The Jamaica Observer’s Entertainment Desk continues with the 11th of its biweekly

feature looking at seminal moments that have helped shape Jamaica over the past

60 years.

PERCUSSIONIST Bongo Herman is a devout believer in Emperor Haile Selassie I’s divinity and lineage to King Solomon. He was one of the thousands who witnessed the Ethiopian monarch’s arrival at Palisadoes International Airport in Kingston on April 21, 1966.

The diminutive royal came on a three-day state visit.

“I was a member of di Rastafari Reparation Association and one of di man dem who di government at dat time did appoint wid [Rastafari elders] Filmore Alvaranga, Douglas Mack, Samuel Clayton [of the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari], and Mortimer Planno. We have di privilege fi go outta di airport and keep di order because di police dem couldn’t control di crowd. So dem haffi use Rasta fi control Rasta; so di traffic dem can pass freely,” said Herman, who turns 79 on September 16.

“Di whole a Jamaica lock down. Man run from St Mary fi come ah airport,” he continued.

Alvaranga, Clayton and Planno died in 2014, 2018 2006, respectively. The east Kingston-based Rastafari Reparation Association has since dissolved with the passing of its elders.

According to reports, 100,000 Rastafarians from across Jamaica descended on the airport to see the man they considered God. They played drums and smoked large quantities of ganja. April 21 is special to Rastafarians and referred to as Grounation Day.

In addition to being the spiritual head of Rastafari, Selassie was a hero throughout Africa for defeating Italian fascist Benito Mussolini’s forces in the 1930s.

His historic visit to Jamaica followed a similar trip to Trinidad and Tobago. While in the Caribbean, he also visited Haiti and Barbados.

Bongo Herman said while he awaited His Imperial Majesty’s visit, he witnessed several miracles.

“So Count Ossie an’ miself, wi out deh a chant Nyahbinghi an’ witness di rain fall an’ di flock ah bird come before di plane come. An’ by di time His Majesty come outta di plane, di sun come out back and dry everybody outta di airport,” he claims.

“An’ I left an’ go Montego Bay wid dem to. Dem gather inna Sam Sharpe Square an’ dem cordon off di whole place an’ we were chanting di Nyahbinghi drum and His Majesty was on di stage and nuh breeze was blowing. An’ I see him tek a deep breath and whole of di tarpaulin almost blow down offa di place. I witness these things because I did deh right in front of him,” the veteran musician continued.

Hailing from talent-rich Trench Town, Bongo Herman began his recording career began in the early 1970s for producer Derrick Harriott on Know For I with Eric “Bingy Bunny” Lamont, an ode to Selassie’s visit.

He has also provided percussion on Marcus Garvey and No One Remembers Old Marcus Garvey (Burning Spear); Book of Rules (The Heptones); Police in Helicopter and Strange Things (John Holt); Breakfast in Bed (Lorna Bennett); and Serious Time (Gyptian).

He has a cameo appearance in the 1978 film Rockers.

Despite never travelling to Ethiopia, Bongo Herman (given name: Herman Davis) said Selassie’s visit is significant to Jamaica and Rastafari.

“It is a fulfilment of prophecy. Prior to His Imperial Majesty visit, Rasta used to get whole heap ah beat up from police, like di Coral Gardens incident. When HIM come, dem [Rasta] become more accepted an’ police dem cool off pressuring Rasta,” he said.