The July celebrations were marred by the
accidental death of a 9 year old girl who was hit by an out of control
car during the weeks leading up to the celebrations. This was a sure
sign, for those aware. Just as months before there had been an
earthquake that had split the road of the Kings Highway in an area
called ziway over a hundred kilometres from the Shashamane land grant,
I could read the signs, but was I alone? Was Satan about to make his
play?
Three healthy brethren suspiciously died, the
likelihood being poisoned, this could be put down to them having more
than one woman at a time. Although Ethiopian woman can be the most
attractive, they can be dangerous so be sure of their full intentions.
what strikes me about Ethiopia is that judgemant reaches you fast, so
when you visit be on your best behaviour.
A year ago a burial ground was given to the
community where a sistren from the Binghihouse was buried, and
recently a brother passed on to the surprise of the community and this
land had been confiscated.
The town of Shashemane was now being called a
"city". Expansion had come and with that greed, and the
municipality/town hall were up to there eyeballs in corruption. They
had now begun to confiscate land that was not occupied on the land
grant, and had started to mark out new roads, even threatening to
knock down the Nyahbinghi tabernacle, and peoples homes! They did not
recognize the Emperor's land grant and the dialogue was "lease
land" only!
Out of the legal 55 investments by Rasta and
the diaspora, only 5 were up and running. They had lost my file for
the third time, and the officers were refusing to talk with me, giving
me the run around, after 2 years of trying to set a small factory to
teach woman sewing, embroidery and silk screen printing. I was not
getting anywhere, it was one foot forward and two steps backward!!
Complaints had gone to the investment commission in Addis Ababa, but
still there was dead lock.
As the days drew nearer to the celebration, it
was evident that the Nyahbinghi order had no programme. They were all
in pieces and disunity, from gossiping and putting each other down.
The leader Congo Rocky had just gone through a list of allegations
about how he 'brought fish and alcohol onto the church grounds' and
that this was not permitted by the order. Also included in the
allegations, 'holding Reggae shows', which had dropped the number of
congregation that normally attended.
Another one of the Elders had just come out of
jail for the third time. It seems that a white man from Belgium had
started to buy up pieces of the land grant through a 12 tribes man and
he had stayed with the elder then moved all his friends in. He then
attempted to throw the elder out of his own house claiming it was now
his and even paid the police to put him inside when he became angry.
It seemed some 12 tribes were more interested
in making money off the Emperor's name, and only a hand full of sistren
had not lost the plot and knew that holy day was about getting the
message across. The Bobo Shanti kept a low profile, after their
leading priest had assaulted a woman earlier in the year.
The EWF Ethiopian World Federation were at
loggerheads with the JRDC Jamaican Rastafarian Development Community,
who had declared themselves the community leaders and represented the
voice of the community.
A huge ganja bust had happened and it was on TV , which gave rise
to the Pentecostal Church to start demonstrating that Rasta should
leave Shashamane. This was backed by locals who claimed that the
Jamaicans were abusing their woman, not marrying them before sexual
relations.
It seemed to me that within the space of two weeks before the
celebration hell was breaking loose and I wondered, would I be the
next victim? The night before the celebrations I walked to the 12
tribes HQ an Ethiopian sister had just gotten off the bus from Addis
Ababa (a 250 mile journey) to celebrate. 2 local youths approached her
and asked for some change. She put her bag down to go into her purse
and the youths then snatched her bag running off into the night
stealing her bag.
It was only 15 minutes later that the police showed up looking for a
local thief who had just stabbed a student to death down the road. He
had just come from Addis
Ababa for the celebrations. All I could see was
death, blood and thievery!
A mixed race herbs dealer from London had been spreading rumors
about me. He was accusing me of all manner of nasty things, whilst a
white woman was saying I was some false Rasta!!! The Shashemane
community is small and was into small time gossip, in each others
business, so all of a sudden I was the talk of the town. It seemed
they found great pleasure in belittling me. This small island,
'countryside' mentality is something the community is known
internationally for now, in deriding each other and spreading lies.
They seem to be known for begging money out of you, trying to make you
feel that they are doing some great duty in staying on the land
and defending it for you.
On the day of the celebration which was to start in the early hours
before sunrise, a sizable congregation appeared at 10 am. An
international body of people, it was poorly attended compared to other
years. Next on the programme was the parade that was to go past the
land grant into town and return. This again was poorly attended
because of the division of the Nyahbinghi and the EWF.
The Rastafari Nazarite Research Centre was to do an annual lecture
in the Binghi tabernacle. This year it was on Sacred Objects in Science
and the Metaphysics of Rastafari but this clashed with the EWF
afternoon programme, so the attendance to the lecture was small. It
seemed to me that those man who call themselves Nazerenes would show
support, which was non existent. With further investigation I went
into the house on the Binghi grounds before the lecture and found them
sitting in conference with a white man discussing how much they would
charge him for taking some photo. This was a violation of the order
seeing that money is not to be spent or passed hands on that sacred
day.
To I the celebration showed a complete lack of planning from all
the mansions, disunity, misleadership, envy, jealousy and hatred. What
I found missing was the teachings of Yeshua the Christ, the Nazarene,
who showed forgiveness, tolerance and the love for unity. Just putting
locks on your head and saying Rastafari is not enough! Unity is Jah
and if they can't achieve this process the development of Repatriation
or migration in Shashemane will stop.. In all this negativity going on
the Jah sent his angel in the guise of the president of St
Vincent, who was prompted by the Binghi house in the
Caribbean had come to Ethiopia to assist the situation, he spoke to
the president of Ethiopia on the land issue and getting legal status
for the ones living in the community, however the Binghi house in
Shashamane were to follow this up, and since then nothing has been
said or done by the bretheren or sistren. We can't expect Elders or an
Ancient as he would rather be called to administrate the house,.... he
may have the wisdom but the energy and education needed could be
lacking. We need young blood bretheren fired up with enthusiasm and
the zeal! If you are coming to Ethiopia for the millennium and are
planning to visit Shashemane you need to safe guard your items, money
should be kept in a hidden money pouch/wallet. Ethiopians will
generally be curious about you, and groups of youths will surround you
innocently, so always be aware,... getting off and on buses with your
bags... people will offer to assist you and say its no problem but
will ask for money for their help. Getting into or off mini bus taxis
is when pick pockets usually strike. If you are walking around at
night in Shashemane always walk in groups, and if you are staying at a
hotel
in town its best to prebook a taxi to drop you home after you have
finished. During celebration times and national holidays
petty crime seems to rise. If you get something stolen and it is valuable
and you need it back it is advisable you give the police some
small change to assist him in transport and food, and that will prompt
a more detailed search, and there could be a slight possibility you
might get some of your belongings back.
Places to stay in Shashemane is the Spengman guest house 251
916821898 or 251916821828, Ras DC quest house 447958254007, Jamaica
Inn hotel 251916829941, Lily of the Valley hotel 251461102732, Majestic
hotel 251461102710. There are various eating outlets, but for a
strictly ital dish find a brethrens house. There are factors to why
things are so bad. You have a criminal element, the wolves in sheep's clothing. You have the uneducated and backward who are living in the
past and can't move forward.
Whilst I was in Ethiopia I worked with Dr Desta's
Children's Village
working with homeless youths and beggars. I taught in schools, and
created my own Baseball club for boys and girls. I generally tried to
help people and for my efforts I was slandered and put down by so
called Rasta!!!!
So the message I wish to share with you is that if you are doing
His Majesty works and the works of Yeshua the Annointed, stand firm in
your good works, and don't be deterred. The simple fact that I started
to build a pyramid in Shashemane and have a statue of Haile Selassie,
probably the only one in Ethiopia, was highly controversial with so
called Rastas, because of there backwardness and miseducation and
envy. But please don't forsake your dreams. Africa is your heritage
and you can do it, so don't give up.
You could visit Shashemane and have the most spiritual and
wonderful time of your life. 2006 was heavy and the signs were
everywhere for me, but don't let these few words put you off.
Shashemane needs you, and your positive input. I hope you have a happy
millennium in Ethiopia in 2007.
Jah bless.
Ras Jahlisha Israel.
