‘Father of Africa’ statue unveiled in Ethiopia
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Caribbean Life, F BQ eb. 15–21, 2019 11
Who is the “father of Africa?”
Sunday, Feb. 10 a commemorative
statue of Emperor
Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia was
unveiled at the headquarters
of the Organization of African
Union (OAU) in the African capital
city of Addis Ababa honoring
the leader many consider worthy
of the title.
One of the founding fathers
of the Organization of African
Unity (now the OAU) his image
now reflects tangible and “significant
recognition to the contribution”
he made “for the liberation
and unity of Africa leading
up to the founding of the
Organization of African Unity
in 1963.”
Throughout his reign he was
regarded as an advocate of the
Pan-African movement which
aims to unifying countries on
the African continent as well
as for his role in strengthening
solidarity among the global African
community.
At the start of the 32nd AU
summit, African leaders from
Egypt, Rwanda, Ghana and
South Africa joined others from
the continent to witness the historic
ceremonial testament that
now pays tribute to the lifelong
contribution made by the last
emperor of Ethiopia, a ruler
esteemed by Rastafarians as a
messiah and a revered African
leader worthy of the title and
adulation.
The installation of a statue
at the headquarters of the AU is
the second monument honoring
an African leader. The first in
2012, regaled the legacy of Ghana’s
Kwame Nkrumah another
founding father of the OAU who
antagonized colonialists.
Although the festive February
ceremony seemed unanimously
regaled by guests, family
members and the AU fraternity,
there are those that consider
HIM Selassie I AKA Ras Tafari a
sentimental symbol adored only
by a fraction of the Ethiopian
populous and a segment of the
Jamaican community known as
Rastafarians.
One of the contentions stems
from a statement he reportedly
made while visiting the island of
Jamaica in 1966.
His critics harken back to a
“We are not Black” response he
allegedly made to a journalist
there.
It might have been attributed
to a sign of the times he lived
because it was common then
to refer to Nilotic or Bantu Africans
as Black which Ethiopians
are not.
Due to that statement and
other allegations about persecution
and enslavement of his
people, along with differences
in political perspectives and loyalties
there are still divisions
among intellectuals, Pan-African
advocates and others as to
whether he is deserving of the
title “Father of Africa.
Unquestionably, HIM maintained
a rigid stance for African
liberation.
He was very vocal and determinably
against colonization
and imperialism in Africa.
Some hold fast to a devotion
of Ghana’s first President
Kwame Nkrumah.
His effort in ousting British
rule to establish an independent
nation seems valid argument for
being the sole heir of such an
auspicious monument and also
the meritorious title of ‘father
of Africa.”
Others argue that South
Africa’s Nelson Mandela may be
the most deserved for his lifelong
sacrifice in championing
a fight against apartheid and
white rule.
And still others suggest
Patrice Lumumba of the Congo,
Amilcar Cabral of Bissau-Guinea
and Cape Verde, Kenya’s Jomo
Kenyatta, Mozambique’s Samora
Machel and Edwardo Mondlane
and other equally esteemed Africans
who fought for the liberation
of Africa. The Motherland
has many fathers. HIM Selassie I
is among the storied patriarchs.
Catch You On The Inside!
Haile Selassie statue.
Inside Life
By Vinette K. Pryce
/NYLResponsiblePlay.com