On Sunday 13th October 2013, the Afrikan communities in Britain lost the physical presence of one of our great warrior queens. Queen Mother Jessica Huntley left us to join the ancestral realm. Born on the 23th February 1927 our mother lived and fought for Afrikan self-determination, both in Guyana, her country of birth and in Britain the country she adopted as home. Never blind to the plight of her people Mama Jessica forced us, her spiritual children to expect high standards of ourselves and of others. Her example was that there is nothing that is unachievable. The more difficult the task may seem, the harder you will have to work to obtain your desired outcome. She also made us understand that quite often the outcome you desire may not be the outcome that is achievable. Every challenge is therefore a lesson which you need to learn. Once you have learnt your lesson, you will be able to teach. Mama was never afraid to rattle cages. I have on occasions found myself on the opposite side of an argument/discussion with Mama and have been forced to articulate my view with precision. She and Papa Eric cared not whether you were a recognised academic or one of the abandoned, they expected you to formulate your views and make a reasoned argument, based on your evaluation of the subject.
I was often intimidated by the company, in which I found myself, but Mama's faith in me helped me to overcome my fears.
I do not believe that most people really comprehend the trepidation felt by those of us that never finished school, when confronted by a room full of degrees and professional qualifications. Mama made us feel more at ease because she dealt with them in the
same way she dealt with us.
I am proud to have been a part of Mama Jessica's extended family and had the opportunity to drink from the fountain of her knowledge. I will miss her physical presence, though I still feel her spiritual guidance right now.
Thank you Mama for caring enough to livicate your life to us. I will endeavour to continue the work you started and pass the baton on when my time comes
Aluta Continua
Monday 14 October 2013
Saturday 23 March 2013
Ethiopia - Is this the future?
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Ethiopia and its onward march towards Westernisation
Since the departure of the Emperor and the rise of the dirge, Ethiopia seems to have been on an inexorable slide into Westernisation.
The years of the dirge under Mengestu took Ethiopia into the hands of the Soviet Union and all that Marxism stood for. This meant that the ordinary Ethiopian was denied information about its former times, as the idea of the monarchy was viewed by the state as anti-human. Thus they did all they could to wipe out the memory of the Emperor and the anciency of the Ethiopia empire. Their efforts also meant that people conceived the royal family as a nett drain on the country. As an aside it is worth noting than European nations, even those that no long have a royal family as such, teach a full history of their nation. They may teach it with a particular bias, however they teach it and this includes Russia (USSR as it was). Ethiopians on the other hand have been denied even the opportunity to examine for themselves the the ramifications of their monarchy.
If not for the Rastafari Movement the name of Emperor Haile Selassie, Empress Menen, Emperor Menelik and others would have disappeared into the mists of time. In short they would for the most part have become footnotes in history. Not even the Emperor's epic defence of Ethiopia, after the Italian invasion would have warranted many pages of world history.[1]
The years of the dirge under Mengestu took Ethiopia into the hands of the Soviet Union and all that Marxism stood for. This meant that the ordinary Ethiopian was denied information about its former times, as the idea of the monarchy was viewed by the state as anti-human. Thus they did all they could to wipe out the memory of the Emperor and the anciency of the Ethiopia empire. Their efforts also meant that people conceived the royal family as a nett drain on the country. As an aside it is worth noting than European nations, even those that no long have a royal family as such, teach a full history of their nation. They may teach it with a particular bias, however they teach it and this includes Russia (USSR as it was). Ethiopians on the other hand have been denied even the opportunity to examine for themselves the the ramifications of their monarchy.
If not for the Rastafari Movement the name of Emperor Haile Selassie, Empress Menen, Emperor Menelik and others would have disappeared into the mists of time. In short they would for the most part have become footnotes in history. Not even the Emperor's epic defence of Ethiopia, after the Italian invasion would have warranted many pages of world history.[1]
Whilst it is clear that the Emperor saw some virtue in the adaptation of some aspects of "Western Culture", he was also quite clear that the traditions and history of Ethiopia must be preserved
This is to say that the inclusion of the new should not be at the cost of displacing tried and tested ancient traditions. At present it seems that Ethiopian people, are hell bent on dismantling the last great stronghold of indigenous African culture on the continent.
Whilst I am not trying to present an idealistic view of Ethiopia nor of the Emperor's reign, it is nonetheless true that this ancient empire represents the hopes of many diasphorian Africans. Its heroic defeats of Italy in the 19th and 20th centuries, show us what can be achieved in the face of overwhelming odds. The Emperor and Ethiopia helped to turn the tide on foreign conquest -physical, though socially this conquest has been unabated- of the African continent. Its triumphs can be seen as the turning of the tide. African independence movements gained momentum in the aftermath of -particularly the Benito Mussilini- these victories. H.I.M.Emperor Haile Selassie I stated, “I declare before the world that the Emperor of Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Government and the people will not accept anything done to them by force. I further declare that they will do anything in their power to...have the authority and the territory which is theirs restored to them.” H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I[2]1990
This is to say that the inclusion of the new should not be at the cost of displacing tried and tested ancient traditions. At present it seems that Ethiopian people, are hell bent on dismantling the last great stronghold of indigenous African culture on the continent.
Whilst I am not trying to present an idealistic view of Ethiopia nor of the Emperor's reign, it is nonetheless true that this ancient empire represents the hopes of many diasphorian Africans. Its heroic defeats of Italy in the 19th and 20th centuries, show us what can be achieved in the face of overwhelming odds. The Emperor and Ethiopia helped to turn the tide on foreign conquest -physical, though socially this conquest has been unabated- of the African continent. Its triumphs can be seen as the turning of the tide. African independence movements gained momentum in the aftermath of -particularly the Benito Mussilini- these victories. H.I.M.Emperor Haile Selassie I stated, “I declare before the world that the Emperor of Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Government and the people will not accept anything done to them by force. I further declare that they will do anything in their power to...have the authority and the territory which is theirs restored to them.” H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I[2]1990
Today a very different type of revolution is taking place in Ethiopia, if we are to believe Ethiopian nationals resident in the UK. It seems that Ethiopia is breaking up, albeit surreptitiously, into its constituent parts. Whilst it is quite natural for the various ethnicities, which make up the Ethiopian populace, to desire to celebrate their own distinct culture, the incorporation or importation of some things western seems to create a dichotomy. It appears that some Ethiopian communities have elected to drop the use of the Amharic characters, to write their languages, in favour of the Roman characters. This seems to me, quite ironic, when in the preceding two centuries Ethiopians (Abyssinian) fought tooth and nail to keep the descendants of the Romans from overrunning their territory. Time alone will tell, if this turns out to be a disaster for Africa and Africans. I for one can see no good coming of it.
Monday 12 November 2012
Leonard Howell - The Original Gong
In 1981 Leonard Percival (The Gong) Howell passed from this life and entered the ancestral realm. This was incidently the same year that Robert "Bob (Tuff Gong)" Marley entered the ancestral realm. There was however a great difference between the passing of these two Rasses. Whilst Bob Marley received worldwide acclaim, Leonard Howell's passing did not register anywhere, except amongst his family and friends.
You may ask why is this of any importance?
You may ask why is this of any importance?
Wednesday 7 November 2012
Rockers International
During the month of September 2012 InI had the pleasure of hosting a show with members of Augustus Pablo's Rockers International team. Words on a page can not adequately portray the energy present in the studio on this blessed evening. Rastafari spirit and soul lit up the place.
Friday 26 October 2012
Akwaaba
Greetings and Welcome to the new blog from Ras Story. We hope that Ones and Ones will use this spot to communicate with us. As the resource grows we hope that it will become a place where useful information will be shared. This will be used to improve the output of our program and assist in the general growth of the Rastafari movement globally.
So please feel free to post comments and/or suggestions.
We ask that if you do not have something constructive and relevant to say, that you just move on to some other place.
We would prefer to have nothing said than to have offensive comments posted which serve only to show the ignorance of the writer.
May the love of Jah keep you until such time.
All Praises due to the Most High Jah Rastafari
Sista Benji and Ras Kwadwo
Presenters - Ras Story (Each One, Teach One)
Omega FM
www.omegafmradio.co.uk
London, United Kingdom
So please feel free to post comments and/or suggestions.
We ask that if you do not have something constructive and relevant to say, that you just move on to some other place.
We would prefer to have nothing said than to have offensive comments posted which serve only to show the ignorance of the writer.
May the love of Jah keep you until such time.
All Praises due to the Most High Jah Rastafari
Sista Benji and Ras Kwadwo
Presenters - Ras Story (Each One, Teach One)
Omega FM
www.omegafmradio.co.uk
London, United Kingdom
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