Exodus !

Exodus !

History, Culture and Music of the Rastafarians in Ethiopia

The second edition of a three days event at the Alliance éthio-française in Addis Ababa

March 15th, 16th & 17th, 2012

In 1977, Bob Marley composed Exodus, a master piece of reggae evoking the return of the Rastafarians in Africa. From the exit of Babylon to the arrival into Zion, the exodus hence takes a Pan African dimension. The amazing journey of the Rastafarians who left the Caribbean, the United States and England to come to Ethiopia and contribute to the country’s development is presented to a wide public on this occasion.

With an art exhibition, a photographic exhibition, lectures, films, a panel discussion, concerts of Nyabinghi drums and reggae and an arts & crafts fair, another insight into the Rastafari movement is eventually possible. The Coronation of Haile Selassie on the 2^nd of November 1930 has given the Rastafari movement its own unique culture and spiritual understanding which now has an international standing. The Rastafarians living in Ethiopia are coming from all corners of the globe and are proud to be involved in Ethiopias’s development.

With the objective to present rich and lively perspectives on a movement which stands out in 20th century history, and following the first edition of 2011 which was a success, the second edition of this festival associating the history, the culture and the music of the Rastafarians will be held during three days at the Alliance éthio-française in Addis Ababa, in partnership with the Goethe Institut, the French Center for Ethiopian Studies, the Research Institute for Development and the University of the West Indies.

During the three days:

Installation « Africa awaits its Creator »

Exhibitions « Ras Hailu’s Banana Art & Ethiopian Artefacts Museum » « Pilgrimage to Ejersa Goro, July 2011 »

Arts & Crafts & Rastafari Productions Fair

Thursday March 15th, 2012:

4:30pm            Official opening with Drums of Rastafari

5:00pm            Film  « Marcus Garvey. A Giant of Black Politics » (2008)

6:00pm            Lecture by Dr . Giulia Bonacci (CFEE/IRD) « The Universal Ethiopian Anthem: a                      Musical and a ‘National’ Heritage »

7:00pm            Lecture by Prof Abiyi Ford (IAS / AAU) « Bridging the Atlantic Divide: Ethiopia in                 the Liberation Discourse of Afro-Caribbeans and African Americans ».

8:30pm            Drums of Rastafari

Friday March 16th, 2012:

4:30pm            Film « The Journey of the Lion » (1992)

6:00pm            Lecture by Sir Hilary Beckles (UWI) « Europe’s Black Debt: Reparations Owed for                   Slavery »

7:30pm            Reggae Concert featuring Ras Kawintseb, and Ras Yohannes with backing band                                    Natural Groove @ Goethe Institut

Saturday March 17th, 2012:

1:30pm            Film « Roots, Rock, Reggae. Inside the Jamaican Music Scene » (1977)

2:30pm            Panel discussion « The Voice of the Elders »

4:30pm            Drums of Rastafari

5 – 11pm         Reggae Concert featuring Sydney Salmon & Imperial Majestic Band, Teddy Dan,                      Chakula & Goldilocks, Ebony with backing band Natural Groove @ Alliance

7:00pm            Buffet Ital (RALCO)

Detailed programme

1. History

Lecture by Dr. Giulia Bonacci, historian, researcher at the Research Institute for Developement and at the French Center for Ethiopian Studies in Addis Ababa. She has published a book on the social history of Black repatriation to Ethiopia and the Shashemene settlement. She will present a lecture entitled « The Universal Ethiopian Anthem: a Musical and a ‘ National’ heritage », that will introduce the continuity of an « Ethiopian » identity in the Americas during the 20th century as evidenced by the multiple lives of a particular song.

Lecture by Abiyi Ford, Professor and Research Coordinator for the newly established African Studies Institute at Addis Ababa University, and Consultant for the formation of a Film Studies Program at the Skunder Boghosian College of the Visual and Performing Arts. Prof. Abiyi Ford will present a conference entitled : « Bridging the Atlantic Divide: Ethiopia in the Liberation Discourse of Afro-Caribbeans and African Americans ». Dwelling both on his personal history and his lengthy academic experience, Prof. Abiyi Ford’s contribution will be instrumental in demonstrating the role played by Ethiopia in the black experience.

Lecture by Sir Hilary Beckles, Professor and Principal of the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies in Barbados. Sir Hilary Beckles is a reknowned scholar of the Caribbean, he has written extensively on Atlantic slavery, on the history of Barbados and on the history and culture of cricket. Sir Hilary Beckles will present a conference entitled « Europe’s Black Debt: Reparations Owed for Slavery », the topic of his latest book. This will be the opportunity to learn more about the centuries-old entangled relationship between Europe, Africa and the Americas and its contemporary challenges.

Panel Discussion with three Rastafarians elders living in Shashemene. They will talk about their personal history and their experience of living in Shashemene. The significance of the Shashemene settlement and the major challenges faced by the Rastafari community will be presented to the public. This will be a unique occasion for the public to meet and reason with Rastafarians living in Ethiopia.

2. Culture

Installation: « Africa awaits its Creator ». A unique installation will represent the contributions of Rastafarians to local development in Ethiopia.

Exhibitions: « Ras Hailu’s Banana Art & Ethiopian Artefacts Museum ». Coming from the Caribbean island of St. Vincent, Ras Hailu has pioneered in Ethiopia art made of banana leaves, and he will present some of his most spectacular Banana Art frames. In the exhibition hall, a workshop will be held during the festival to show to the public the process of creating Banana Art. In addition, Ras Hailu will present his collection of Ethiopian Artefacts gathered over 17 years, rare medals, rosettas, badges, stamps and books will be presented to the public on this unique occasion.

« Pilgrimage to Ejersa Goro, July 2011 » is a photographic exhibit that testifies to a unique collaboration between the Rastafari community and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. On July 22nd to July 24th, a pilgrimage was organized on the occasion of Emperor Haile Selassie’s birthday in his birthplace, Ejersa Goro, in the province of Harar. 

Various films have been selected to illustrate the experience of the Rastafarians.

« Marcus Garvey. A Giant of Black Politics » (2008) introduces to the public the life and works of famous black nationalist Marcus Garvey, considered as a prophet by the Rastafarians. The film offers an insight into Marcus Garvey’s organisation and its appeal to black people in Jamaica and in the USA.

« The Journey of the Lion » (1992) is a beautiful film by Fritz Baumann about Brother Howie, a Jamaican Rastafarian and a wood carver, who travels to England to visit his family. From there he continues his travel through Africa up to Ghana’s shores in search for his African roots.

« Roots, Rock, Reggae. Inside the Jamaican Music Scene » (1977) offers an insight into the making of roots reggae at the end of the 1970s. Famous artists are featured as well as the drums of Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus.

Arts & Crafts & Rastafari Productions Fair: Schools, businesses, artists, community organisations, crafts and various Rastafari initiatives from Shashemene, Addis Ababa, Awassa, Debre Zeit and Bahir Dar will be present during the three days. They will present and sell their productions. The objective of this fair is to show the variety of Rastafari ventures in the country.

Ital Cocktail and Ital Buffet: the Rastafarians have a peculiar diet, called « Ital » which means vital and natural. The public will have the opportunity to taste the delicious cuisine of the Rastafarians, catered by Royal Afrakan Link Company (RALCO).

3. Music

The Nyabinghi drums are the ritual drums of the Rastafarians. The « Drums of Rastafari » will present on three occasions to the public the particular rhythm and the rich repertoire of the sacred music of the Rastafarians.

Two reggae concerts will present Rastafarian artists living in Ethiopia in a co-creation by HIM International Promotion and Boulibaï Vibration.

On March 16th, the concert will be held at the Goethe Institut, featuring Ras Kawintseb, and Ras Yohannes with backing band Natural Groove.

On March 17th, the concert will be held at the Alliance éthio-française, featuring Sydney Salmon & Imperial Majestic Band, Teddy Dan, Chakula & Goldilocks, Ebony with backing band Natural Groove.

Welcome to two unforgetable nights of reggae music in Addis Ababa !

Festival coordinator:                          Giulia Bonacci (historian, IRD / CFEE)

Reggae concerts coordinator:            Malik Bouliby (journalist, France Inter)

Partners:                                             Alliance Ethio-Française

                                                           French Center for Ethiopian Studies

                                                           Goethe Institut

                                                           Research Institute for Developement

                                                           University of the West Indies