As we continue to observe/celebrate 'APRIL' as Rastafari Month, we the Executive Directors of the Ethio-Africa Diaspora Union Millennium Council are please to update our African Communities of our planned activities.

We take note of the various acknowledgements, lead off by the Hon. Minister Grange, through the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, & Sports and its Agencies representation at the 13th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Republic of Mauritius where the Rastafari Community and ICONS were recognized for their works and achievements in creating Reggae Music, and the fact that 'APRIL' is endorsed by the 'State Party' as RASTAFARI MONTH in highlighting the Sacred Visit of Emperor Haile Sellassie I to Jamaica in 1966. This is timed from 1:47:50 within the full presentation on YouTube: 

Kindly see more information below and attached. 

 

RASTAFARI MONTH 2019

 This is the 3^rd Annual Activation of Rastafari Month, a platform that was launched in 2017 to highlight Rastafari Contributions and Rights.  This year the focus is on Pinnacle as it speaks to the issue of narrative and ownership of Heritage and from a current economic standpoint the incorporation of the Rastafari Community in the Ganja Industry. 

The affirmation of His Imperial Majesty to be at the center of Rastafari narratives is also important as Reggae and specifically Bob Marley and not the Rastafari Community is now how the national and international world views Rastafari aims and objectives.  It is an outcome of the how the commercialization of Rastafari Culture has occurred and so Rastafari Month, that also incorporates significant Reggae personalities such as Bunny Wailer & Jimmy Cliff offers a platform to reset the Narrative. 

Rastafari Month was identified as a stakeholder activity to support the UNESCO Reggae Inscription recognition and is the bridge for the Rastafari Community inclusion in the beneficial protection that this inscription proposes not just for the music elements but the cultural ones. 

The Month identifies all the important Rastafari Community anniversaries that created the opportunity to endorse a National Month, which are: 

April 2^nd – Ras Tafari Ascension Day To Be Emperor

April 3^rd – H.I.M. Empress Menen Earthstrong

April 19^th – Coral Garden Bad Friday Anniversary

April 21^st – Groundation Day H.I.M. Visit to Jamaica 

This is supported by the Birthdays of significant Rastafari Reggae Artists:

April 1^st – Jimmy Cliff

April 10^th – Bunny Wailer

April 15^th – Capleton 

Rastafari Events 

April 20th – 420 International Ganja Day 

April 22^nd – One Love Peace Anniversary 

It is expected that as this month becomes more known that various activities will be developed creating a larger accumulation of activism and acquiring of rights in the national and Pan African spaces.

SEE ATTACHMENTS BELOW:

From the Executive Directors of EADUMC.