Dr. Kwasi Konadu "We Should Focus On The Historical Haile Selassie I And Not The Mythological One" 

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I first want to start this by saying that I respect your work and that I encourage discord among our brothers and sisters in the diaspora. Our engagement does not have to be filled with vitriol and hurtful language. With that said before I begin to break down my reasons for disagreeing with the conclusion of this video let me list some of the things Selassie actually did before trying to explain the myth making that happened around him as a historical figure. 1. While in exile in Britain Selassie created the Ethiopian World Federation in an attempt to garner support from the African diaspora for his war effort and at that time Jamaica was still a colony of the British. 2. Openly spoke about racism and colonialism when he spoke at the UN and League of Nations and aided in liberation movements on the continent of Africa. Nelson Mandela for instance was trained in guerilla warfare in Ethiopia in the 60s. one can look at his speech at the UN in 1963 which was famously turned into a song by Bob Marley. 3. Gave free land to the African Diaspora to settle in Ethiopia while much of Africa and the Caribbean was Colonized and the African Americans were living under American Apartheid (Jim Crow) He also did this around the same time of the creation of Israel by the UN on behalf of the Jewish community. 4. Personally met with prominent members of the Rasta community in the years before his visit to Jamaica such as Mortimer Planno. 5. Helped create the Organization of African Unity in the late 50's and early 60's to promote a Unified Africa and to help liberate the rest of the continent. He also visited Harlem and the Abyssinian church at the height of the Civil Rights movement and when Adam Clayton Powell was alive and well. To say that we don't need Selassie when speaking about Black liberation Is a little short sighted when the information of his involvement in those struggles are presented. It is also odd to me as a student of African culture that you would point simply to the bible as to why the Africans on the island of Jamaica would deify Selassie when this is a common African practice of deifying ancestors and historical figures of note. We can even point to Rasta itself and the Nyabinghi order to explain this as Nyabinghi was a living breathing person that became a powerful ancestral deity because of the actions she took while still alive. Capleton who is a prominent Rastafarian Reggae artist calls himself Shango or Ṣàngó which himself was a true historical figure that later became Deified into an Orisha in the Ifa pantheon. This should be enough to understand the mindset and cultural significance around the language used by us Rastas when speaking about our elders and Ancestors who have done things to aid in our liberation. I myself descend from Queen Nannys Maroons in Portland and she is a figure that is treated in the same way that Selassie is treated when speaking about ancestors of note that contributed to our liberation as a people. Giving the Bible that credit I believe is misguided and ignores the cultural intelligence of our forefathers and mothers in the diaspora. The last thing I would like to mention is that Selassie had many enemies because of the things he did and he was purposely targeted by those that were unhappy with some of his reforms and his centralizing of power reshaping the structure of Ethiopian governance. Not to mention his attempts to absorb Italian Eritrea and the different factions that still existed in that country(many of which still had ties with Italy). That is not to absolve of him of criticism but it is an attempt to put that time period into further context. If he was a pawn of the British and the British had rebels in their colony of Kenya that wore their Dreaded locks.....Why would Selassie then meet with another perceived rebel group in another of their colonies who also wore the Dreaded Locks? Wouldn't that be a strike against his so called colonial overlords? The premise of the idea doesn't really make any sense when put under scrutiny and although I respect your attempt at reimagining Selassie's legacy and the way we view him I believe you may have been a little overzealous in your rush to judge without proper context. One Love and much Respect.

I am Ethiopian my father my mother Ethiopian, there are many Ethiopians who love Yahweh who love the Throne of David who love the solomonic dynasty who love the Glorious history of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie! This is so untrue!

I love you brother. Truth don’t care who speaks it. 30 years of being a Rasta, I let go fantasies and seek reality. Respect to all truth seekers and speakers

Salute with all due respect I am Ethiopian .Ras does not mean prince it means head.Come speak to a Ethiopian we can tell you the meaning of words and different aspects of our culture.

He came with a sledgehammer with this one

While I understand your "intellectual" point of view, the inmense creativity and power that I feel while listening to some rastafari music, Like T'Jean, Five Stars Celestial, Imeru Tafari, Runkus, Yeza, Kabaka Piramid, Eesah and so on is just undescriptible. It feels like humanity in evolution, in liberation. I don't necesarily believe their believes, but those definitely give them some beautiful love and power that I don't feel around very often. Many times, while dancing to their music alone in my house on the small island of Finland where I live with my girlfriend, and two young children, I have really felt in trance, having white and clean vissions, letting my body integrate those powerful words and rythms 🙏🏽 Feel very grateful for those 🤗 My girldfiend has breast cancer, and we have been fighting this for 4 months. I have kept mostly energetic, positive and hopeful thanks to this music. And not beacuse I believe on Haile Selassie in the way they do, as I tend to NOT believe in anything, I am just talking about the energy I receive, the energy I feel, the energy I experience. Rastafari energy. Really unique, really evolutionary as I experience it. Almost the only positive thing right now when you look at the world stage, really. And in the end, is a liberating way of reading the bible, that's all. (I haven't being around rastafari people that much, so I can't tell about that energy when around them, I am just talking aobut the kind of energy I get from their music, is BEAUTIFUL) Much love to you 💚

I like this argument. Certainly there is some validity to the lineage of Selassie I, as well as what was accomplished by him during that time. There is no doubt that during his reign the term despot can be used in regards to reforming the country. Given the rampant colonialism in Africa at the time; I ask who else spoke with as much impact for the world and for Africa? Rastafari is very much a spiritual movement that respect Haile Selassie as a man of divine consequence, or timing. The wisdom and foresight of a leader who speak for a continent and a race, is something to be revered I believe. But the Dr. Does make important realistic points, and it is important to respect history as it is and not as myth. All I ask is that a little more respect be given to the "dogma" of what is a global spiritual movement. Of course, we all are of the same Creator, it is just the belief of some that there was no one more important to our human existence than than this man. Given how lost many of us are on the diaspora, this is something I can respect.

This man was my professor in college!

I agree with the need to not worship the man like a God, however to call this man a dictator, I will not agree on that. When I read the Selected Speeches of HIS MAJESTY. It's inspiring and it's like a blue print on how a Nation should be constructed from the ground up. His MAJESTY was a forward thinker whose main aim was to usher Ethiopia into the 21st century and beyond. He allowed many young Ethiopians to go abroad and receive the advanced education that was needed to come back to their homeland and take part in the future growth and stability. However while being abroad, many young hopefuls got Europeanize and forgot why they were sent there in the first place. He was such a forward thinker that he was the only African nation at the time that was a member of the league of nations. I understand that this man is a well known professor and all however he is just a man sharing his views and we should all do our own research on everything and everyone. Alot of our black educators need to dig a little deeper sometimes.

These ppl won’t listen to Marcus Garvey’s own words about selassie, good luck. But I hear you bruh

Savior complex. Based off Christianity. Brilliantly put my brother. We must face reality of things , separate facts from theology. One love brother. Respect

My father knew Selassie infact if it wasn't for H.I.M I would have never been born to my parents. He sent my father on a scholarship to Belgrade to help further the education of his people and was trying to build up Ethiopia but we all know the forces that came down on Africa at the time , Acid Rain which caused a famine and unrest ... I'm not a historian but from what I know Haile Selassie was a humanitarian. Look at his speeches and what they mean.

With the exception of pouring water or beer 🍺 and/or food libation on to the ground … instead, place them in/on a alter formation in nature as an offering to the ancestors. Pouring water or beer or leaving food on the ground is akin to feeding a dog 🐕 from the ground, this is what I do for the animals that visit my backyard. But a coconut shell will hold water or beer much longer, a calabash will hold food offerings longer, indicating that you want the ancestors to eat as they see fit , at their leisure and stay or visit as long as they want. This is how I do my ancestral libations, but more often than not I give my libations to the universe and say thank you for providing protection, a roof over my head, financial prosperity, so on so forth. And whatever libations offered is not consumed symbolically by the ancestors , will be consumed by nature via ( sour-flys) or by other creatures of the universe… in return helping new flowers 💐 and plant life to grow… WIN , WIN , WIN situation.

One of the best channels on youtube. I am so grateful to have found this channel!

He read it in a book & Wikipedia

I think it's common knowledge that Emperor Haile Selassie was not the second coming of the biblical Christ.. He didn't ask for that title, and he seemed to dislike being thought of in that way. And, although he was a controversial figure, I think it's disingenuous to say that all the Ethiopian people disliked him and thought of him as a cruel dictator. Also, I would not give the British full credit for returning Selassie to Ethiopia after exile. There were Selassie loyalists inside of Ethiopia that also played a prominent role in his return. He, like all African leaders during that turbulent time on the continent were up against a lot and were attempting to create strategic alliances with Europeans to prevent their countries from being totally taken over by other Euro and Arab powers (which was obviously a huge mistake) because none of them should have ever been trusted)....and, I am willing to bet that those who claim to hate Selassie did so, or still do so because of some etnic or religious difference that was exploited by either Italy or Britain. And, yes. Ethiopia was occupied by Italy and indirectly colonized by Britain. Nevertheless, five years is a far cry from the 60 plus years that other African countries suffered...and Selassie should be given credit for that. I mean he did seek help from the League of Nations before turning to Britain for assistance ( which again, was a grave mistake) because of what Britain had done in that region in the past, and wasn't it Britain that eventually betrayed him in the end? I'm not sure, but I believe so. However, why does it seem as if some Africans take great pleasure in tearing apart the legacies of their leaders? I just don't get it.

Never knew that 👍

Finally! Someone speaking the truth about this myth that Ethiopia was never colonized. He left out the 1868 British expedition and conquest too. We need to let go of these myths and magical thinking.

Very interesting. And very truth about the heavy Europeans influence on the people. Yes It had been misrepresented.

From you you used the work "RastafarianISM", it shows you have little regard for people's religion. You are the only so-called scholar who I have heard stating negative things about Ras Tafari and you have provided no empirical evidence to say the man was a despot. Additionally, because you have a PhD which are a dime a dozen in the US, does not mean you are superior in intellect to anyone else or should tell people what to believe. To demand that people follow your wishes is condescending. Leave Rastafarians alone and let them live. Because you certainly cannot go to the Muslims or Jews and tell them what to believe or how to conduct their affairs.

🤔..you should hear what the Somalis say about HIM. Rastafari is a roadblock to liberation very interesting. Truth of the matter folks take and hear to suit themselves including untruths. Rastafari needs to realise the saviour complex isn't working ultimately it's just us the African diaspora.

I love the diaspora of the positive vibration pulsating love full circle into our hearts inspired ras tafari haile selassie i truth divine

That's fact. Read different books about these topics, not just "militant Rasta" ... or other Christian, but historical basics: F.e. Prince Asfa-Wossen Asserate is a university professor & bestselling author in Germany. His book "The Last Emperor of Africa" is the first well-founded, comprehensive biography of his uncle Haile Selassie I in sovereign autonomy. A realistic biography & a great portrait of the fascinating history of his homeland.🌻✌🏻📚🤓

Oh my goodness. I’ve said this in these comments, and I’m hated in the comment section. Selassie was cia

A lot of academics dont get spirituality in any form and that is why HIM said you should have a balance and for the record many Ethiopians love and respect HIM

He should have honestly admitted that there are hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians, Africans and others worldwide who love Kedamawi Haile Selassie without apology. His Majesty's influence is far more edifying than the jealousy that his detractors seem to harbor.

Great reasoning...

I burn FIRE in anyone who disses His Majesty may

He is right learn about the historical Haile Selassie I not a mythological view of him!

It’s not a Dogma. It’s a LionMan

Ras Tafari Livity = gnosis of InI spirited "God" man is the KRYSTal consciousness....I prey to no man

I totally agree with this speaker

May the enemies of JAH scatter and wither to the seventh generation

Quite interesting.

So Doctor, do tell what good focusing on the historical Haile Selassie I would do? Why focus on him, why not somebody else? Why focus on a single person at all?

Been laughed at, scrutinised To the point where I had to ask who am I Then I remember what they do to Christ He was nailed to a cross and crucified Now that the light came to me I wonder if they're gonna do the same to me And when the truth hits painfully That's when you know if you're really who you claim to be For so long we've been denied Rejected and brutalised But jah children shall win the war Cos we know who we are We're Selassie I children Haile Selassie children We are Ethiopians by blood Africa was born in us, Selassie children Haile Selassie children We know who we are Young boy threw away his comb So his papa told him find a different home Never come back, hold your own Bout you're a Rasta, I wish I never know you Rejected for the life he choose Cast out, all alone The stone that the builder man refused Shall be the head cornerstone Soon they will realise That we've been reading between the lines Remember we foretold the war You never forget who we are Tell them, we're Selassie children Haile Selassie children Dani in the lion's den We are Ethiopians by blood Africa was born in us Selassie children Selassie children Young girl gotta face the worst Cos her mother just took a look in her purse She find a clay kutchie and some holy herbs And the wise mind of Haile I the first Mama say young girl you're losing your mind Did you get these things from Satan She say no mama I got the kutchie from Jah9 And the wise mind from i nation Please mama, don't scrutinise Take this book and give it a try Let this herb open up your eyes Experience the wonders of Rastafari Haile Selassie children We are Haile Selassie children We are Ethiopians by blood Africa was born in us Haile Selassie children Haile Selassie children The battle will be hard Haile Selassie children Still we never stall Selassie children Deh ya back a wall Haile selassie children Still di Natty never fall Haile selassie children Oh coral garden Selassie children Look at pinnacle Selassie children Still we deh ya now Selassie children Never giving up Selassie children Take no heart through pain Selassie children Fight the fights in vain Selassie children Even if the battle stains

I read through most of the responses from over the two days this has been posted. I’m not surprised by the responses, speaking out against Selassie is like telling Catholics or Christians to not believe in Jesus but believe god is in self. Or to draw picture of Allah or Mohammed for Muslims it’s blasphemy. There is now much material on the actions and evilness of Selassie written I’ll edit my post a bit later to share one of the older (early 2000’s) publications. These are written by Jamaicans and yet still this myth and deification of this man now an ancestor still exists. It’s understandable why and I have empathy for those who view him as a savior. I do ask read deeper study deeper. I’m named after Jomo Kenyatta, was he beneficial in some ways yes but was he a puppet master in many ways yes. Whereas Dedan Kimathi is not discussed much and yet Kenyattas family still has a role in managing post colonial but still colonial mentality Kenya. It’s a challenge most of people clearly have across all ethnicities and nationalities; that is the deification of humans who clearly didn’t benefit them in spite of looking like them or saying they identify as them. We see it with Irish descendants who glorify and support st Patrick’s day, we see it with white Americans who support the polarity of government knowing neither side fully embraces the benefit of humans and the earth truly, we see it with black Americans who glorify Barack Obama and wish he was still president. The key thing I say is all the humans who do this are descended or living as oppressed peoples. And it’s a pathology of oppression to identify with the oppressor and those used as pawn puppets and overseers of the system of oppression. Aka Stockholm syndrome. In the context of dictator and despot, I ask what does it mean the number of human lives he supported the murder of to occupy Eritrea. There are living and descended Eritreans who still are dealing with trauma from That experience along with the experience of European colonization in the same ways that there are Jamaicans dealing with the trauma of slavery and post slavery, post colony manipulations leading to gangs and gun violence supported by US governments as a way to destabilize Jamaica as a connection to Cuba and the Carribean movement of pan-Afro carribean liberation that was coinciding with black American liberation movements. There’s just too much evidence to read to ask people descended who families lived through those times. Speeches are speeches. Anyone can write glorified bullshit but to execute war on another region to claim land based on biblical or colonial terms, tsk cha that’s no different then what Israel is doing to Arabs in what’s called Palestine now. Again I empathize it’s not easy to uplift oneself and see truth. I truly identify with the spiritual perspective of karma or Maat laws if one supports and identifies with one who does evil (i.e. taking of another human life and validating it as righteous whether local or distant) there will be karmic retribution to be fulfilled. Universal/spiritual laws. What we out out comes back to us in return. And if it’s not us directly it’s those we are reborn as (our descendants) and our children pay that karma. Jamaica like other places that have historical Oppression has people who uplift violent dictators and the oppression of Jamaica from within and externally continues. Liberation is spirit and then individual which ripples outward over time. It will clearly take a long time based on the comments of the professor speaking “blasphemy”

No Rastaman deny HiM fart that’s the point right LEe Scratch Perry ? This guys is ungrateful for what we see , wouldn’t he love to feel how we feel when we See Vision in Haile Selassie 1st

Dr Dr Dr Dr Dr you c things as an afropian

I heard from many Ethiopians who said he was a great and visionary king … the Dr. is a fraud and ....while Haile Selassie name will live on forever ... Kwasi Konadu will be forgotten

The world is of good & evil, you can’t have one without the other. So ah talk you guys just talking. Just opinions being thrown around.

This pre not profound....the idea is the flesh and blood ordinary man is divine...even the farts...and all broken hearts...liberation and sufferation.samecoin...

Rasta has evolved, egghead!

teach them bro

My Ma is a Lioness never a dog

The more information the more they want to discredit the Mystik of God Almighty .. this guy was there when Christ was here too , he was in the world and they knew him not *

SHE'SUS CRIES! HOLY "BABEL!" Be... EVE...me, l AGREE

I am deeply saddened by this. I have so much respect for your work. Worship of a God King is the second oldest form of worship in the known historic record. The Akan also deify their King. I was in Ethiopia in 2018, and Haile Selassie’s image and influence is every where from the ATM machine,to massive statues at Siddis Kilo and Arrat Kilo. How mad could the Ethiopian people be when the University is his former dwelling. Please humbly apologize and recant this shameful recording.

Dr. Kwasi!

The question at the beginning is non sensical. There are many ethiopians during selassie time and now he see HIM as a great one. Also to the doctor, There are countless reasons beyond the bible or a 'saviour complex' which validate Haile Selassie I greatness to rastas and ethiopians, ( refer to comment by abib jahleel ). The professor doctor or whatever also is not properly educated or balanced on the topic. For those who are sincerely interested in knowing truth please note that Garvey was at first a great supporter of Haile Selassie, selassie also funded the unia in the 20s the problem came when garvey criticised sellasie as being a coward for leaving ethiopias warfront to seek assistance, garvey also praised Mussolini in the same breath. Garvey lost favor with Selassie here, he (garvey) also began to lose popularity with the people for his baseless comments. Its so sad how brainwashed some university academics are. Give thanks to HIM Haile Selassie I.

So what do you believe in?

We're do they find these peoe

The man tries to smear Selassie’s legacy I bet he never read the Autobiographies of HIS Majesty

This guy doesn't know what he's talking about. Ethiopia was never colonized by the British who came to Magdala and defeated Teodros and they left. No one is saying they never lost a battle. Ethiopia is the only sub saharan country that does not speak a western language as their official language. Also, why didn't you mention that Marcus Garvey criticized Selassie for owning black slaves and that Selassie snubbed him after Garvey asked to see him while he was in exile in England? By the way, Mussolini and the Italians declared all black slaves free during their occupation. Sealssie only freed slaves after his exile because enslavement of dark skinned people in Ethiopia was so rooted in the culture.

While I respect this guys right to an opinion, but he speaks babylon propaganda against HIS Majesty. He doesn’t Iverstand Selassie’s role in history and how he is im fact open the 7 seals of Revelation, and was certainly not a British colonial puppet as this man says. JAH Lives

Beware of Babylon and its miseducation. His Imperial Majesty is divine!

Fiyah pun all blasphemist

You're saying that as though it was the opinion of all Ethiopians who lived under his role that he was a tyrant. This is the furthest thing from the truth. There are many Ethiopians to remain faithful to the Solomonic Dynasty, understand the word of God and do not exalt him as God but rather as God has exalted the Throne of David the attacks of the enemy to dispose it. You're talking out of your head and you're full of it go sit down

😳🙄🤔

He missed it He need to open is eyes to the fact and he was brought back He returned to the thrown get you proper right a bald head could never diss the man with the thunder

hahhahaaah a 3 year partial occupation with constant guerilla warfare doesnt equall to a full colonization. As for the british, after naipier won the battle of meqdela, he left. he didnt stay and try to set up a goverment. so your claim the Ethiopia was colonized isnt true

Who’s mans is this 🤷🏽‍♂️