19/06/2026
19/06/2026 Friday
What Haile Selassie I actually said to the Rasta delegation in a secret meeting at King’s House, April 21, 1966:
The meeting was private, no press, no recording. What we have comes from eyewitness testimony of the Rasta elders who were there: *Mortimer Planno, Sam Brown, Joseph Hibbert, Archibald Dunkley, Filmore Alvaranga, Douglas Mack, and Prince Emmanuel.
* The most famous quote — from Sam Brown + Mortimer Planno:
When the elders asked Selassie about repatriation to Africa, his answer was:
“Tell the brethren to be good. Until you have liberated the people of Jamaica, do not seek to immigrate to Ethiopia.”
Meaning: Selassie told them their mission was in Jamaica first. Fight poverty, colonialism, and oppression at home. Africa/Ethiopia would come later. This became doctrine for many Rastas — “Liberate Jamaica first.”
* On seeing their condition — from Planno’s account:
The delegation was poor. Some had no shoes. Selassie saw them and wept. He said:
“I am very sad to see you in this condition. Be good to yourselves and to your country.”
* On their faith — from Joseph Hibbert:
Hibbert said Selassie never confirmed or denied that he was God. When asked directly about divinity, Selassie’s reply was:
*“Who am I to deny your faith?”
He pointed them to read the Bible, specifically Revelation 5:5 — about the Lion of Judah. He never told them to stop calling him God, but he never claimed it himself.
* On organization — from Filmore Alvaranga:
Selassie told the EWF Local 31 members:
“Organization is strength. Continue to organize yourselves.”
This is why many Rasta mansions formalized after 1966. Selassie was pushing structure over chaos.
* The gifts:
Selassie gave each elder a gold medal with his image. To Prince Emmanuel he said: “Continue your good work.” He also gave them an Ethiopian flag.
After the meeting:
- Planno/Brown group: Took “liberate Jamaica first” literally. Stayed, organized, engaged politics.
- Bobo Ashanti: Focused on “be good” + “organization” → built strict camps.
- Twelve Tribes: Later used “read the Bible” to justify accepting Jesus Christ too.
