Selassie is Ras Tafari

Tafari ("he shall be feared") Makonnen was born on July 23rd, 1892 in Egessa Guru in the province of Harrar, in Ethiopia, He was the son of Woizero ("Lady") Yeshimabet, wife of Ras ("head", "duke") Makonnen, who ruled in Harrar. He belonged to the oldest dynasty in the world, which according to the ancient and sacred Ethiopian book the Kebra Nagast (The Glory of Kings), was a power as far back as Menelik the first son of Solomon, King of Israel, and Mekeda of Sheba.

After the passing of the previous ruler, Empress Zauditu, the 38 year-old Ras Tafari was crowned Nequsa Nagast (King of the Kings, Emperor) of Ethiopia under the name Haile Selassie ("Power of the Trinity") the First. The state ceremony which was attended by representatives from many great nations in Addis Ababa's Saint George cathedral, reflected the power this king enjoyed. At the time, Ethiopia (the first ever Christian nation since the year 350) was the only non-colonized African country besides Liberia. The coronation of Haile Selassie was seen by a small community of Jamaican Christians as the fulfillment of a Biblical prophecy that Marcus Garvey, who was struggling for black emancipation, used frequently in his speeches. These Christians recognized Haile Selassie as the Divine leader referred to in the prophecy and henceforth began calling themselves Rastafarians, as in Jah ("Jahovah") Rastafari. This syncretic faith has since grown to millions of followers, from Blacks to half-castes, like Bob Marley, to people of all colors. As Selassie himself said, "until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eye's",, Rastafarians will be struggling for equal rights and justice throughout the world. Tafari's tutor Ethiopian Orthodox Aba Wolde Kinan had given him the copious traditional training of the great lords, but his father had also chosen to give him the opportunity to study French and European culture with Aba Andreas (Monseigneur Jarosseau) and a French Capuchin monk, Aba Samuel, whose influences and friendships became increasingly important in his life.

On "Selassie Is The Chapel", which gives its name to this CD, the power of the faith that was growing in Bob can be heard. It was this faith that helped Bob and the Wailers to reach the hearts and minds of people throughout the world over the following decade.

Bruno Blum & Jeremy Collingwood

Explore Rock to the Rock and the Best of the Wailers portions of this boxset.

Learn more about Bob, Bunny, Peter, Rita