Haile Selassie, Father of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) was founded in the midst of decolonization of Afrika.
"We are determined to create a union of Africans. In a very real sense, our continent is unmade; it still awaits its creation and its creators. It is our duty and privilege to rouse the slumbering giant of Africa, not to the nationalism of Europe of the nineteenth century, not to regional consciousness, but to the vision of a single African brotherhood bending its united efforts toward the achievement of a greater and nobler goal"
1. Haile Selassie I is the only man to be able to bring back self-respect in the eyes of the Africans during the war against the attempt by Italy to colonize Ethiopia in 1936.
a. Prior to this the Zulus and British fought many wars. The Zulus demolished the British in the battle of Isandlwana in the late 1800’s.
b. The history of African Struggle kind of died out until Haile Selassie I revitalized the African Struggle in the 1930’s against Italy.
2. Haile Selassie I did not participate in the factionalism of African Leaders fighting against each after colonialization, therefore he was the only one who could bring them together.
3. According to Professor Ernest Dube, an African Historian and of the African National Congress in South Africa, without Haile Selassie I we would not of had the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in May 1963.
a. The Organization of African Unity (OAU) is based on the ideology of Pan-Africanism a wish of African People to come together and fight colonialism , racism, and prejudice against African People
4. The OAU was formed on May 25th, 1963, and all of Africa knows Haile Selassie I as the father of the OAU.
a. There has never been a coming together of all of Africa before the forming of the OAU.
b. Today the OAU is known as the African Union (AU).
5. Haile Selassie I is important because when there was division amongst independent African States/Country in late 50’s early 60’s into 2 groupings, Monrovia and Cassablanca groups, Haile Selassie I brought these two groups together and showed them that there differences was superficial.
6. Haile Selassie I was a great mediator. He showed the Monrovia and Cassablanca groups that they had to compromise and bring Africa together as one fighting as a single unit against the common enemy to Africa.
7. Haile Selassie I was loved by his people and walked around his people without any guards or security.
8. Haile Selassie I build the University of Addis Ababa and increased the number of schools inside of Ethiopia.
9. Haile Selassie I fought and ultimately succeeded in keeping his people, Ethiopia, free from Colonialism.
10. Haile Selassie I represented African manhood and this is very significant to African People.
11. Haile Selassie I’s popularity was all over the continent of Africa.
12. The Black Churches breaking away from the white churches in South Africa was called the Ethiopian Movement even though many South Africans never been to Ethiopia, it was symbolic to them.
13. Haile Selassie I restored African Pride Amongst African People.
14. Haile Selassie I is a symbol of African Unity.
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