RASTAFARI IN ITALY

CORONATION ILABRATION IN ITALY
November 1st - 2nd 2004

On November 1^st this year I was honoured to attend a gathering of the Ras Tafari family near Rome in Italy. Here is a short account of the event plus some photos.

When I n I arrived early on the 1^st November there were already several idrens there. I was introduced to the family who greeted I warmly and with raspect. Several of the bredrens were working when I&I arrived to translate a programme of the ceremony into English so that I and two other English speaking sistrens could overstand the order of events. The programme consisted of Bible readings, excerpts from His Majesty speeches and also readings from an Italian translation of an Ethiopian book detailing the Coronation ceremony which has yet to be translated into English. I n I who didn’t speak much Italian (especially me who only knows about 5 words!!!) could read the Bible passages and speeches. More details on the ceremony and the book will be published here shortly.

There was a separate room in the garden of the building where some of the bredrens were playing drums and chanting when we arrived. Others were reasoning and renewing links between a normally widely scattered community. I was amazed at the love amongst the family and how humble the idrens were and I felt truly blessed to be among them.          

After some time everyone gathered in the garden where lunch was prepared for all. Once  everyone was assembled I&I gave thanks and ate our food together. This was followed by an Ethiopian coffee ceremony. There followed more reasoning and loving vibes.

As darkness started to fall the ceremony began, firstly with drumming and chanting creating a powerful Iritical vibration. The readings and prayers that followed lasted for around six hours and more detail of this will be published soon. Even though the words were in a language I didn’t overstand, I was amazed at the beauty of the ceremony and of course I could follow the Bible readings, speeches and some other parts which had been translated for I&I. 

There was more drumming and chanting at one point during the evening and also after the ceremony. During this time more food was being prepared and after the chanting I&I shared a meal of lentils and bread and filled up on roasted peanuts.

Originally I had thought that I and I sistren were to go to another house to sleep but this didn’t happen and we slept with a next sistren in the main house. Several of the bredren, who originally thought they would be sleeping in the main house, slept in a small outer building in order to allow us some privacy as sistrens. I give thanks to the bredrens once more for this. I do not think they had a very comfortable night!!

On the morning of the 2^nd, a simple Italian breakfast of pane (bread), biscotti (biscuits) and caffè (coffee) were provided. Also an Italian barley drink similar to Barleycup called Orzo ( I think!!!).
The morning was spent in more drumming, chanting and reasoning. Several of the idrens who had slept elsewhere also returned. After this I&I ate some lunch before the drive north to Perugia where I was staying.

I would like to say thanks once more for the love and hospitality I received from all the idrens in Italy. I hope to return very soon.