WORKS & TEACHINGS OF EMPRESS MENEN OF ETHIOPIA By M.T. Abegaze Yehuda Anbessit Creations Copyright C 2003 Yehuda Anbessit Creations All information in this book may be reproduced or utilized without permission of the Publsiher. Portions of this book were originally published in Ethiopia in 1950 E.C. The information is for everyone who seeks knowledge of Empress Menen. Printed in the United States of America First U.S. Edition 1st Printing Reprinted 2010 Book Design by B. Dread & Fetari 7 Edited by B. Dread Link Up: [email protected] CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vii INTRODUCTION by Kulcha Dane xi CHAPTER ONE: 1 Ethiopian History CHAPTER TWO: 5 Chronological History of Empress Menen’s Accomplishments CHAPTER THREE: 41 Selected Speeches of Empress Menen GLOSSARY 49 SELAH 51 Livicated to Emaye and dawtas (Yenae Fikroch, Yehuda Anbessit, Sister Baby G) ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Strength and honor are her clothing; And she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with knowledge; And her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her love, Her king also, and he praises her. Many daughter have done virtuously, But thou excellest them all. Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman who loveth the Most High She shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her own works praise her in the gates. - Proverbs 31:25-31 vii The great, wise King Solomon once said, ‘there is nothing new under the sun.’ Though this may be true, each generation seems to add it’s own influence of style and philosophy to their culture. In a world of new age religion and self-exploration where people are searching for enlightenment, Rastafari livity stands out as a faith that is functional on both the metaphysical and earthly levels. Therefore, in producing this book we give thanks to I Majesties for the chance to express the love that I’n’I have for our Creators. In giving thanks, I want to mention all the bredrens and sistrens who have helped to make the completion of this book possible and are keeping Rastafari work progressive: Jah Seck and Sister Carrie (give thanks for honoring your word and easing the production of this book), Culcha Dane, Sister Amy, Sister Iley, Micah and Kamili (give thanks for the pure African love you showed me… keep it real), B. Dread (give thanks for the diligence in preparing the format of the book, it wasn’t all work… nuff respect), Jahmust, Sister Joanne Nichole and Mikala Menen (give thanks for the open door and always being ready to help those in need), Jah Terms (give thanks for the cover art and inspiration), Sister Rasheeda (give thanks for the positivity and motivation), Benjamin (give thanks for viii the introduction to the Igene crew), Chalwah Sound System (don’t forget the blenda, y’all), Jah Carpenter (give thanks for all the knowledge in fixing every likkle ting), Asmamaw Ejigu (give thanks for all you have done for the family), and last but not least, I Familia, the Abegazes; Mr. Teshager, Mrs. Azalu, Ms. Banchamlak, Ms. Meskerem, Ms. Tigist, Ms. Nesanet, and finally, I brother, Lesnu. Love Seven Times, M.T. Abegaze ix xx xi INTRODUCTION The empire of Ethiopia is among the most ancient and traditional cultures alive today. To the Greeks of old, Ethiopia was the ‘Land of sun burnt faces,’ which is what its name literally translates to. In the ninth century B.C., Herodotus declared that it lay ‘at the ends of the earth.’ Makeda, the Queen of Sheba, resided in Axum during the tie of Solomon, and is said to have had a glorious kingdom full of gold, ivory, spices, and the finst incense, amongst other things. Her union with Solomon produced a line of kings that stretched from their son Menelik I to Emperor Haile Selassie I, who was coronated in 1930 along side his wife Wolette Giorgis, or Empress Menen. The modern manifestation of Rastafari was born in Addis Ababa, when on November 2, 1930 Negus Tafari was crowned Haile Selassie I, the Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, King of Kings, Light of the World, King of Zion. Among those in attendance at the coronation was Leonard Percival Howell, who recognized the ceremony as a fulfillment of biblical prophecy. He proceeded to Ghana, where he published a book by the ttle of ‘The Promised Key’ which clearly specified the divinity of both His and Her Imperial Majesties. Howell stated that the Emperor and Empress xi were indeed ‘King Alpha and Queen Omega,’ the ‘King of Kings and Queen of Queens.’ They were the ‘Royal Pair’ unto whom all homage was due. Howell brought the book to Jamaica upon his return in 1932, and began preaching on the divnity of His Majesty, as had Joseph Hibbert who had come from Costa Rica in 1931. It is doubtful that more than a handful of people at that time had any idea of the impact Rastafari would have on the poor, oppressed masses of the world, even throughout the turn of a new millennium. With technology advancing as rapidly as it has, Rastafari has gained the advantage of being able to access the spoken and written teachings of His Imperial Majesty with greater ease. With H.I.M.’s stress on modern Ethiopianism, or modern traditionalism, the movement has undergone some changes in tactic for achievements of such rights as Repatriation. Although the ultimate goal has remained unchanged, the methods of modernization that His Majesty encouraged have not been overlooked, and continue to be applied by Rastafari in Africa and abroad. One of the objectives of Ethiopia’s modernization was to bring forth gender eqality both socially, and domestically. This is no doubt one of the reasons Haile Selassie I had Empress Menen crowned along his side during his coronation ceremony, being the xii first Ethiopian Emperor to do so. This action properly signifies His Imperial Majesty’s stance on gender equality, and fulfills the earthly role of King Alpha/ Queen Omega. Since the birth of the movement in the 1930’s and early 1940’s, Rastafari has itself changed its own perspective on gender relations rather dramatically. Prior to the 1980’s, besides a small minority of musicians and writers, very little consideration was given to the role or purpose of the Rastafari Queen/Mother/Dawta. But since that time until this time (2003), and even more significantly within the last ten years, a great deal of motivation has been put forth by the International Rastafari community to address the needs and concerns of the Rastafari Empress. Many mansions within the Rastafari faith (such as The Theocracy Order of the Nyahbinghi, the E.A.B.I.C., and the EWF) have appointed specific organis for this task, and are using these as means to forward Rastafari to a more complete Alpha/Omega balance. It is from this new cycle of self-realization (what is RastafarI?) that the idea to publish this book was born. The contents of this book are of particular interest for anyone who wishes to have a general idea of the movements and actions of a Divine African Queen. It xiii is of specific interest for those who wish to know more about the Royal Ethiopian Monarchy, and especially for adherents of our Rastafari faith, bredren and sistren alike. It is imperative that members of the movement be aware of not only the role of Empress Menen/Queen Omega, but of her words and deeds as well. The release of this book could not have come at a more crucial time for the Rastafari community. With the steady increase of bredrins’ and sistrens forwarding back to the Motherland Africa, the role and purpose of each one of us must be carefully evaluated, and clearly assessed before it is put into practice in Moutn Zion. The ancient prophesy of Psalm 68 is now, more than ever, coming into fulfillment: ‘Prince and Princesses must come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall stretch forth her hands unto the Almighty.’ Come now Kings and Queens of the earth, Africa awaits her Creators. -KULCHA DANE xiv xiv 1 Chapter 1 ETHIOPIAN HISTORY When we refer to ancient history documents, since Adam and Eve we can observe that it’s not only men who have struggled for the better, but also women who have itributed a lot on their part, for they are on the side of men. Women have shared problems and sacrificed themselves, which makes them sacred and gives them a special place in the history of human kind. Women have participated on the battle field with men and become victorious, and some women are famously remembered for their adventures. In Ethiopia, more than in any other country, women fight as equals amongst men. Many women fought on the war front along side their husband, and some women were even commanders of the army. Ethiopian women are known as being very welcoming, servicing any soldier during times of war and providing hospitality during times of harmony. It is amongst these famous Ethiopian women that Queen Taitu holds a great historical place, for she fought along side men as a soldier and commander during the Battle of aduwa in 1896, a one day war in which the colonial aggressor Italy was brutally defeated. In the line of queens ascending the line of the Solomonic dynasty, 1 2 2 3 after Empress Taitu comes our beloved EMAYE (dear mother) Empress Menen, the queen that is most adored by all her children.