A SOLIDARITY MESSAGE TO THE AFRICAN LIBERATION DAY COMMITTE IN DOMINICA

A SOLIDARITY MESSAGE
From

Ras Albert and Empress Tempie

May 25, 2010

Greetings from the United Kingdom

I and I send solidarity greetings in the name of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Sellassie The First, on this AFRICAN LIBERATION DAY 2010 celebrated in the Commonwealth of Dominica and in several other countries in the world, particularly on the African continent.

The efforts of the House of Nyabinghi in keeping the awareness of the struggle of I and I people at the forefront of the minds Dominicans must be commended. ALD activities have been observed in Dominica since the 1960’s however, a lot of changes have taken place in Dominica, the Caribbean and the world since then. Many countries in Africa and the Caribbean including Dominica have attained political independence from their former European masters, yet, the struggle for total freedom continues

Consequently, the Rastafari movement is at the forefront of that struggle, and must continue to increase the rapport between the Government, and the people of Dominica so that I and I voice may be heard at the local and International level on such issues as: reparations and compensations to the sons and daughters of enslaved Africans forcibly brought to the West Indies in chains that is rightfully due to I and I; unfair economic practices that continue to put a stranglehold on third world countries denying their governments the wherewithal to provide for the welfare of their citizens; lobbying for the decriminalisation of the herb which is I and I holy sacrament, and for which hundreds, nay thousands have been unjustly imprisoned and fined for mere possession and cultivation; lobbying for the religious and human rights of the Rastaman to be protected in jail so that he may grow his dreadlocks unhindered and to lobby for educational institutions so that the teachings and history of Rastafari can be universally accessible to the youth so that the youth of tomorrow may be empowered.

The concept of African Liberation Day (ALD) was born in April 15, 1958, when a historical meeting of African leaders gathered at Accra Ghana for the first Conference of Independent States to discuss the state of the African continent and the impact of colonialism. Represented were governments from Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, The United Arab Republic, representatives of the National Liberation Front of Algeria, and the Union of Cameroon. In recognition April 15th was dubbed Africa Freedom Day.

Five years later, on May 25, 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,32 leaders of independent African States met to form e the Organization of African Unity (OAU). By then more than two thirds of the continent had achieved independence, mostly from imperial European states. At this meeting, the date of Africa Freedom Day was changed from April 15 to May 25th, and Africa Freedom Day was declared African Liberation Day (ALD). 2

African liberation, is Dominica’s liberation and it is incumbent upon the Rastafari community to speak out on issues that continue to enslave I and I people such as illiteracy, drug abuse and crime in all its manifestations.

To become a free people, illiteracy, drug abuse crime, poverty, preventable illness must be eradicated. The youth need healthy and positive role models that can fire their imagination and spur them on to positive action, and thereby making a worthwhile contribution to society.

As man and man come together to observe ALD, I and I call on the organisers to remember the Days of the Dread Act when young dreadlocked men and women were hounded, beaten, jailed and killed simply for expressing their African heritage through their habits, beliefs and mode of wearing their hair.

As Rastafarians, I and I must continue to engage the society and government through finding linkages and common grounds on which there can be mutual sharing and growth guaranteeing success in all areas of life for all.

The ethos of African Liberation Day is the ethos of the Negres Maron who had a vision of emancipation. And many who paid the ultimate price.

As the decades progress it is important that clear aims and objectives be set, marking what ALD means in this dispensation, and what it means in the modern context. Further a field on the African continent, there is much work to be done… This brings to mind an admonition from His Imperial Majesty in speaking to Rastafarian elders in Jamaica in 1966 when he visited that island. He advised them, that they must liberate Jamaica, before they can liberate Ethiopia.

Having said that, one must applauded the pioneer Rastafarians who have made the trod from all parts of the earth to Ethiopia. Today there are about 300 Rastafarians who have repatriated. In particular, I and I very own, Ras Kabinda Habre Sellassie, who despite victimisation and imprisonment in his early days, has used his freedom and intelligence to bring relief to many Ethiopian children through his humanitarian work among the schools in Shashemane, Ethiopia.

Another Idren is Ras Mo who through his cultural work as a community animator is addressing the ills associated with domestic violence, teenage pregnancy and drug abuse and gang violence among inner city kids in California USA.

No matter where the Rastaman is he must stand as both prophet and priest, and revolutionary and thinker and be the liberator of I and I people. At home and abroad regardless of colour, class or creed.

And so, we say to each of you, as I and I have indicated above, representing that same spirit that I and fore fathers who fought and died even before 1958 or 1963, and whose spirits are manifested in all of us day in 2010. My wife and I again salute each and every one of you to say I AND I must continue the struggle, must continue to hold up that torch of liberation so high that no matter where I and I are, it can be seen brightly As it was yesterday, so it will be for I-ver…

May Jah Rastafari grant his richest blessings on all of the activities this year and in the years to come.