Haile Selassie University

Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia wrote to President Roosevelt from Addis Ababa, on July 28, 1942:

My Government and people are anxious to assume the obligations of the United Nations pact. We the first nation to regain its freedom and independence wish to place the military and economic resources of our country at the disposal of those nations who gladly sacrifice all for liberty and justice.

- Haile Selassie I

Early January 1942, representatives of 26 nations at war with the Axis powers met in Washington to sign the Declaration of the United Nations endorsing the Atlantic Charter, pledging to use their full resources against the Axis and agreeing not to make a separate peace.

Today in 1966, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I (born Tafari Makonnen), the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, made his first and only trip to Jamaica!

History has taught us and present events in Africa are endorsing this teaching — that we, the people of Africa must look to ourselves, to our unity and to the consolidation of our common interests. If we fail to do so, we can never hope to defeat the forces of colonialism and imperialism that are aligned against us to impoverish and subjugate us. Your Imperial Majesty’s interest in the African cause is of long standing and well known. The stand taken by Ethiopia in the struggle to free Africa from her imperialist and colonial shackles has been one of the most creditable in the history of our continent.

— Dr. Kwame N'Krumah, Prime Minister of Ghana, Dec. 1st, 1960

On December 1, 1960, Emperor Haile Selassie arrived in Accra, Ghana for a 5-day visit. It is assumed that during his official visit to Ghana the Emperor examined the project of an "African High Commandment". The Ghanaian head of state, Mr. Nkrumah, had announced this project a week earlier in a telegram to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Dag Hammarskjœld. The first talks between the Emperor and Mr. Nkrumah began on the monarch's arrival. On the other hand, the sovereign had decided not to make an official visit to Venezuela as planned due to a crisis prevailing in Caracas.

📸: 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟓, 𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟑: Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie is the only African head of state to attend the funeral of JFK

On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated as he rode in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas, Texas. Emperor Haile Selassie I dedicated these words to the American leader:

"We are deeply grieved at the tragic and shocking death of John F. Kennedy, the great leader and President of the American nation, a man dedicated to the achievement of world peace and equality and dignity to all men (...) Let each Ethiopian today pause for a moment in his daily tasks and lament the passing of this man, a good friend to Ethiopia, who understood our problems, who sympathized with us in our struggles and who shared our dearest desires and hopes for the future. The untimely and sudden death of President Kennedy at an early age has deprived the American nation and the entire world of the inspiration and services of this dedicated and determined leader."

𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟑, 𝟏𝟗𝟓𝟕: The Emperor of Ethiopia inaugurates a New Era

Addis Ababa - Ethiopia's first elected Parliament has just appointed Mr. Hailemarian Kebede as Speaker of the House of Senators. Mrs. Senedu Guebru, one of the two female senator out of a total of 210, becomes one of the vice presidents of the National assembly. On the other hand, Emperor Haile Selassie has confirmed the appointment of Ras Abebe Aragai as Chairman of the Council of Ministers. In addition to his duties as Defense Minister, Ras Abebe will preside over the Cabinet, but without the title of Prime Minister.

The other appointments are: Ato Aklilou Habtewold, minister of foreign affairs and deputy prime minister; Gen. Mered Mangesha, minister of state at the Ministry of National Defense. General Kebede Gebru, who commanded the battalion in Korea, becomes commander-in-chief of the army.

Le Monde, french newspaper, November 23, 1957

On November 18th, 1954, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia was received by King Haakon and then Crown Prince Olav at Old Østbanen, Oslo, Norway. The three knew each other from London during the war and got along well. Ethiopia and Norway have a long and good relationship. During World War II King Haakon and Emperor Haile Selassie developed a close relationship while both were living in exile in Britain. Ethiopia was partially occupied by Italy, while Norway was occupied by Germany

Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie attracted attention when he arrived in Oslo with a lion's mane in his hat and pockets full of gold coins. Crown Prince Olav wears mourning ribbons after the death of Crown Princess Märtha's six months earlier. "What the Emperor did not bring to Norway, however, were women. He had left the princesses in Sweden, which he had visited before Norway. When he learned that my mother (Crown Princess Märtha's) had died (six months earlier) and that I was a young girl, he had all the ladies stay in Sweden. That made it much easier for me, because then I had no one to pay special attention to. Because otherwise it's the woman who has to show it to the ladies" explains Princess Astrid.

Many had gathered to catch a glimpse of the Emperor as the procession passed Karl Johan. King Harald remembers the visit well. He generously handed out gold coins to the people he met. He rode in an open car and then started throwing things out. The kids on the street did not understand what it was. And neither did we. But they were gold coins, the King gestured. That was certainly what the Emperor used to do in his homeland. There was an outcry when the Norwegian children learned what it was. It was not quite in keeping with royal Norwegian etiquette. I think he suffered a real culture shock, says King Harald. "And then I remember the children being told to shout "lamperør" when he approached" laughs the king. That was probably a Norwegian version of "L'Empereur', which means The Emperor, in french" Queen Sonja explains.

Haile Selassie I, Last Emperor of Africa, Ethiopia

On Sunday, November 2, 1930, ascending officially to the throne 7 months after the death of Empress Zaouditu on April 2, the 38 years old Ras Tafari Makonnen was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia, taking the name Haile Selassie I, which means “Power of the Trinity.” Though taking place in the twentieth century, the ceremony reached back thousands of years, as Ethiopia’s Menelik dynasty descended from Solomon, the ancient king of Israel, and Makeda the Queen of Sheba, one of his wives according to the tradition.

To prepare for the coronation, 7 groups of 7 priests gathered in the 7 corners of the national cathedral and chanted for 7 days and 7 nights psalms written by King David. On the morning of the coronation, priests chanted and drummers drummed. Then, the Emperor, wearing white silken robes, marched solemnly into the cathedral behind attendants waving incense burners.

He took his seat on the Imperial Throne, and the Abuna Kyrillos, the highest official in the Ethiopian Tawahedo Church presided. After the Emperor pledged to carry out his royal duties, he received the 7 symbols of his office—a golden sword, a scepter of ivory and gold, the orb, a diamond-encrusted ring, two traditional lances filigreed in gold, the imperial vestments, and finally the crown. Each item was accompanied by an anointing with 7 differently-scented oils. After this, the new monarch and his consort were taken on a tour of the Cathedral of St. George, then escorted outside by a procession of notables carrying palm branches and chanting: "Blessed be the King of Israel"

Ethiopian tradition required the Emperor's consort to be crowned at the palace, three days after the coronation. However, Haile Selassie broke with this precedent and had his wife crowned (but not anointed) in the Cathedral with him.

መልካም የልደት መታሰቢያ ለዳግማዊ አፄ ምኒልክ እና ለእቴጌ ጣይቱ ብጡል።

𝙃𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙮 𝘽𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙀𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙈𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙠 𝙄𝙄 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙀𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙏𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙪 𝘽𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙡

Did You Know ? On August 3, 1965, the Government of Malawi officially declared the day a public holiday to honour the Emperor's state visit to Malawi. On the same day, a coronation ceremony was held where three kings representing the three regions of Malawi crowned the Emperor as the "Great King of Malawi" The three kings were: Inkosi M'Mbelwa (north), Fumu Mwase (centre) and Fumu Mponda (south). The ceremony was led by Inkosi M'Mbelwa, who presented the newly crowned Great King of Malawi with a spear, shield, pommel and hat made of leopard skin and donned him with a reddish royal robe.

The Prime Minister of Malawi Hasting Banda said the following words on August 3, 1965 during the Emperor's visit: I have to say something. It is no exaggeration for me to say that this week, these three days that His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I Of Ethiopia has honoured us with His presence in our country, in our city, marks the greatest day of my life, of my country, and of my people. Why do I say this? For more reasons than one. And the most important of these reasons is that His Imperial Majesty represents one of the oldest ruling houses not only in our own continent but all over this world. Read your books, your bibles, your history books where do you find any country mentioned in this continent or on the continent of Europe. Go anywhere in the Bible….coming to only Ethiopia, yes I read Ethiopia again in Sunday School. The Queen of Sheba you know and King Solomon. Yes the Queen Of Sheba and King Solomon, here is the direct descendant of Queen Of Sheba and King Solomon. Ethiopia represents on our continent something that means so much to the people in my position.

His Imperial Majesty's long and distinguished career began a very long time a ago, 59 years ago to be exact, when at the age of only 14 (13 and half), he was first appointed Governor of a place called Gara Mulleta in the Harar province of Ethiopia. So far as I know, so far as I have read or heard anywhere, I have never heard of anyone being appointed a Governor at the age of 14. I am saying this to emphasise the type of man His Imperial Majesty is. A governor at the age of 14. Most people are at least 45,50 or 60 when they come to rule other people. But His Imperial Majesty was a governor at 14, when most of us are not even even in secondary school. When we are still in primary school, our distinguished guest was a Governor. Since that time, he has never ceased to work untiringly for the advancement and prosperity of the people of Ethiopia. Not only that but for the good of all the people of Africa. All over Africa, we feel the effect of his work. I shall have quite a lot to say later on about all that His Imperial Majesty has achieved for his own people in Ethiopia. For those achievements are ones of such distinguistion but I cannot let this occasion pass without paying tribute to them.

Tafari was born on a stormy night on July 23, 1892 in a village called Ejersa Goro and was given the name Lij (meaning royal child) - and Tafari (meaning one who is feared or respected). Tafari is the 225th descendant from the royal line of King Solomon and King David according to Ethiopian tradition. His father was Ras Makonnen Welde Michael and his mother Woizero Yeshimebet Ali. Ras Makonnen was the cousin of Emperor Menelik II and a direct descendant of Negus Sahle Selassie of Shoa from the imperial bloodline of King Solomon. Ras Makonnen was known as Menelik's closest confidant and it was widely believed that Makonnen would be heir to the throne until his untimely death in 1906.

There was a prophecy by a prominent Muslim in Ethiopia that accompanied the birth of Tafari. This said that he would grow up separated from his mother and become a great man, ruler of Ethiopia and the pride of Africa, that he would take away the sour and unpleasant, give solutions to problems, judge in righteousness for the poor, and be a cure for mankind. For this reason, the Koso tree - a tree that cures stomach aches - was planted in the place where his umbilical cord was buried.

As prophesied, Tafari grew up without his mother. His father knew the importance of learning a foreign language, so at a young age he commissioned Dr. Joseph Vitalien, a foreign doctor from Guadeloupe, to give him a Western education, as well as an Ethiopian monk, Abba Samuel. They studied together for about ten years. Tafari was an excellent student and performed well in all areas of education. It is also said that Tafari had knowledge of certain religious books that he himself had not yet read often scaring or amazing people surrounding him by showing insight about things he was not supposed to know. At the age of 13 Tafari was given the imperial title of Dejazmach (Keeper of the Door) and the title of Governor of Gara Mulata, five years later he was made governor of Harar.

On July 6, 1959, Emperor Haile Selassie I visited the Artek Young Pioneers' Camp, this remarkable corner of the Southern coast of the Crimea. The children met the eminent guest at the coast on the alley lined with magnolia trees. "Peace, friendship; Friendship, peace!" the children exclaimed on the arrival of the Emperor of Ethiopia. After making the round of the Young Pioneers' Camp. H.I.M. Haile Selassie declared: "The main thing here is fraternity. I see happy and joyful faces everywhere. The Young Pioneers are obviously very satisfied with their life in the camp."

Moved by the cordial welcome the Emperor addressed the Young Pioneers with a short speech: "One of the joys of man", he said, "is to have children. To bring them up, to guide them through the hardship of life, to take care of them. It was a great pleasure for Us to be among you, and We will take back the pleasant recollections of this splendid meeting."

In the honorary visitors' book the Emperor made an entry in which he noticed that he was received in Artek with love and his heart was overfilled with joy.