Sixty years ago this month, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, King of Kings of Ethiopia, and Elect of God, visited the Caribbean in a historic visit. The tour took in Trinidad & Tobago on the 18th, Barbados and Jamaica on the 21st and Haiti on the 24th. (1) The trip was further confirmation of The Emperor’s commitment to Pan-Afrikanism having founded the Organisation of African Unity three years earlier. (2) But it was the Jamaican leg that was particularly consequential, it being home the Black Liberation Livity that bore his name.
The Rastafari Movement was founded three decades earlier based on a mix nineteenth century Ethiopianism and twentieth century Garveyite Pan-Afrikanism. Founders like Leonard Percival Howell (aka Gong-g’un Guru Maragh – Bro. Gong) sought to re-orient the minds of the masses against the colonial order bringing into direct conflict. Thus from the outset, the powers that be were determined to disrupt, harass and in the case of the 1963 Coral Gardens Massacre, eradicate the movement. (3)
So in many respects it was an amazing turnaround that on April 21st 1966 over 100,000 flocked to Palisadoes Airport to witness the visiting dignitary disembark. But the authorities were so overwhelmed by the magnitude of the crowd, they had to call on Rasta, in the form of Mortimo Planno, to co-ordinate the Emperor’s descent from the plane. (4)
The momentous occasion did little to smooth relations between Rastafari and not just the Jamaican but Caribbean establishment in general as legislation like Dominica’s 1974 “Dread Act” exemplify. (5) Yet Rastafari spread exponentially around the world, particularly aided by the vehicle of reggae music that has produced generations of advocates from the likes of Burning Spear and Culture to Queen Ifrica and Chronixxx. Its appeal lay in its critique in the oppressive system, affirmation of a positive, historically grounded identity and apologetic reverence for the Afrikan ancestral homeland.. This certainly was the case in the UK in the 1970s and 1980s where they articulated longstanding support for causes like repatriation and reparations. (6)
In addition to its engagement with the grassroots, Rastafari has continued to push back against officialdom up to the present. This pressure yielded an apology in 2017 from the Jamaican government for the Coral Gardens massacre. Although felt the apology fell short it was acknowledged as a “start.” The following year Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne issued an apology to the Rastafarian community for “decades of persecution and abuse they suffered at the hands of the police.” Earlier this year it was reported that St Kitts and Nevis through its Rastafari Rights Recognition Act, became “the first Caribbean nation to recognise Rastafari faith in law.” In this move St Kitts and Nevis joins Kenya, South Africa and even Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK and USA. (8) When challenged on why they have not done likewise, the Jamaican government retorted that “Jamaica, in our Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, we recognise all religions, and we have always identified Rastafari as a religion.” (9)
(1) Rastafari TV (17/04/16) 1966, April 18: Emperor Haile Selassie Visits Trinidad & Tobago. https://rastafari.tv/1966-april-18-emperor-haile-selassie-visits-trinidad-tobago/; Rastafari TV (15/04/16) 1966, April 21: Emperor Haile Selassie I Visit to Barbados. https://rastafari.tv/1966-april-20-emperor-haile-selassie-visit-barbados/; Rastafari TV (20/04/16) 1966, April 21: H.I.M. Haile Selassie I State Visit to Jamaica + Photo Gallery. https://rastafari.tv/haile-selassie-april-21-1966-state-visit-jamaica/; Rastafari TV (23/04/16) 1966, April 24: H.I.M. Haile Selassie I Visits Haiti. https://rastafari.tv/haile-selassie-april-21-1966-state-visit-jamaica/
(2) Biko lion (25/05/21) May 25 1963: The Organization of African Union headed by Haile Selassie I. https://www.rastaknowledge.com/2021/05/25/may-25-1963-the-organisation-of-african-union-headed-by-haile-selassie-i/
(3) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (18/04/16) Groundation @50 Pt1: Where is Rastafari Today? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFKra8fV-TI. Government attempts to restrict the movement of Rastas lead directly to the Coral Gardens Massacre where Prime Minister Alexander Bustamante declared: “Bring in all Rastas, dead or alive!”
(4) Ibid. As a consequence there was a Rasta presence at all of Haile Selassie I’s subsequent engagements in Jamaica.
(5) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (01/05/17) Jamaican Government Apology – Justice for Rastafari? Pt2. https://alkebulan.org/2017/04/25/coralgardensjusticept2/. The “Dread Act” (Prohibited and Unlawful Societies and Associations Act) was described as “one of the most draconian pieces of legislation passed in any part of the world in the 20th and 21st centuries.”
(6) Makonnen Sankofa (2022) The Rise of Rastafari: Resistance, Redemption & Repatriation. Peaches Publications. p. 139-144; Our History (27/06/23) How Rastafarianism Popularity Exploded In The 20th Century. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIH9icRYt6Q
(7) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (01/05/17). Op. Cit.
(8) jarod.derrick (08/02/18) PM apologises for “brutalisation” of Rastas. https://antiguaobserver.com/pm-apologises-for-brutalisation-of-rastas/; Sinai Fleary (03/04/26) St Kitts and Nevis become first Caribbean nation to recognise Rastafari faith in law. https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/world-news/2026/04/03/st-kitts-and-nevis-become-first-caribbean-nation-to-recognise-rastafari-faith-in-law/; Louis E.A. Moyston, PhD (10/04/26) Respect due Dr. Drew: Official recognition of Rastafari. https://www.caribbeanlife.com/respect-due-dr-drew-official-recognition-of-rastafari/
(9) Sinai Fleary (14/04/26) Jamaica defends its record on Rastafari as St Kitts claims regional first. https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/world-news/2026/04/14/jamaica-defends-its-record-on-rastafari-as-st-kitts-claims-regional-first/
Groundation Day at 60: Reasoning on Rastafari
1) Is there a connection between Rastafari and Pan-Afrikanism?
2) What made Rastafari so appealing in the UK in the 70s & 80s? How do we assess it’s impact?
3) How has Rastafari managed to challenge officialdom up to the present?
4) Through what means is Rastafari conveyed today?
Our Special Guest:
Ras Kwadwo Zenzele: is a Husband, Father, Son, Brother Born in West London 1957 Pan Afrikan, Nationalist, Afrikan Spiritualist, Rastafari Joined Organisation of Rastafari Unity in early 1980’s Has been a member of an organisation ever since Foundation member of InI Families of Rastafari Taught in Saturday Schools, Youth and Community worker Facilitated Black Fathers group during 1990s. Ras Kwadwo used to co-present the Ras Story show with Sis. Benji on Omega Radio.
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