90th Coronation of His and Her Majesty, King Alpha and Queen Omega

Field Trip Report on the Nyahbingi Celebration

for

The 90th Coronation of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassi I and Her Majesty Empress

Menen Asfaw

To

Dr. Jahlani Niaah

By

Jabari Charles

620102512

(Thursday Tutorial 10:00-11:00)

November, 2020
90th Coronation of King Alpha and Queen Omega

Introduction

On the 2nd of November 1930, His Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I and Her Majesty

Empress Menen Asfaw were crowned on the same day in Ethiopia. The Rastafari remember this

moment in all its significance as well as many others which can be viewed on the Rastafari

Calendar. Therefore, a Nyabingi celebration is held yearly to honor such a time. Due to the birth

the global pandemic, the Rastafari took advantage of the technology of the times and decided to

utilize the Zoom platform to promote a sense of fellowship despite the prohibition of physical

gathering that would normally be present if there were no pandemic. Being tasked with

observing the celebration as a guest, I would soon notice that things unknown to me would be

revealed, which would lead to me writing about the what I expected prior to being invited to be

present at the celebration. These prior thoughts will then dance within the space of my mind and

mesh with the things I have seen and would hear that evening to later write to you and explain

how it is this event and the practices that were displayed are related to the current teachings I

receive at the University of the West Indies on Rastafari Culture. Lastly, I will reflect on the

knowledge I have obtained and express what I have learnt in words.

Prior Thoughts on the Celebration

This being the first time I would be able to view the Nyabinghi Celebration, my mind

began to fill with thoughts, of what exactly to expect from such a cultural event. I imagined

dancing being done by the women of the tribe and possibly some of the men, some speeches

from the elders and others who held a high position in the tribe surrounding past celebrations and

possible proceedings. However, I was certain that there would be the beating of drums because
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of how other Antiguans would describe their celebrations, I also expected some common dishes

to be on display, such as the famous I-tal dish.

Proceedings of the Celebration

There was a short musical interlude, as I have decided to call it, which occurred

periodically throughout the celebration. During this time a series of reggae music was played.

The proceedings didn’t exactly start as yet so I assumed this was a way of passing the time until

the relevant members taking part in the celebration had enough time to get connected. Then a

representative from IDOR greeted the audience and this greeting then led into the formal

greeting session following a short introduction given by the representative. During this greeting,

many Rasta great each other in the name of the most high Jah and in the name of His and Her

Majesty. One should note that at the point of observing this period in time, the moments were

ones of unfamiliarity but there was a strong interest that came from within, as to why this feeling

of being in the presence of very important people was felt. Also, the greeting given by Dr. Jezani

Kush, founder of the Lalibela Institute in Miami and co-founder of the Highly Selassie I Center.

After which there was the chanting of the song “Crown Him” led by Ras Tafari from The

Theocracy Reign Ancient Order of the Nyahbingi and other members of the congregation over in

St. Croix. Following this performance would come a presenter named Ras Jakes, who received

recordings and other video documentation of the coronation from His Majesty himself. A short

clip was played and narrated by Ras Jakes revealing information of what went on around the

time of His Majesty’s Coronation. Up next we have the chanting of the Coronation of His

Majesty which I found to be quite interesting. The chant was done by Ras History-man or Ras
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Story-man. It spoke about the time of his coronation all the way through to His Majesty’s

achievements and effects of his coronation by mentioning the year these events occurred and a

brief description of what happened. At this point I began to relay chants to poems and a mix of

spoken word but with rhythm and a culture twist or backing behind it.

Then the celebration went over to the tribute section, which was what I like to call

meatier or the section of the celebration with the most substance to feed the mind and in turn the

body. During this section the aforementioned Dr. Jazani Kush did a “Blue Fire Perspective”

presentation on the coronation. This presentation geared more towards the importance in the

works of Her Majesty Empress Queen Menen Asfaw which seemed to create some tension in the

audience. To me it was a touchy topic and it made it seem like the Rastafari didn’t fully

acknowledge the importance of Queen Omega and therefore she saw the need to touch on it. This

issue was later touched on a bit in the question and answer segment which came after the tribute

section. Following her presentation were two more. One done by Dr Michael Barnett which

spoke to the Global Impact of the Coronation and the other by Ras Wayne which was based on

the Birth of a new African Identity and Consciousness.

Discussion

Firstly, Kitzinger argues that Rastafari males do not consider females to be important to the

Rastafari movement based on the observation she had which state that 'leadership, status,

prophecy and healing' rest with the male (Rowe 1980, p13). This speaks to a broader topic

which is the roles or role of women in Rastafari. Here, a Rastawoman presents herself as the

founder and the leader of an institution geared towards raising the Rastafari youths and
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advancing their education and way of thinking by imparting onto them what she has learnt from

the Babylonian system. It seems that she still has the role of a nurturer but is now in a higher

position than what the rastamen place the rastawomen in based on Kitzinger’s argument.

Moving onto the topic of Rastafari livity, which can be seen in the way that they

appeared on camera, putting main focus to the head wrap and the clothing. Rasta stay conscious

of all I-tal things and as such portray themselves in the same manner depicting their beliefs. This

is further supported by this definition, “Livity is, thus, "the practice of 1-tal [vital] living" which

"is reflected in the Rastafarians' appearance, diet, use of herbs, process of reflection, modes of

production, and aesthetic activity” by (Kebede & Knottnerus, 1998, p. 512). The new African

consciousness and identity spoken about in the presentation by Ras Wayne also bundles with

Rastafari Livity.

Finally speaking on the documentary of the coronation and the impact of the coronation,

which Rastafari commonly relate to the Honorable Marcus Garvey and his teachings. Most

importantly where he said to look to Africa for the crowning of a King. Rasta hold these words

highly and show great respect for the future sight Garvey gave on returning to Africa and freeing

of black people/African diaspora from an oppressive society to which they did not belong and

that they should enforce unity among them. This is all a part of Pan Africanism and this can be

seen in the Rastafari Nation, a large congregation of people who love, cherish the moments and

the reasoning they share amongst each other and to one-day return home to Africa and later to

Zion.
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Reflection

Before this celebration I found that the beating of the drums in some African movies

which depicted the lives of black people and their struggle to release the shackles put on them

from a white centered society, would create this feeling inside me which at first was strange but

then stemmed into a liking and as I grew mentally, I accepted it as a good thing that my body

readily moves or I feel like the music is in me, its apart of me. So when I heard the drums being

beaten during the song “Crown Him” I could feel the connection, not only from the sound and

the sequence of the beats from the drum but also the words that came out of Ras Tafari’s mouth

as he sang. It was during those moments that the view that I am just a guest was forgotten,

simply left my mind and my spirit seemed to venture to an area where to my knowledge, I felt

like I was right there in Tafari’s presence, a part of the congregation over in St. Croix.

Involuntarily I stomped my right foot and began to tap the table as if I were on the drums and

suddenly I knew all the words of the song. The vybz and the atmosphere that I received from the

rest of celebration was an experience I wouldn’t mind experiencing over and over. However,

mainly the singing and the drumming caught most of my attention. I couldn’t really relate to the

information departed onto me during the tribute and the videos of his majesty but most definitely

I would like to find myself back here again for the music.

Conclusion

The celebration in itself is what I conclude and believe to be one of the most reverent

actions shown by the Rastafari throughout the year towards His Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie

I. The level of respect displayed via chanting, songs and tributes. Even the discussions held
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amongst them and the representation of Rasta as an international body which could be visible

when one observes how many countries had signed onto the Zoom platform and those who sent

their blessings from afar is a most definite depiction of the love they have for his majesty and

how important the coronation was to them and the Rastafari movement. From the talks of The

Coronation of His and Her Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Queen Menen Asfaw

to the global Impact of the Coronation all the way down to the birth of a new African identity

and consciousness we see that being Rastafari is not only a blessing to those who embrace it but

also a struggle and a fight in securing their rights despite the oppression from other international

bodies. In closing a line from a reggae song which to me truly vocalizes the wishes of the Rasta,

“Oh what a Rastafari band when we reach into Zion, oh what a glory that will be… Most High,

King Selassie I, Jah! Rastafari”.

90th Coronation of King Alpha and Queen Omega

Appendix

On the right is His Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I in his kingly attire and on the left we have

Her Majesty Queen Menen Asfaw in her queenly attire as well.

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This is an example of the drum set used during the Nyahbingi Celebrations. It was used during

the first performance of “Crown Him” led by ______ from the island of St. Croix. These

instruments provide rhythm for the songs and chants of the Rastafari during the celebration.
90th Coronation of King Alpha and Queen Omega

On the left we have Her Majesty Queen Menen’s crown and on the right we have His Majesty

Emperor Haile Selassie I’s crown. This crown was presented to them in a Catholic Cathedral by

Archbishop Curillos after an anointing. He crowned Emperor Haile Selassie I with these words,

“our devoted Lord has crowned thy servant Emperor Haile Selassie with this crown of pure gold,

crown… with equality and mercy”. From that time, it would be eternally known that on

November 2nd 1930 His Majesty became the might and power of the trinity, King of Kings, Lord

of Lords, Conquering Lion of Judah.

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References

Kebede, A., & Knottnerus, J. D. (1998). Beyond the Pales of Babylon: The Ideational

Components and Social Psychological Foundations of Rastafari. Sociological

Perspectives, 41(3), 499–517. https://doi.org/10.2307/1389561

Rowe, M. 1980. Caribbean Quarterly, Vol. 26, No. 4, Rastafari. The women in Rastafari, p 13 -

21.