Report to the Caribbean Rastafari Organisation
Rastafari Hispanic Diaspora
Summit
Panama, May 23-30, 2005
Introduction
In the name and service of His
Imperial Majesty, Haile Selassie I, His I-loved Empress Menen, I
submit this contribution to the report on the recently concluded
Rastafari Hispanic Diaspora Conference held in Panama from May 23-30,
2005. I give thanks for
ancestral Irits and the Matriarchs and Patriarchs of the RasTafari
faith and movemant whose legacy afforded I and I and I the privilege
of another opportunity for the international gathering of the
Rastafari community, this time in Panama.
Utmost thanks and Ises to the Most High JAH Rastafari for that
glorious experience and profound thanks also to the host organization,
the Rastafari Alliance of Panama whose hard work resulted in a
successful gathering. Thanks
are also due in no small measure to the CRO and to Ras Bobby Olivacce
for contributions that enabled me to meet the high cost of my travel
to Panama. The sale of
CRO T-shirts during the Summit was made possible by Co-Chair Ras
Touzah JAH Bash and while this put me in financial debt to CRO, it
improved the cash flow in Panama and I am thankful.
This report highlights
significant moments of the Rastafari Hispanic Diaspora Conference that
warrant further deliberations and/or actions.
It shares some of the ways in which the Summit made a personal
impact as well as insights that can be useful in furthering relations
between the Caribbean Rastafari Organisation and the Spanish-speaking
Rastafari community and ends with a list of recommendations.
Elements of this summary will be incorporated into the
comprehensive Summit Report being prepared by Ras Nathaniel of IRIE.
Family Gathering
To cite the letter of
invitation from the Alliance, “Now, liberation must include the
largest concentration of Afro-descendants living in Hispanic
America…Thus the process is to effectively solidify a link to
Rastafari in the Caribbean and a wider diaspora.”
In spite of minor logistical challenges and differences that
exist and persist, those of I and I who speak the colonisers’
language, English and those who speak the colonisers’ language,
Spanish, came together and enjoyed strengthening the bonds of family,
faith and nation in Panama. However,
the strength of Mama Africa dominated the gathering and the rainbow
colours of African skin were most evident and celebrated.
It was therefore nothing short of unadulterated joy and
affirmation to commune with so many young members of the family from
Central and South America. The family feeling was evident
throughout the gathering and as I-legates arrived from Panama,
Argentina, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico,
Uruguay and Venezuela, I could not help reflecting on the song,
"Love In Any Language -
straight from the heart…"
Give thanks and Ises to the Most High.
Panama was a real inspiration
with the high point for I being the living together and giving Ises together
between Nyahbinghi and Bobo Shanti who share the roots of I and I
faith and who continue to provide I and I with the means of religious
and spiritual expression that fuels our everyday sustenance and work
as a people. The road to Inity is still rocky but I discern a
new resolve to step up the trod in recognition of the I-Majesty’s
appeal to give “prompt expression to unity in our common
cause.”
When I enquired about the
surprisingly large number of Bobo Shanti I-dren from South America, I
was informed that the EABIC has a website in Spanish and so the joy
was increased to have those young ones guide I through the rites of
worship during the Sabbath morning service.
I also could not fail to
notice the invited and increased fullticipation of the Sistren in the
Nyahbinghi administration and feel confident of the day when there is
sufficient trust that will allow that full and practical recognition
of Her Majesty’s throne.
The sistren brought some
sticky issues to the table and demanded answers to the question of
polygamy. While it was
recognized that some ones practice polygamy in its best and worst
forms, the example set by HIM Haile Selassie I in the practice of
faithful monogamy was the guiding principle for I and I family livity.
It was very interesting to find myself explaining the 21 day
principle of separation and purification to a couple of young sistren
who asked about that and to help draft a menstrual calendar for those
who observe that as well as for those who observe the 8 day principle.
The practical value of the principle as well as its being an
ancient African-Hebrew tradition were emphasized.
These are also some of the areas to be included among I and I
educational programmes for the Rastafari family.
PanAfrican Economic Possibilities
Of high interest in the
programme was the preliminary proposal being developed by a young
Panamanian ship's captain for the purchase and refurbishment of a
cargo ship to restore Marcus Garvey's Black Star Line.
That reasoning coupled with the presence of South America,
brought the buzz of excitement when connected to President Lula´s
current South-South initiative. The movement towards a concrete plan brought home the
necessity to link plans for repatriation with those for economic
advancement and presented to the Caribbean, the option of looking
South for trade and integration possibilities.
It is my view that with seriousness of purpose, Rastafari can
organize to reap the benefits of these connections more easily without
the bureaucratic and Babylonian obstacles that challenge other
governmental entities such as CARICOM.
The effort will require a massive and global fundraising
initiative and the Garvey UNIA model must therefore be in the mix as I
and I recognize the now urgent need to establish a global Rastafari
organization.
Also of significance is the
opportunity for Rastafari to drive a mission that will not be
exclusive to I and I but that will have the same Pan-Africanist focus
as the Hon. Prophet Garvey intended.
For this and also for other Pan African collaborations, it was
therefore very important to have met, reasoned with and shared contact
information with other PanAfricanists in Panama.
The telephone link and communication regarding this most
important venture with the Government of Barbados’ Commission for
PanAfrican Affairs, also signaled a level f readiness to act and this
was echoed by the Commission’s Director, Dr. Ras Ikael Tafari, who
indicated the possibility of the Commission’s Trade Mission funding
the feasibility study for the new Black Star Line project.
It is easy to see the big
picture but the experience of using I and I gatherings as
opportunities for trade needs more thoughtful planning and Panama was
no exception. Mitigating circumstances caused by social unrest
in the country limited the opportunities for exhibition and sale and
this was not always adequately communicated. However, the lesson
I am learning is that there needs to be the deliberate creation of a
market by bringing the buyers and the sellers together in a more
deliberate manner. This is being strongly recommended to CRO who
have similarly left the realization of trade up to chance and have
also not maximized the opportunities for trade during gatherings.
Nevertheless, there was some evidence that I and I supported each
other and the Summit would have been poorer without the rich offerings
of Sister Dawn, King Pele, Ras Ivi and the diversity of craft offered
by the South American brethren and sistren.
Rastafari International
Though the establishment of
the international organization was not on the agenda, it was very much
the rallying call of the Elders who trod from Jamaica.
Global Co-ordinator of the Nyahbingi Order, Ras Irie Lion and
Elder Bongo Shephan used every opportunity to urge the setting up of a
global secretariat. In
one such reasoning, I was able to clarify that the first priority was
to establish the organizational structure for which the Secretariat
would provide administrative services.
The IRASCOM presentation was
quite comprehensive and in this regard very useful.
The practicality of some aspects can be questioned and in terms
of the scale of organizing required, some of the organs proposed could
turn out to be too large and unwieldy to be effectively managed. Careful note was made to the responses to that presentation
and all indications are that there is still a kind of “turfism”
being expressed in the approach to establishing an international
Rastafari organization.
Those responses have
contributed to my recommendation that the next international/global/Iniversal
Rastafari gathering, should have but a single agenda item and that
should be the formation of an international organization that can
represent the interests of the Rastafari Nation worldwide.
This entity is needed at this time also because the African
Union would like to respond to some of the concerns being raised by I
and I in their new thrust to have strengthened relations with the
Diaspora and have signaled that they have not been able to identify
that single representative structure.
In one of the non-programmed
reasonings on the subject, I was able to identify the following
international entities that have engaged in a level of organizational
development from which many contributions can be made in terms of a
representative international organization.
This list is not by any means exhaustive, the organizations are
not presented in any order of priority and UNIA model should not be
excluded.
- Ethiopian
World Federation (including IEWF & other branches)
- Nyahbinghi
Order/
- Judah
Coptic
- Ethiopia
Africa Black International Congress (Bobo Shanti)
- Twelve
Tribes of Israel
- Caribbean
Rastafari Organisation/
- Solidarity
Foundation
- IRIE
- IRASCOM
- Empress
of Zion
- OAARU
- La
Sainte Famile JAH
- It
is envisaged that after the Panama Summit, there will be a
stronger impetus to organize and so other sub-regional and
regional organizations can be expected to emerge and will need
moral and other forms of support.
Costa Rica continues to
express interest in becoming a member of the CRO and would like very
much to host a mission there. The
recommendation is for this to take place around the end of
January-early February 2006.
Repatriation Census
With the exception of IRIE,
whose initiative it is, and La Sainte Famile JAH who have already
repatriated to Benin, all of these organizations should be asked to
complete the Rastafari Census form which has had slight modification
which will be re-sent by Ras Nathaniel.
The form recognizes that not everyone wants to repatriate to
the African continent and for some of those already living in the
continental space of South America, as well as for some of us on small
Caribbean islands, this provision reflects that reality.
It is recommended that the CRO
have its delegates complete the form during the 10th Summit
in Guyana. It is further
recommended that a modified version of the form can be used by the
Caribbean PanAfrican Network’s Repatriation Committee that is headed
by Ras Ikael Tafari.
Reparations
A very stirring presentation
was made by Jamaican opposition MP, Hon. Mike Henry regarding his
support for reparations. Following
his presentation and because he could not stay for extended reasoning,
I passed him a signed note asking him to table the subject for the
CARICOM HOGs and Opposition Leaders scheduled to meet in July 2005.
Spirit of Africa
“…the spirit of Africa grows steadily more powerful and all
pervasive…”
Africa
is alive and well in Panama. That
was evident during the opening ceremony of the Hispanic Rastafari
Diaspora Conference. One
of the persons honoured during the opening ceremony was the Congo
Queen of Colon and the degree of honour and regard shown by all
present was certainly not just ceremonial but a reflection of the
psychological necessity to protect and preserve the Congo culture that
has been handed down from generation to generation. The
Rastafarians also paid homage to her and recognised the significance
of her being born in 1930, the same year as the coronation of Haile
Selassie I. The Queen
appeared a bit tired and her daughter who will shortly inherit her
crown, explained that she was unwell.
All signs of tiredness and sickness disappeared however, once a
group of children began the Congo dance.
At one point in the performance, she joined them with an energy
that belied her age and condition and for an all too brief moment, we
were all transported to the Congo.
The Spirit of Africa was even
more strongly evident in Colon. The
visit to that city held personal significance for me as a descendant
of Robert Athlyi Rogers, whose Holy Piby also took root and
sprouted branches there. I could feel his and the other ancestral spirits as we entered the main
part of the town and could not help noticing the poverty that let us
know that neither Athlyi´s nor Marcus Garvey´s work in Colon has
even begun properly in spite of the history.
All that changed when we entered the auditorium where the Black
Africa Day ceremony was taking place.
Once again the Congo and all things African loomed large and it
was clear that this was an occasion in which everyone ensured they had
an African garment ready for wear.
Well almost everyone for among the many officials present,
there were a few in Western wear. It was no surprise though, that once the Congo drums started
and the dance began those jackets came off and the Africans came out,
holding nothing back in the dance.
Coming from Anguilla, where Africa seems to be suppressed in
the stranglehold of colonialism, you cannot imagine the joy of being
among a community of people who are so very proud of their African
heritage.
As we marched through the
streets of Colon with its residents on Africa Day, 30th
May, with the Lion of Judah standard among the flags leading parade,
all that I could think of was that predetermined destiny of our return
to the Motherland.
Panama
As someone who always finds
travel a learning experience, Panama did not disappoint. During the
informal reasonings at mealtimes and otherwise there was much new
knowledge to be gained about the history and geography of the land in
which many Caribbean lives were lost during the construction of the
Panama Canal. They were
remembered during a most memorable visit to the locking system of that
engineering wonder at Miraflores.
To witness
the process of the ships passing through the Canal and then out to the
Pacific brought home anew the age old vision of repatriation.
I hope my considerable
ignorance will be forgiven but during those reasonings I also learned
much about the history of Panama.
I did not know that Panama was once ruled by Columbia and its
independence from Columbia is celebrated on November 3rd
while November 4th is celebrated as Panama’s Flag Day.
November 5th, Colon Day commemorates the last day of Colon’s
battle with Columbia and November 28th is the anniversary of
Panama’s independence from Spain in 1826.
Rastafarians in Panama therefore have much to celebrate during
the month of November beginning with the anniversary of the coronation
of HIM HSI on November 2nd, which is also observed as the day of the
deceased. Given the
historic and socio-political landscape, it was no surprise to learn
that the poorest of the poor in Panama are to be found among the
indigenous peoples, followed closely by African people.
Also new to me was knowledge of the State of Choco that is on
the Panama-Columbia border and is known for the dominance of its
Africanity.
Water
woes at the camp became dread at one point but since I live in the dry
land of Anguilla and have experienced water shortages in several
countries, I was able to take that in stride as showers became bucket
baths and those became essential spot jobs if only cups full were
available. The learning for CRO and others organising major conferences
is to always have a Plan B in place for water especially.
What
I enjoyed tremendously about Panama, apart from the family
togetherness was how inexpensive everything was.
I paid only fifty cents for one hour of Internet time and not
more than three dollars for well balanced meals if we needed to eat
off camp. The expected destitution did not therefore set in and both I
and Ras Sela were happy about that.
The Singers & Players & Writers
Wherever the family gathers, the singers and
players of instruments are expected to be there and Panama was no
different. It was a
special pleasure to have the presence of David Hinds and Steel Pulse
and to see the wonder of the small boys who seemed to be enjoying the
street concert on Black Africa Day in Colon as much as I was.
It was also a special blessing to have
had the presence and the translation services of Dr. Miguel Brooks
with us for the duration of the conference.
His sharing from his most recent book, Negus led to the
recommendation regarding how we can collectively engage to undo the
psychological trauma of the Willie Lynch syndrome.
Time to lynch ole Willie.
Closing Remarks
The
Panama Summit was historic in more ways than one and it also revealed
certain patterns in I and I development as a nation.
Where the family is young there is much persecution and
discrimination but there is a level of tolerance that departs from the
historic scenario that gave licence to bring in all dreadlocks –
dead or alive.
The
Spanish-speaking Rases came with many questions as they sought
guidance from the Elders. The
diversity of religious differences often prevented less than crystal
clear responses and at one point I felt moved to remind those who
thought that the answers lay with the Elders, to I-call that I and I
Elders had no one to turn to but they were armed with the inspiration
of the Most High who ultimately, has all the answers.
On
reading Dr. Brooks’ Negus on the way home from Panama,
all my own fears about religious differences and their mismanagement
were stilled by the realisation that we are Ithiopians behaving just
like Ithiopians of old, seeking favour from our JAH and King and
fighting those zealous and jealous angelic wars to be Iver closer to
HIM.
Recommendations
1.
The next international RasTafari gathering must have but one
single item on the agenda and that is the formation of an
international structure and its secretariat. There will be many
aspects to that reasoning and conclusion and all houses, mansions,
organisations, federations etc. should come prepared to establish that
organ in a firm and representative way.
2.
CRO to engage I-legates in completing the Repatriation Census
forms at its 10th Summit in Guyana this August 2005.
3.
CPAN be encouraged to establish a timeframe by which to
complete the Repatriation Census exercise among the wider community in
the insular Caribbean and Costa Rica, which also falls within its
mandate.
4.
Ensure that there is a Plan B for water in Guyana during the 10th
Summit as Guyana is known to have water shortages from time to time.
5.
Learn Spanish – those who live in countries where there is a
Venezuelan institute should take full advantage of the classes usually
offered. Those members
who are fluent in Spanish can also offer classes for a fee as
fundraisers for their organizations.
6.
CRO trod to Costa Rica first quarter of 2006.
7.
Make a studied rasponse to the ways in which I and I interpret
matters of religion and spirituality so that I and I can focus on
rising to the level of the mystics where there is Inity of Spirit no
matter what the differences are in the personal practice of religion.
8.
CRO & the Guyana organizing Committee to identify Rastafari
Art & Craft buyers to deliberately create the market during the
Summit in August.
9.
Request Dr. Brooks and possibly his fellow psychologists to
develop perhaps a large group therapy model than can help us to move
beyond the dire details of diagnosing our post-traumatic slave
syndrome. We need to
identify all our mental health personnel for this exercise.
Contact psychiatrist brethren in Canada who was at Global
Reasoning in 2003, with this same proposal.
One Perfect Love
Sister Ijahnya
20th June 2005
