This program, created for Black History Month, 2001, revisits recent history in Ethiopia, but with an awareness of far older history. Specifically, the program explores the Rastafarian belief that Emperor Haile Sellassie was a direct descendent of Soloman, and even a living manifestation of God. We begin with the often forgotten fact that the Rastafari religion is in fact named for Ras (prince) Tafari Makonnen, Haile Sellassie name before he was crowned emperor in 1930.

Ethiopia's ancient associations--so vividly demonstrated in Rasta beliefs--provide an evocative background for what is mostly an exploration of music from the closing days of Haile Selasssie's regime, the late `60s and early `70s. Sellassie had relaxed Ethiopia's rigid restrictions on non-official music, opening the door to electric pop music for the first time. A young music producer named Ahma Eshèté bravely seized this opportunity despite warnings from the state record company and cultural organization Agher Feqer Mahber ("The Love of Country Association"). The resulting rival record company, Ahma Records, released 250 titles between 1969 and '75, when Sellassie was overthrown and a repressive military junta, known as the Derg, took over. The so-called "Derg time" lasted until 1991, and among its many repressive misdeeds, it stifled popular music culture in Ethiopia for its entire 16-year duration.

Amha Records releases found an eager public, and catered to it aggressively while it could. Much of the music still sounds fresh and innovative today. Much of it is also available for the first time in many years thanks to a remarkable series of CDs from Buda Musique, Éthiopiques. At this writing, the ninth volume in the series is about to be released in the U.S.. This program samples the first eight volumes, all of which are listed in our database, and highly recommended. There's the music of Mahmoud Ahmed, probably the best known Ethiopian singer around the world, although Aster Aweke is the best known in the U.S. Tlahoun Gèssèssè, heard in this program in an early session with the Police Orchestra, is generally considered the greatest living Ethiopian singer. A taste of classic Ethio Jazz, music of the embattled Tigray province, and a remarkable recording from a 1990s folk café in Addis Ababa round out our sampling, but there's much, much more in those eight compilations.

This program also features a couple of reggae classics focused on Haile Sellassie, notably Bob Marley's "Jah Live," written to counter reports that the Emperor had been executed in 1975. The final section of the program delves into some newer sounds from the country, including Ethiopian house music out of New York City.

Habte Sellassie Interview

In exploring Ethiopia's Rastafarian connection, we interviewed veteran reggae DJ, Habte Sellassie, who has been broadcasting on WBAI, from Wall Street, New York--the heart of Babylon!--since 1978. Here are some extended excerpts from that interview.

AFROPOP WORLDWIDE: Why does Ethiopia play such a big role in Rastafari?

HABTE SELLASSIE: Ethiopia takes center stage in the Rasta movement because Haile Sellassie is from Ethiopia. Within orthodox--and I hate to use that term--or classic rasta doctrine or dogma, Haile Sellassie is God--not a representation of, not a symbol of, but God incarnate, but the creator of the universe, all that is, was, in the same sense that Catholics or Baptists have God, or Muslims say Allah. It's the same understanding that one has to have with regards to Rastafari and Haile Sellassie. Ethiopia took on significance because it was His birthplace.

On top of that, oldest remains, like a Lucy or so, have been found in Ethiopia. In the Bible, Garden of Eden surrounded by River Gihan, which is understood to be Blue Nile starting in Ethiopia. Egypt stood on the shoulders of Ethiopia--Kush. Over time, through archaeological studies, we are learning as well the Ethiopia is an area of rather ancient civilization, the oldest of anything that could be called human has been found there. Initially the significance of Ethiopia was motivated by religion, as it relates to Haile Sellassie. So in a sense, scientific study has confirmed the beliefs of Rastafari that God is from Ethiopia. Science has reinforced what religious philosophy has pronounced.

A.W.: How was Sellassie identified as God?

H.S.: Haile Sellassie was crowned emperor in 1930, but he was known in Europe before that because he visited as Ras Tafari Makonen, the heir apparent to Ethiopia. Coming from Africa and then an ancient kingdom--that also got some press. He had also been also known during the time of Menilek (II) because he and the Ethiopians had defeated the Italians at the battle of Adwa. So then in1930, he became Emperor after the death of Emporer Zawditu. The crowning was an international affair. Ethiopia at the time considered a quaint, anachronistic society. But with Sellassie coming from a dynasty with links to Solomon and the Bible, the crowning had a bit of romance to it, as well as some history. Let me say that he wasn't just a king, but a legitimate king, heritage connected with the Bible and so on. That meant something for a lot of people, and Jamaica being part of the British Empire, ruled by a King from Europe. The idea that we too had a king, and matter of fact, we have a king whose background outstripped that of our present rulers gave people a lot of pride.

At that time, in Jamaica, people became Rastafari who were from the Garvey movement. They mixed Garvey with religion, based on the fact that there was a community of people from Angola living in Jamaica called kumina. They believed in their king as a living God. Then there was a saying that Garvey had: "Look to Africa for the crowning of a king to know that your redemption is nigh." A gentleman from the U.S. who had been part of Father Divine movement, came back to Jamaica in 1930s. He heard these people preaching about this God who is to come, and he said, "They already crowned your man." This is one of the stories.

The Rastafarian movement is essentially a Christian movment. Christ said that he would return. So Haile Sellassie is Christ returned. That is, essentially, the fulfillment of that promise. When Haile Sellassie was crowned, he then became the 225th descendent of Solomon, and among his titles was King of Kings, Lord of Lords, The Conquering lion of the tribe of Judah, Elect of God, Light of the World, King os Zion, King of Israel, Emporer of Ethiopia, Defender of the Faith. These things were also found in the Bible. The fact that Haile Sellassie claims descent from Solomon then also made him a descendant of David, and Christ was supposed to be a descendant of David. These things fulfilled, at least in the minds of the people believing it, the prophesies of the Bible. There's where it all started.

A.W.: What was it like for Rastafarians when Sellassie was overthrown and ultimately killed?

H.S.: The expectation that he would not be overthrown, then that he would outdo his enemies and return in triumph to the throne. But those things never did happen. Even now, recently there was an official funeral, a burial of the remains of the Ethiopian emperor. It was accommodated by the State of Ethiopia. Rita Marley was one of the people present. And a number of rasta who live in Ethiopia were there, and then you had other people who traveled to Ethiopia for that event. Some of them said when you asked, "We're not here to participate. We're here to observe."

It's a conundrum. I believe that Haile Sellassie is God, but then I'm attending his funeral. As Bob Marley said, "Jah Live." And within the movement itself, you have an adjustment. Prior to 1974, you had no divergence. Haile Sellassie was God. Now you get divergence. Within the Rastafari movement itself, today more than ever before, there is a variety of interpretations. You have people who say, Sellassie is dead, but they are still Rastafari themselves, because the essence of the movement--as a means of liberation affirmation, acceptance and pride of self--those things are still there.

I should also point out that even quite early in the day, there was always a line of demarcation between the political Rasta, and the religious Rasta. For a political Rasta, nowhere in his home would you find a picture of Haile Sellassie. but there was a bust of Lenin. He'd smoke and give thanks and praise to the most high Jah, but he wasn't the kind of the religious Rasta. This goes back in the movement, to the 50s, 60s. Now you have a lot of young people coming into the movement who born after Haile Sellassie was overthrown. You hear a lot of different things. Jah is not Jah in the classic or orthodox sense. A lot of them, it is more the cultural aspect again, the green, gold and red and the dreadlocks. Particularly outside of Jamaica, in England, or Canada, the faith provides black identity. It is something that is there; it roots them; it grounds them. It's an affirmation of self.

Today, it's almost what denominations have become in Christianity. You have within the movement people who say that HS is dead, but nonetheless he's still central to the whole idea of Rasta. There are people who say that he has eluded his captors and ultimately one day, he is going to reappear in triumph as Emperor or Ethiopia. You have that. It's like Burning Spear has a song that said, "They are trying to fool the black population and say Jah Jah Dead." Or Bob Marley said, Jah live, Children, Jah live.." I think that you have within this you have people who understand the Jah Live meaning not that HS is still alive, but that what the movement was all about, that continues.

Rastas came from other religious experience. Those people who came for a more fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible are also fundamentalist in their approach to Rastafari. Thos who are not as fundamentalis, like people who might have had a Catholic or Episcopalian experience, also approach the movement in that manner.

Some of the people who say that he is not dead, at the same time recognize his son and his grandson now as being the Emperor. So you say, if Haile Sellassie is still alive, and therefore still Emperor of Ethiopia, why do you need a new Emporer? So you have all these contradictions. One of the things I really, really do love about the Rastafari movement is that it has given me a chance to see up close how religious beliefs evolve.

A.W.: What is the legacy of all this in terms of reggae music? H.S.: Today, you have 20,000 songs praising Selassia, but no depth, no playing with words, no letting the mind fill in the blank. You have all this burning in fire, brimstone and all that. But what does knowing Selassia-I do for your mind? That is missing now.