Amor and devoção! A visita de Selassie à Jamaica!

Haile Selassie visited Jamaica on April 21, 1966, and approximately one hundred thousand Rastafarians from all over Jamaica awaited the descent of the imperial plane at the Norman Manley airport at Paizandoes in Kingston, awaiting what they considered to be their messiah. The spliffs and chalices were unceremoniously carbureted, causing the ganja smoke to fog through the air. The day was declared a holiday in honor of the emperor. The crowd arrived well in advance, coming from places near and far, in the most varied ways possible, with cars, trucks, buses, bicycles, on foot, with some already waiting for his majesty for weeks. The beats of nyabingui drums and hypnotic chants were heard incessantly. Some waved palm leaves, photos of Selassie, banners with words addressed to H.I.M., and many green, yellow and red Ethiopian flags, as a welcome to the Emperor. Everyone kept their eyes fixed on the sky, wanting to know when the plane carrying His Imperial Majesty from Trinidad and Tobago would arrive. The rain began to fall, but no one made any attempt to retreat.

THE BIG TIME HAS ARRIVED

Among the thick rain clouds, his majesty's plane began to appear. Painted on the fuselage, the roaring Lion of Judah and green, yellow and red stripes. At this moment, an immense clamor erupted from the crowd. The plane stopped and thousands of dreadlocks, emerging from the police barriers, ran towards the aircraft. Haile Selassie finally arrived at the airport, but was unable to get off because in addition to the crowd preventing him from approaching the mobile staircase due to such euphoria, his majesty had been surprised by the strong odor of ganja. Through the plane door he saw thousands of dreadlocks singing songs of praise to his name, and many were lighting their chalices with ganja. Banners in the crowd bore sayings such as "Selassie is Christ" (Selassie is Christ) and "King of Kings" (king of kings). Selassie refused to leave the plane and remained there for at least an hour until order was established. Finally, the Jamaican authorities were forced to ask Ras Mortimer Planno, a well-known Rasta leader, to board the aircraft and negotiate the Emperor's descent. The traditional red carpet - an item always present at the reception of great personalities - had been destroyed because some dreadlocks considered it "contaminado pelo colonialismo", as the Queen of England, Elizabeth, had walked on it during her official visit to Jamaica a few years earlier. Ras Planno then exited the aircraft and announced to the crowd: The Emperor instructed me to tell you to remain calm!" Selassie finally left the aircraft under heavy security, and was quickly taken to the official car, which was heading to a reception arranged by Sir Alexander Bustamante, then 82 years old and almost blind from cataracts. Soon after, he visited the University of the West Indies - where he was awarded honors - and also visited the Jamaican parliament. Scholars consider this day as the main point for the movement, which is celebrated to this day by Rastafarians as the day of "Grounation", the second holiest holiday behind only November 2, the day of the Emperor's coronation. Since then, as a result of Ras Planno's actions, Jamaican authorities would ensure that Rastafarian representatives were more active in state decisions, and that elderly Rasta Elders had a confidential audience with the Emperor. Do not head to Ethiopia without first freeing the Jamaican people." - said Selassie. These sayings became known as "Liberation before Repatriation".

"I AM NOT JESUS!"

Haile Selassie never rebuked Rastafarians for his full conviction that he was "reencarnação de Jesus", a title he vehemently denied. Instead, he presented the elderly Rastas with gold medallions, they being the only ones to receive such an honor on this visit.

MICHAEL MANLEY VISITS ETHIOPIA

Former Jamaican Prime Minister and leader of the PNP (People's National Party), Michael Manley visited Ethiopia in October 1969. With bewilderment and emotion, Emperor Haile Selassie claimed that he still remembered his warm welcome in Jamaica three years earlier, and felt that he should be even more respectful to the minister for this reason. On this visit, Manley received the Rod of Correction or Rod of Joshua as a gift from the Emperor, a fact that many believe helped the politician win the 1972 election in Jamaica. An interpreter translated Emperor Haile Selassie's speech, delivered in Arabic, addressed to both houses of parliament and Gordon House. On the throne with his imperial majesty were Governor General Clifford Campbell, his wife and George Huggins, who enthusiastically explained how Selassie's visit had affected the country and himself. It is difficult to put into words what it was like to see this man, this great man, lord of lords, in Jamaica. This meant a lot to the Rastafarian community. We had heard so much about him for so long. Wherever His Majesty went in Jamaica, he was received with celebrations overflowing with loyalty and love. When you have love for Jah, you should not fear its power. For the Rastas it was a total blessing." A primordial and unprecedented fact was the inclusion of eminent Rasta personalities in the official ceremonies, although not everyone had this privilege. Some elderly Rastas, who consumed too much ganja, were prevented from attending the sessions, and even complained about whether Selassie was really God, because if he were, he wouldn't need a plane to travel.

MARLEY IS TOUCHED BY FAITH

In a speech, Selassie denied his divine nature, but the Rastas cared little about the declaration. It was impossible for them to rewrite the prophecy. Rita Marley, the wife of Bob Marley, converted to the Rastafari faith after seeing Haile Selassie I on his visit to Jamaica in 1966. In interviews, and also in her book "No Woman, No Cry", she reveals that she saw stigmata on the palm of Haile Selassie's hand as he waved to the crowd, a mark that resembled the wounds on Christ's hands when he was nailed to the cross. Despite repudiation from some sources, the fact was used as evidence for her and other Rastafarians to believe that Haile Selassie I was certainly their Messiah. Although he did not witness the Emperor's acclaimed visit, Bob Marley, who at the time lived in the United States, was sensitively touched by the divine title given to Selassie, and also by the evidence witnessed by Rita. Such arguments were decisive for the conversion of Bob Marley, who was not yet internationally known.

BOB MARLEY, THE BIGGEST SPREADER OF RASTAFARI

After the international explosion of music and Bob Marley's idol status, Selassie became even better known around the world. The star composed songs such as "Jah Live", "Selassie Is The Chapel", "Iron Lion Zion", "Forever Loving Jah" and many others that refer to Haile Selassie I with much love and devotion.