Rastafarians turn out to celebrate Ethiopia's New Year and new millennium
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View all articles by Acolyte .Rastafarians turn out to celebrate Ethiopia's New Year and new millennium
In September, Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa celebrated the new Millennium. But Ethiopians - at least in Addis Ababa - have mixed feelings about these celebrations.
On the one hand they love Enkutatash, the New Year holiday. It is a time for family reunions, and visiting friends.
The problem is that the government, alive to the public relations value of this unique event, has embraced the Millennium so enthusiastically that it has effectively taken it over.
The official feel to the Millennium has been reinforced by the fact that none of the independent events originally planned for the New Year period will actually be taking place.
An offer by the Rastafarian community to bring over reggae stars from the Caribbean was not encouraged.
A project by a restaurateur to feed 2,000 hungry children did not get permission to go ahead.
One reason may have been security concerns.
The remaining events - all government organised - will take place in gated venues where everyone can be checked as they go in.
Rastas join the celebrations
One group which is turning up in force is the Rastafarians, who have a special devotion to the late Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie and to Ethiopia as the true spiritual home for all those of African descent.
The singer, Jason Asher, known as Prophet, is taking himself at his own word and is in Addis Ababa for the Millennium celebrations.
"Why did I decide to come for the Millennium? Well, it is the African Millennium, you know, so we who are Rastas, who look towards to returning home to Africa, it becomes a big, important time, you know, a very important time for us.
"Also, you know, through the representation in Ethiopia as a Christian nation, so it is also two thousand years from Christ, you know."
The great place for Rastafarians in Ethiopia is Shashamane, down south of Addis Ababa.
But at the moment the visitors are coming in for the new Millennium, the new year, and they are passing through Addis Ababa, and a lot of them stay here at Leah's Guest House.
"My name is Dulcie. I'm visiting my brother -- his name is Teddy Dan, a Rastafarian living in Shashamane -- for the celebration. It's very special for me. I feel a part of it, being an African.. I really feel a part of all the celebration."
Some Ethiopians puzzled
Ethiopians seem to regard the Rastafarians with a kind of baffled affection.
They can't understand their worship of Haile Selassie, but they respect them as a peace-loving people with a genuine commitment to Ethiopia.
Ambrose King for instance, has made his home in Ethiopia and has raised his family here.
"As our religion was ripped away from us, we of the Rastafari movement are adherents of the Tawahedo Ethiopian Orthodox faith.
"And we are now approaching a new Millennium in that we will be celebrating our New Year come September 11th. So for us it's important in embracing this culture that we should also celebrate this great significant calendar, this new Millennium.
"We will be doing it, not only here in Ethiopia, but all around the world, wherever the Rastafari movement adherents are found. So it will be celebrated world wide," he said.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2007/09/070910_ethiopia.shtml
On the one hand they love Enkutatash, the New Year holiday. It is a time for family reunions, and visiting friends.
The problem is that the government, alive to the public relations value of this unique event, has embraced the Millennium so enthusiastically that it has effectively taken it over.
The official feel to the Millennium has been reinforced by the fact that none of the independent events originally planned for the New Year period will actually be taking place.
An offer by the Rastafarian community to bring over reggae stars from the Caribbean was not encouraged.
A project by a restaurateur to feed 2,000 hungry children did not get permission to go ahead.
One reason may have been security concerns.
The remaining events - all government organised - will take place in gated venues where everyone can be checked as they go in.
Rastas join the celebrations
One group which is turning up in force is the Rastafarians, who have a special devotion to the late Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie and to Ethiopia as the true spiritual home for all those of African descent.
The singer, Jason Asher, known as Prophet, is taking himself at his own word and is in Addis Ababa for the Millennium celebrations.
"Why did I decide to come for the Millennium? Well, it is the African Millennium, you know, so we who are Rastas, who look towards to returning home to Africa, it becomes a big, important time, you know, a very important time for us.
"Also, you know, through the representation in Ethiopia as a Christian nation, so it is also two thousand years from Christ, you know."
The great place for Rastafarians in Ethiopia is Shashamane, down south of Addis Ababa.
But at the moment the visitors are coming in for the new Millennium, the new year, and they are passing through Addis Ababa, and a lot of them stay here at Leah's Guest House.
"My name is Dulcie. I'm visiting my brother -- his name is Teddy Dan, a Rastafarian living in Shashamane -- for the celebration. It's very special for me. I feel a part of it, being an African.. I really feel a part of all the celebration."
Some Ethiopians puzzled
Ethiopians seem to regard the Rastafarians with a kind of baffled affection.
They can't understand their worship of Haile Selassie, but they respect them as a peace-loving people with a genuine commitment to Ethiopia.
Ambrose King for instance, has made his home in Ethiopia and has raised his family here.
"As our religion was ripped away from us, we of the Rastafari movement are adherents of the Tawahedo Ethiopian Orthodox faith.
"And we are now approaching a new Millennium in that we will be celebrating our New Year come September 11th. So for us it's important in embracing this culture that we should also celebrate this great significant calendar, this new Millennium.
"We will be doing it, not only here in Ethiopia, but all around the world, wherever the Rastafari movement adherents are found. So it will be celebrated world wide," he said.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2007/09/070910_ethiopia.shtml
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