Ethiopia–Jamaica relations

Jamaica–Ethiopia relations

Jamaica	Ethiopia
Diplomatic mission
High Commission of Jamaica in Abuja, Nigeria	Embassy of Ethiopia in Havana, Cuba

Ethiopia-Jamaica relations are the bilateral relations between Jamaica and Ethiopia.

Origins

In 1948, the Shashamane Land Grant by Emperor Haile Selassie I to members of the Ethiopian World Federation led to a large Jamaican settlement in the village of Shashamane, earning it the nickname "Little Jamaica". ^{[1] [2]}

Haile Selassie's first visit

Main article: Grounation Day

Haile Selassie visited Jamaica on Thursday, April 21, 1966. ^[3] He was greeted at the airport with crowds playing drums and smoking large quantities of marijuana. ^[4] He was driven to the King's House to take up residence as the guest of Jamaican Prime Minister Donald Sangster and Governor-General Clifford Campbell. ^[5] He later addressed the Parliament of Jamaica, received the Key to the City of Spanish Town by Commissioner Eustice Bird, and visited Jamaica College. ^[6] During the visit, Rastafari representatives were present at all state functions attended by His Majesty. ^{[7] [8]} The visit drew crowds of some 100,000 Rastafari who descended on Kingston's Palisadoes Airport. ^{[4] [9] [10]} Today the Rastafari celebrate April 21 as Grounation Day. ^[11]

Revival of relations

On 13 June 2016, Ethiopian foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom paid an official visit to Jamaica, the first by an Ethiopian official in 50 years. ^[12]

References

1. Pink, Patrina (2010-06-18), "Jamaican Rastas Bring Cultural Diversity To 'Promised Land'", Jamaica Gleaner, retrieved 2013-03-11
2. Bonacci, Giulia (Summer 2011), "An Interview in Zion: The Life-History of a Jamaican Rastafarian in Shashemene, Ethiopia", Callaloo, 34 (4): 744–758, doi:10.1353/cal.2011.0187
3. "BBC World Service - Witness History, Haile Selassie In Jamaica". BBC. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
4. Dread, The Rastafarians of Jamaica, by Joseph Owens ISBN
5. White, p. 211.
6. "Haile Selassie visits Jamaica | Derek Bishton" . Retrieved 2023-04-02.
7. Rastafari: From Outcasts to Culture Bearers Page 86 by Ennis Barrington Edmonds
8. Verbal Riddim: The Politics and Aesthetics of African-Caribbean Dub Poetry, page 83 by Christian Habekost
9. "Haile Selassie Is Mobbed By Jamaica Cult Adherents". The New York Times. 1966-04-22. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-04-02.
10. "Haile Selassie - King, God or Redeemer?". Black History Month 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
11. "Rastafari: Holy days". BBC. October 20, 2011. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
12. Admin. "Ethiopia, Jamaica Set To Foster Historic Ties". African Leadership Magazine. Retrieved 2023-04-01.