Seal Up Day For Harar
Trod Rastafari Fact Finding Mission
Ises unto the Omnipotent Haile Selassie The
First and Empress Menen
Greetings to the Global Family
InI write from Addis Ababa as the sun goes
down. Sister Ijahnya is on a computer on my left arranging for the
South Africa journey as Binghi Irie Lions sits on my left ready to
share in this mini report from a most excellent day glorifying
Rastafari! This is a brief email to keep ones abreast of the works
related to the Harar Trod. A final report will be shared after the
South Africa journey and Ghana journey are complete (late December).
We started with a 9:00 a.m meeting this
morning with Mary Joy organization who is a link we receieved from our
meeting with the Programme Manager for UN Volunteers last strong. Mary
Joy is an example of an Ethiopian NGO fulfilling the creed. They are
working with youth, elders and the sick with many bridges of
cooperation.
From there we went to the Ethiopian Orthodox
Church Adminstrative Offices to meet with Arch Bishop Abuna Mattewos
who is back and forth to Harar. We had met him earlier in Harar and
were following up with him. His open heart and loving words of respect
for Rastafari were well received. He then accompanied us to the main
building where Abuna Paulos's office is. After waiting for about five
minutes I needed to pee so I was escorted down stairs just as Abuna
Paulos was walking in the front door. I approached his cross and
kissed it and then he asked "What are you doing here?" I
expressed the mission to upkeep the birth site of Haile Selassie The
First in Ejersa Goro and bridge building work related to Repatriation
and Reparation. He said "good luck" and moved along his
business. Then we (Brother Mulugeta, Sister Ijahnya, and Binghi Irie
Lions) were ushered from downstairs into a large room with a very long
Board Table. A brief aside is that InI had been calling the Chief of
Protocol for Abuna Paulos to set up a meeting for the last month. InI
may have been given the run around. But today, with the link of the
Archbishop, and with the mystic running into Abuna Paulos InI could
not be denied.
We were ushered from the big room into Abuna
Paulos's office. Sister Ijahnya was moved to tears as she felt the
gravity of the moment and now knew for herself that Ethiopia is her
home. We had about a 20 minute reasoning with the Patriarch on
Shashemene, other lands available, the need to come home and do
something concrete, the importance of working with the Church, and
keeping the focus. We were presented with crosses and then took some
pictures together. It was clear that Abuna Paulos had not known that
we had a scheduled appointment with him. It was clear that Far I was
moving. From this point we had the Church Museum unlocked and went
through the pictorial history of Ethiopia and the EOC including
enscased artifacts from different Church Patriarchs.
Upon sealing InI went to meet Ato Ayello Abebe
who is a tall and humble man in his early 70s. Ato Ayello was the host
to the 1961 African Mission in his capacity within foreign affairs and
thanks to Brother Mulugeta we were able to set a lunch meeting with
him. He also met with the Rastafari Mission in 1963 and is
photographed with them in Brother Dougie Mack's book. It was a true
blessing to behold his account of the Rastafari History made with the
1960s delegations and his role in accompanying the delegates to
Shashemene and within the audience of HIM. History and the present day
were meeting. Here our Harar Trod delegation was still advocating for
the right of abode, citizenship, and government to government
repatriation and reparation some 38 years later. Sharing a traditional
meal and connecting our Iritical Selves was healing and encouraging.
Then our final meeting for the day was at the
AU with 4 members of staff of the AU Citizens and Diaspora Directorate
including Director Dr. Jinmi Adisa. The Rastafari Ilegation comprised
Binghi Irie, Sister Ijahnya, myself and Ras Reuben Kush representing
the repatriated Rastafari community and Mulugeta our Ethiopian
resource person. The meeting was spirited and effective. Sister
Ijahnya led the group in our agenda with a 15 minute delivery from
Binghi Irie Lions appealing for the collaboration needed with AU as
the Diaspora has been bleeding for centuries and Rastafari has been at
the vanguard of African Consciousness and the call to return home.
Binghi Irie within a forward zeal appealed for Reparation,
Repatriation and Restitution. He also supported the call for an AU
strength for the Millennium Council's proposed international Rastafari
gathering in Jamaica. The MC is advised to put the request in writing,
though the dates may need to be negotiated. The meeting went into a
level of off the record proceedings as Ras Reuben Kush displayed his
concerns and hopes for Repatriation related to his own experience of
being a factory owner Repatriate here in Addis. The discourse was
honest and encouraging with Brother Adisa committing to several action
items on behalf of Rastafari. (more to come in our final report) On a
final note related to this meeting the officials suggested an audience
with Quadaffi which the Rastafari Illegation well received. Also
Binghi Irie Lions requested 8 AU flags to set the proper protocol for
collaboration amongst InI family works through out the earth.
InI are preparing to make individual moves
starting with my journey tomorrow a.m to Ghana. Ras Jalani BongoNiah
has safely returned to Jamaica. Binghi Irie Lions and Sister Ijahnya
leave for South Africa this Saturday.
As the trumpet is blowing from Jamaica to the
four corners of the earth InI give thanks for the effective way in
which Jah has molded INI delegation into a family. In the midst of the
serious works there has been much laughter as we share all aspects of
life. The challenges have always had solutions. It has been a very
important time to witness and fullticipate with the Shashemene
community.
InI will be working diligently on the upcoming
report in order to pass it by the main leaders in Shashemene before
sharing it with the Global Family. There is much work to be done
individually and collectively.
Binghi Irie's Words: "We are asking that
the collective and MC work assiduously to bring forth the type of
cooperation needed to continue the works among the Global Family. We
give thanks that our collective could come to a consensus to support
the fixing of the Church in Ejersa Goro that marks the birth site of
InI Father Haile Selassie The First. We ask the Global Family to be
ready to support these works in honoring the Creator of INI Life. More
strength and focus to the family on the continent and We ask through
the power of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I to work in one
commonology and solidarity to bring forth the type of one voice
consensus that InI need."
Trod Along Ingels,
Christopher Keiser-Liontree
