Dear Editor,

One of five panels that adorn the front of the municipal building at Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay, bears the photograph of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, King of Kings of Ethiopia (interpreted, Emperor), but is erroneously captioned Rastafari.

The facts are that the Emperor was born on July 23, 1892 to His Highness Ras Makonnen and his wife Wayzaro Yashimabet and named by them, Tafari Makonnen. His father was at that time Governor of Hararge Province; hence the title, Ras.

In keeping with the Christian teaching and practice of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which his parents upheld, the young Tafari was baptized at age 40 days old and named through the Holy Spirit, Haile Selassie.

Being a member of the Royal Family of Ethiopia, descended from King Solomon of Jerusalem and the Queen of Sheba (II Chronicles 9) and qualified to share in the government of the empire, he was successively appointed to the dignity and Rank of Dejazmatch on November 1, 1905; Ras on September 27, 1916 with the added responsibility of Crown Prince and Regent to Queen (Empress) Zawditu; was crowned Negus (King) on October 7, 1928; and Negusa Nagast (King of Kings) of Ethiopia (Emperor) on November 2, 1930.

It was at his coronation as the supreme ruler of Ethiopia that he began using his baptismal name to conduct official state business and since he was the first Emperor with that name, he was titled Haile Selassie I.

With the foregoing in mind, it is great folly to refer to this world-renowned individual by any less title than the last one attained during his life that ended on August 27, 1975 at the age of 83 years 36 days.

I, therefore, urge the responsible party(ies) to correct this injustice and insult to the great man who visited us in 1966 and gave our nation the twin institutions of the Haile Selassie I High (formerly secondary) School in 1966 and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in 1970.

The information can be verified from The Autobiography of Emperor Haile Selassie I King of Kings of Ethiopia, My Life And Ethiopia’s Progress 1892 – 1937 and The Liturgy of The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

Haile Mika’el

Bluefields PO

Westmoreland

hailemikael1@gmail.com