TODAY, the Twelve Tribes of Israel celebrates the 125th anniversary of the birth of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I, at their St Andrew headquarters (81-83 Hope Road).

The celebration begins at 4:00 pm with drumming and chanting along with exhortations from members of the organisation. An entertainment package is scheduled to start at 7:00 pm.

There will be performances from Israel Voice, Asanti Amen, Still Cool, Billy Mystic, Bryan Gold, Prilly Hamilton, Jahmali, Akustix, and Twelve Tribes of Israel Band.

“It’s a family of Rastafari Day dedicated to nurturing, promoting and presenting arts and culture through performances, and all are welcome,” Paul Ashton, a member of the organising committee, told the Sunday Observer.

Haile Selassie I was born Tafari Makonnen on July 23, 1892. He was crowned King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah on Sunday, November 2, 1930, which in Rastafarian philosophy is the Manifestation of Christ in His Kingly Character.

The Twelve Tribes of Israel was founded by Vernon Carrington (Prophet Gad) in 1968. They celebrate their 50th anniversary in February next year.

In his early years, Gad promoted dances with the Coxsone sound system before moving to his grandmother Lillian Myrie’s home at 7 Davis Lane in Trench Town.

There, he was influenced by her work in the Marcus Garvey Movement and Ethiopian World Federation. It was at that location Prophet Gad began his mission to “gather the Twelve Tribes of Israel”.

Over the years, he established branches of the organisation in the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, Suriname, Canada, the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Ghana, Kenya and Ethiopia.