HAILE SELASSIE
A banner for Haile Selassie
KING OF KINGS | A figurehead of African independence, but what are his West Midland's connections?
Hailed as the black Christ by many in the Rastafarian community and described as the ‘King of Kings, Lord of Lords’, Ethiopian emperor, Haile Selassie, was also a visitor to Malvern.
Inside Out charts the remarkable history of ruler, Haile Selassie, from his Ethiopian empire to the rolling countryside of Malvern in the West Midlands.
Haile Selassie came to power in 1930 and his royal line can be traced back as far as King Solomon and The Queen of Sheba.
Haile Selassie in a royal procession
A royal welcome? Haile Selassie slotted quietly into Malvern life
He was viewed by many as the figurehead of African independence, whilst he became a central figure in the Rastafarian movement.
Benjamin Zephaniah tells us, "African people looked to Ethiopia for a black Christ and for many, Haile Selassie was they one they had been waiting for."
Royal connections
In 1936, Mussolini invaded Ethiopia and the empire was crushed. Haile Selassie fled to England, first to London and then to Malvern. And it is here that Inside Out picks up the trail.
We sent Poet and Rastafarian, Benjamin Zephaniah, in search of Haile Selassie’s West Midlands legacy.
Benjamin Zephaniah
Benjamin unknowingly spent his summer holidays in a town with close connections to the emperor
A quick jaunt around the town of Malvern is revealing. It seems that few locals are aware of their town’s royal connections. However a tip off sends Benjamin to the Abbey Hotel and the very room where Haile Selassie stayed.
It is in the Winter Gardens, that Benjamin finds two Malvern locals for whom Haile Selassie is not such a distant memory.
Bridget remembers horse riding with his granddaughter Ruth, whilst Sally saw the man himself handing out prizes at speech day at the Winter Gardens.
Reflection
Haile Selassie
1892: Haile Selassie is born near Harar
1928: He ascends to the throne of Shoa
1930: He ascends to the imperial throne and is crowned emperor of Ethiopia
1936: Mussolini invades Ethiopia and Haile Selassie escapes to England
1941: he returns to Addis Ababa
1974: He is deposed by Mengistu
1975: Dies while in custody
For times of quite reflection and prayer, Haile Selassie could be found in Holy Trinity Church.
"He always rejected the view that he was the second Christ," explains the Reverend of Holy Trinity. "He always remained a Christian."
Haile Selassie may have been a Malvern local, yet his memory still appears a little vague and distance - but there is a place where his legacy lives on.
Legacy
Handsworth - the location of ‘The Peace Patrol’, a Rastafarian group that works in conjunction with the police, helping to bridge the divide.
Here, Haile Selassie’s beliefs and teachings are practised, as Peace Officer, Clive Asher explains:
"The youth of today are the men of tomorrow and his majesty has always stipulated that we must boost the education of the youths."
So whilst many of Malvern’s locals remain unaware of the town’s majestic past, there are a many other West Midlanders doing their utmost to ensure that Haile Selassie’s legacy is alive and kicking in Birmingham.
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