clearly defined as the actual physical return to Africa of the descendants of the Africans taken into captivity in the west. This was the Iriginal spirit and prayer of I&I first ancestors who set foot in the Americas as captives. It was the aim of the Iriginal demand for Repatriation of the Rastafari Elders. However, now that the Rastafari movement has become multi-cultural, there is an attempt to re-define “repatriation” to fit “multi-cultural” sensibilities. The word “repatriation” has now be used to describe the emotional, spiritual, and intellectual “cleansing purge” needed to “come out of the Babylon mindstate” While all would agree that this is necessary, the word “Repatriation” SHOULD NOT BE USED TO DESCRIBE THE PROCESS BECAUSE IT CONFUSES PEOPLE INTO THINKING THAT THOSE WHO ARE NOT THE DESCENDANTS OF THE AFRICANS TAKEN INTO CAPTIVITY IN THE WEST CAN PARTICIPATE IN REPATRIATION. 29 abril 2005 Página 82
In other words, when “Repatriation” is used to describe the spiritual and intellectual cleansing that all must participate in while at the same time “Repatriation” is the word used to define the physical return of the descendants of the African taken into captivity in the west, the result is that “Repatriation” has an ambiguous meaning that is open to all races and cultures sighting Rastafari and the “Repatriation Movement” that is concerned with the justice of return the captives to their ancestral homeland is obscured and diluted.
It was further clarified that those who did not identify themselves as the descendants of the Africans taken into captivity in the west were born in their respective lands and given the vision of Rastafari in order to hold up the banner of Rastafari in those lands. Thus, one can be in the Rastafari Movement and stay in the land of their birth an uphold the banner of Rastafari in that land, while working for Repatriation for the descendants of the Africans taken into captivity in the west.
Most of the delegates who heard this reasoning were relieved and gave thanks for clarify the term. It was suggested that in the future, some term such as “cleansing”, “purge” be used to refer to the change of heart and mind from Babylon bad ways, and the term “Repatriation” be limited to the physical return of the captives.
Of considerable significance was the fact that the average age of the Summit Repatriation Census participants was 27.9 years, the average number of years sighting the Divinity of HIM Haile Selassie I was 10.2 years and the average number of years wearing the dreadlock covenant was 10.9. In other words, the profile of the average Repatriate was a person in the prime of their life with 10 years of experience in the movement!
Perhaps the most significant data was that the 41 participants represented a pledged aggregate of US$73,305 dollars. When figures from the Repatriation Census are used in negotiations with African governments, it works like this: Suppose all 41 people wanted to go to Ethiopia, so I&I negotiate with the Ethiopian Government. I&I show them that I&I represent 41 people who have such-and such skills and a combined total of $73,305 available to spend when they arrive in Ethiopia. This money, along with all of I&I worldly possessions shipped ahead of time in containers, represents significant capital inflow. The Ethiopian government may then set aside 41 seats on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from New York or Atlanta or St. Lucia or Jamaica and provide for some housing arrangement in order to secure the capital investment in Ethiopia. Remember that the $73,305 has almost nine times the spending power in Ethiopia because of the exchange rate. That’s almost $700,000!
Consider now what the figures may represent when instead of 41, the number of participants is 410, or 4,100, etc. . . . So, the more of I&I that participate in the Repatriation Census, the higher I&I aggregate available capital, The higher I&I available capital, the more attractive I&I proposal. The more attractive I&I proposal, the more negotiating power, seen?
It should be understood that the advantage of the Repatriation Census proposal is that it doesn’t require everyone to have their own funds for transportation and development. Most of the $73,305 pledged came from only five of the 41 participants. However, since 29 abril 2005 Página 83 it is aggregated wealth that will be used to negotiate on behalf of all 41 people, those with no financial savings can still be included and have their transportation and housing provided for. When the plane lands carrying the 41 people, the five people with the most capital will still have their capital to spend – the money pledged is still theirs – it was only “counted” in order to show the government why they should provide transportation and housing!
In addition, imagine when the Repatriation Census numbers more than 5000. That will represent a lot of equipment – household equipment like cooking equipment, electrical appliances, musical equipment, computer equipment, mechanics tools, etc. All of that is increased capital inflow to be used permanently in Africa. To secure the capital inflow, African governments would have an incentive to allow I&I to ship our equipment duty- free.
However, we can’t negotiate and obtain transportation, citizenship and a housing arrangement without showing them the numbers. And we can’t show them the numbers right now. That is why the Repatriation Census is the most urgent priority of the Rastafari Repatriation Movement.
After two years of promoting this proposal, I have identified the major obstacle to its implementation: LACK OF PARTICIPATION. Since there is no recognized Global Government or Global Secretariat for the Rastafari movement, no entity or institution really has the power and position to “make it happen”. Moreover, without any of the major reggae artists like the Marley Family, Burning Spear, etc., knowledge of the Repatriation Census will spread very slowly. If I&I are going to be able to negotiatie with African Governments in time to forward several groups of Rastafari Repatriates by the Ethiopian Millennium, then a partnership between all houses of Rastafari, all the singers and players of instruments, and all the organizers and activists are going to have to agree to endorse, promote, and conduct the Repatriation Census as the major Rastafari Plan of Action right now! I&I must participate now.
“Come out of her my people that you partake not of her sins, neither of her plagues.”
Revelations 18:4
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1st Diaspora Rastafari Summit In Hispanic America
HIH Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie, President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia
HIH Prince Bekere Fikre Selassie, Viceroy of the Crown Council of Ethiopia
Crown Council of Ethiopia US Legation 164 D Market Street #311 Charleston, SC 29401 United States of America
Facsimile: +1-843-795-9845 E-mail: [email protected]
RE: Crown Council records pertaining to the land grant in Shashemane given by His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I to the Black People of the World through the administration of the land grant by the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated.
Your Highness,
Greetings in the name of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I and Her Imperial Majesty Empress Woizero Manan, 817 days before the Ethiopian Millennium.
The 1st Diaspora Rastafari Summit In Hispanic America recently convened in Panama City, Panama, May 23-30, 2005 (See attached Press Release).
During one of the workshops, Dr. Miguel Brooks, translator and editor of the Kebra Negast published by First Red Sea Press, Inc, stated that the Shashemane land grant to the Black People of the world through the administration of the Ethiopian World Federation was from His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I own personal possession, and consequently, was not a grant of the Government of Ethiopia. Therefore, it is unlikely that any official records of the land grant would be found in Government records such as the Negarit Gazetta. Moreover, Dr. Brooks stated that any records pertaining to the land grant would be in the possession of the Crown Council.
The 1st Diaspora Rastafari Summit In Hispanic America kindly requests that the Crown Council search its records for any documents in its possession pertaining to the Shashemane land grant and the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated and send copies of such documentation to the Summit delegates through the offices of the Issembly For Rastafari Iniversal Education (See attached “Review of IRIE communications with the Crown Council”).
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Most respectfully,
Ras Nathaniel, IRIE Coordinator & Coordinator of Final Report of the 1st Diaspora Rastafari Summit In Hispanic America Panama, May 23 – 30, 2005 [email protected]
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1st Diaspora Rastafari Summit In Hispanic America Email contacts
Ras Nathaniel (USA) [email protected]
Ras Jaberi (USA) [email protected]
Maritime captain Jacques Valentin Ramos – [email protected]
Director, Prof. Geraldo Maloney (Panama) - [email protected]
Dr. Abdulkhabeer Muhammad (Panama) - [email protected]
Ethelbert G. Mapp (Panama)- [email protected]
Bobo Shanti (Jamaica) - [email protected]
Ras Don (Chile) - [email protected]
Luis Enrique Sanchez L. /Negus Crew Family (Venezuela) - [email protected]
David Hinds/Steel Pulse (England) - [email protected]
Empress Esther(EABIC Jamaica) - [email protected]
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Ras Benjah (Puerto Rico) [email protected]
Ras Irek (Puerto Rico) [email protected]
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Sister Watico (Jamaica) [email protected]
Sister Lisbeth (Panama) [email protected]
Negus Eric (Panama) [email protected]
Alianza Rastafari Panama (Panama) [email protected]
Sister Ifiya (Panama) [email protected]
Ras Sela (Panama) [email protected]
29 abril 2005 Página 87 Ras Berhane (IRASCOM Barbados) [email protected]
Sister Aneita Robinson (Jamaica) [email protected]
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