The Sunday Mail
Reggae music is a medium Rastafarians maximise to spread the word of His Imperial Majesty King of Kings and Lord of Lords Emperor Haile Selassie I and their general way of life.
Ibo Foroma
When Africa, the motherland, was under shameful slavery, bondage, colonialism, apartheid and all other evils beyond mention, the African spirit was dying.
It is well known that music and war go hand in hand. Faithful brothers and sisters of the faith from the Caribbean islands inspired by the Psalms of David – especially Psalm 87 (“they shall be singers and players of instruments”) invented the genre. This occurred during a time when their beloved land of origin was under total incarceration from evil minded beings.
Of course they touched other subjects like love, so as not to hate those who hate us. But when they dealt with the subject of atrocities, they meant business. The legendary Robert Nesta Marley in his eternal record “War”, he quotes a legendary speech delivered by His Imperial Majesty Emperor Selassie I the only Black and African head of state in the then League of Nations now known as the United Nations, albeit debatable.
The Conquering Lion of the tribe of Judah gave the ‘’War’’ speech on October 4, 1963, calling for world peace at the 1963 UN Conference in New York City.
This historical speech was delivered a few weeks after the Organisation of African Unity was founded in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where Emperor Selassie I chaired a summit of almost African Heads of State.
Contrary to popular belief it is the Emperor with the aid of his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ato Ketema Yifru, who founded the OAU. And he donated his personal palace as the first headquarters of this prestigious cornerstone organisation paramount to Africa’s liberation.
This UN speech resounded even louder as the offspring of David, Selassie I, had made a name for himself on the international scene in 1936; when he spoke at The League of Nations in Geneva during a time when the Lion of Judah was the only black leader in the colour conscious organisation.
It was there that Emperor Selassie I warned the world that if Ethiopia was not militarily supported by member states to fight the fascist Italian invasion then taking place, as the League of Nations statute guaranteed, the League would then cease to exist as a matter of fact. And the rest of the member states were to suffer the same fate.
Three years later World War Two broke out. This visionary speech granted Selassie I much respect around the world.
Eventually leading to British military support, which helped free Ethiopia. Addressing the world again in 1963 the Lion of Judah’s Holy utterances bore full weight and reverence.
It must be noted that the British military aid offered to the Ethiopians was not totally a whole hearted endeavour. The British wanted the Italians out of the picture so they could strategically invade neighbouring Sudan which they did of course. Little did they know, Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Egypt, Libya, Djibouti and so many more modern states, Yemen, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, used to be one big ancient Ethiopia.
Obviously Bob Marley is not the only Ras Tafari Makonnen son or daughter to have spread the gospel; but his prominence is exceeding.
Bunny Wailer, one of the only two surviving Wailers whose birth name says it all, Neville O’Riley Livingston, also sang fiery inspirational melodies including one titled “War” as well.
The lyrics are the same and depending on the ear, it sounds better than Bob Marley’s version.
The lyrics of the masterpiece and master speech are scribed here:
And until that day,
The African continent
Will not know peace,
We Africans will fight
We find it necessary
And we know we shall win
As we are confident
in the victory
Of good over evil,
Good over evil, yeah!
Now the last huddle involves ridding those useless segregatory borders and artificial colonial and post colonial boundaries. Long live one free Ethiopia (Africa as a whole).
