Expo 67 - Haile Selassie I's visit to Canada
Updated: Oct 27
Journey to Expo 67
A little more than half a century ago, the H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I would be the first to be present in Canada's 100th-anniversary celebration. He was the first among 60 heads of state to participate in the celebration. He arrived in Vancouver on April 26th, 1967. Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson was here to welcome him for what was the emperor's third visit to Canada.
The meeting was brief, yet discussions concerning Ethiopia getting more aid from Canada were on the table. Also, the technical assistance program extended to the African continent. This assistance is still prevalent in various forms today. To consolidate the relations between the two countries, the emperor appointed an ambassador to Canada, where a Canadian embassy was already established in Ethiopia. What the emperor expressed in his speech put emphasis on the importance of "cultural diversity as enriching nations".
So during his trip to Canada, H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I visited the city of Vancouver but also Winnipeg, Ottawa, Quebec, and Montreal for Expo 67. The Emperor visited educational institutions such as the University of British Colombia (Vancouver), also Vanier College in Montreal, remembering Governor George Vanier, whom he had met in Rideau Hall (1963). During his trip, the Emperor was accompanied by Lulu his little dog, and former National Social Credit Leader, Robert Thompson. Robert Thompson lived in Ethiopia with his daughter for over a decade.
While onboard the Canadian Royal Train, on the way to Montreal, the Emperor was being interviewed by journalist Bill McNeil for a documentary, which would be broadcast on the CBC network. Bill McNeil was on board with the Emperor from Winnipeg to North Bay. The documentary presented by Project 67 was titled "The Conquering Lion of Juda" and was said to be a profile study of Emperor Haile Selassie. The interview reflected on the Emperor's royal line, his experience through the Second World War, and Ethiopia's development.
Emperor Haile Selassie I, arrived in Montreal on May 1st, which was the 4th day of Expo 67. He arrived one day in advance, to get prepared for his attendance at the ceremony consecrated to Ethiopia on May 2nd. So on May 2, 1967, the Emperor is the first to be welcomed to "Terre Des Hommes". The arrival of the Emperor is greeted with twenty-one cannon shots. Following the dispatch of the Ethiopian flag, Her Majesty inspects the honor guard made up of the 3rd Battalion of the Royal 22nd Regiment. Emperor Haile Selassie I meets with a smile, a small crowd at "Place Des Nations". The ceremony is initiated with the words from Pierre Dupuy, General Commissioner of Expo 67, and Desta, the Minister of Commerce and Industry of Ethiopia. H.I.M Emperor Haile Selassie I addresses guests in Amharic.
As it was custom to Expo 67, the General Commissioner hosted a dinner at the Hélène-de-Champlain Pavilion of Honor to celebrate the visit of his distinguished guest. Dierdre McIlwraith who was 24 years old then, worked at Hélène de Champlain restaurant, describes how Emperor Hailé Selassie I, who arrived with his dog Lulu, insisted that he be allowed to sit under the table next to him and that he (Lulu) be serve chopped filet mignon.
Haile Selassie With Lulu Mai 1967 [Unknown]
Shortly before noon, the Emperor made his entry into the pavilion of his country, a large red tent surmounted by the Lion of Judah. A small group of compatriots cheers him with jubilance. Two warriors in great attire are posted at the entrance. Two dignitaries of the Coptic Church, censer in hand, perform the customary ritual. As it is known that the emperor raised lions in his palace, he offered two lion cubs to the city of Montreal, they were sheltered close to the Ethiopia Pavillon during the Exhibition.
An Ethiopian folklore show was supposed to be presented at Place des Arts but was canceled due to bad weather. Instead, the Imperial Ethiopian Folk Ensemble took place as scheduled, as part of the World Festival, at the Port-Royal Theater in Place des Arts.
On Wednesday 3, day 6 of Expo 67, Emperor Haile Selassie I visited the pavilion of France Czechoslovakia, Great Britain, Italy, and Germany anonymously, before departing Expo 67 to Quebec City.
Here is an extract of a statement from Quebec Prime Minister Daniel Johnson published in The Winnipeg Tribune (04/27/1967):
Mr. Johnson said at the official opening of Expo 67: "We in Quebec who are so delighted to welcome our guests will also find a marvelous adventure as we set out to win new friends."
The premier called the World's Fair "a majestic monument dedicated to the cause of peace and the brotherhood of man."
Expo would not have been possible without "the meaningful co-operation of our country's governments, businesses, large and small, and private citizens."
"Nothing draws men closer than working together to achieve a lofty purpose and I am confident that the store of understanding and harmony built up in working this enchantment will be one of our enduring legacies from Expo 67."
Quebec was honored to have Expo "We intend to prove ourselves worthy of the honor of those who have put their trust in us may rest assured it has not been misplaced."
He Thank the 62 participating countries, "Which have set up camp among us, not to oppose one another's interests or to test their strength but to demonstrate ...their distinctive individual characteristics and their abiding desire for fellowship."
List of personalities present at the Expo 67
Other than Emperor Haile Selassie I here is the list of celebrities and dignitaries who attended the Exhibit.
*Queen Elizabeth II
*Princess Margaret
*King of Thailand, Abudlyadej
*Princess Kelly of Monaco
*Princess Paola of Belgium
*The Honourable Lester B. Pearson, Prime Minister, Canada
*Former Canadian Prime Minister, John George Diefenbaker
*Mayor Jean Drapeau
*Jackie Kennedy
*Robert Kennedy
*President Lyndon B. Johnson
*General Charles de Gaulle
*Québec celebrities Renée Claude, Gilles Vigneault and Stéphane Venne
*Petula Clark
*Ed Sullivan
*Marlene Dietrich
*Jack Lemmon
*Robert Wagner
*Lawrence Olivier
*Harry Belafonte
*Sally Field
*Bing Crosby
*Thelonious Monk
*Wayne and Shuster
*Maurice Chevalier
The 29th of October marks the end of this great event. More than expected, 50 million people attended the Exhibition. It is said that many more people would've come if it wasn't for a strike that slowed down public transport from September 20 to October 21. Visitors from around the world came to attend this great exhibition. According to the Montreal archives account, 45% of the visitors came from the United States, 27% from the Montreal area, and 19% from other areas in Canada, while 5% came from Québec City, and 4% from other countries.
The emperor was present from the 4th to the 6th day of the event, which was from the 1st to the 3rd of May 1967. Expo 67 was designed to project the world into the future. Man, his achievements, and his capabilities. Innovations from numerous fields were on display, such as engineering, architecture, industrial design, technology, etc. There were also exhibitions of visual arts, social sciences, and humanities. A considerable amount of world leaders and celebrities participated in this event. The Governor-General of Canada Roland Michener, Primer Minister Lest B. Pearson, Mayor Jean-Drapeau, the Prime Ministers of all the 10 provinces of Canada, and 53 foreign leaders played their part in this milestone event. The presence of Emperor Haile Selassie I at this event was a symbolic step of his intent to bring his country ahead to the new millennium.
Though the Emperor faced some protest, and some disagreeable questions from the media concerning Ethiopia's inner struggles at the time, the visit to Canada ended to be a fruitful diplomatic gesture, that sharpened the relations between Canada and Ethiopia. Where he received great acclaim among other World leaders, this was one of the emperor's efforts to establish better foreign relations, to put his country on the map.
Montreal Mayor Jean Drapeau and Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, May 1st, 1967.
[Montreal Archives]
Ethiopia Pavillon – International and Universal Exposition (Expo 67) 1967 – Montreal, Canada.
[Montreal Archives]
Ethiopia and Russia pavilions, at night. / Rhéal Benny. – International and Universal Exposition (Expo 67) 1967 – Montreal, Canada. [Montreal Archives]
Haile Selassie arrival at Expo 67 – May 2nd, 1967 – Montreal, Canada.
[Canada Library Archives]
Haile Selassie I inspecting the Guard of Honor at Expo 67 – May 2nd, 1967
Montreal, Canada. [Canada Library-Archives/Canadian Press]
Haile Selassie I - Ceremony at Expo 67 – May 2nd, 1967 – Montreal, Canada.
[Canada Library Archives]
Transformation of Ethiopia
As Ras Tafari grew, he earned a taste for modernity. He was attracted to innovations, especially in the fields of transportation, aeronautics, and cars. He had quite a collection of cars such as Delage, Mercedes, Rolls-Royce, and manifold American pieces. He also appreciated cinema. It is said that he had cowboy movies screened in his palace. Modernization would set the tone for the new era of Ethiopia.
From the beginning of the 20th century up to the 70s, the focus was on modernizing and adapting Ethiopia to the requirements of a fast-moving world. The Marche Tafari was introduced as an anthem, reaffirming Ethiopia's identity and pride in the world scene. In the same breath, we can observe the writings and amendments of the constitution of Ethiopia. Changes were made in the feudal rule, to delegate responsibilities to people, according to their competence, rather than their nobility. Earlier during his assignment as a governor, these changes were notable in the provinces of Sidamo and Harar. We can also witness the reforms of the cabinet of ministries, the military, the justice system, and the Orthodox Church (Tewahdo) and the establishment of embassies and consulates around the world. Plentiful diplomatic gestures toward the "West" or the rest of the world, came with an active will to solidify unity in the African continent.
One important change to Ethiopian society was the abolition of slavery. Slavery was mostly domestic in Ethiopia and as a result of tribal wars. The wars also stagnated the development of the country. It seems that though slaves were captives, certain freedoms were granted to them, such as circulating freely, and conducting business, as well as the choice of faith and culture. Slavery was embedded in Ethiopia's culture and was difficult to abolish. Before Haile Selassie's reforms, attempts were made by his predecessors, Tewodros II, Yohannes IV, and Menelik II. With access to the League of Nations in 1923, Slavery was officially abolished in Ethiopia. It is in 1924 that Haile Selassie I gradually started to implement some changes to facilitate the transition to complete freedom. One was to give the people access to education programs.
Haile Selassie, I valued education, and promoted literacy, cultivation, and discipline. Also having in mind to train a skilled workforce to suit the developing industries. He charged taxes of 6% on all importations and exportations and also used his wealth either to build schools or send students abroad. Therefore several schools of foreign languages would open in major cities. The military college was founded, along with what is known as the Ethiopia Scout Association movement. By the end of World War II, we witnessed the opening of Ethiopia's first university, originally named Haile Selassie I University, known today as Addis Ababa University.
Through a long process of development, Ethiopia has been able to benefit from the deployment of electrical grids in major cities, telephones, and wireless services, as well as printing presses. A variety of up-to-date transportation was introduced throughout the country, such as airplanes, cars, motorcycles, and bicycles; along with the development of infrastructures and communicating roads between cities. As part of his priorities for the nation, all major cities benefited from the building of brand-new hospitals.
Succeeding the State Bank, the founding of the National Bank of Ethiopia was in parallel with a series of economic reforms and incentives to develop industries, also allowing the people to have access to loans with interest rate caps that were more convenient than in the past. A brand new national money backed by gold was created, the Ethiopian dollar called "Birr".
Statistics extracted from "Basic Data on the Economy of Ethiopia", indicate that from 1961 to 1967, the G.D.P. grew by 50%, with an inflation of 2% for a growth of 5% every year. We can observe a fast growth and modernization of the manufacturing industry, where the farming industry was slower to develop. Where Ethiopia started from ground zero, the exponential population growth and demand required rapid progress.
Who Is H.I.M Haile Selassie I?
Qädamawi Haylä Sellasé, Lij Tafari Makonnen Woldemikel, Ras Tafari Makonnen, H.I.M Emperor Haile Selassie I, The Negus Neghest (King Of Kings), The Lion Of Judah; is the 225th successor to the Solomonic line according to the Kebra Nagast. The Kebra Nagast meaning "The Glory of the Kings" is a scripture observed by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (Tewahdo), and regarded as a historical account of the genealogy of Ethiopian Kings, Up to King Solomon and Queen Sheba. Being the recipient of the Ark of the Covenant through Menelik I, the scriptures tell the tale of the Ethiopian people, from some sort of animist belief system to the Abrahamic monotheist faith. Where indigenous tribes are practicing various forms of animism, the main faiths are Islam, and primarily Christianity.
Emperor Haile Selassie I, born on July 23rd, 1892 is from the village of Ejersa Goro, in the province of Harar, in the northeast of Ethiopia. Haile Selassie I was the son of Ras Makonnen, nobleman, provincial governor, a hero of the famous war of Adwa, and chief advisor and cousin of Menelik II. Haile Selassie's mother was Yeshimebet Ali Abba Jifar, daughter of a Muslim chief named Dejazmach Ali Abba Jifar of the Warra Illu Clan, and from the Wore Ilu in Wollo province. Haile Selassie's maternal grandmother was of Gurage culture but of Oromo origin. Oromo is the most common language in Ethiopia. Emperor Haile Selassie's royal lineage is from his grandmother on his father's side. She was a descendant of Shewan Amhara King Shale Selassie.
Ras Tafari's mother endured eight miscarriages prior to his birth. He was the youngest of ten children. Yeshimebet Ali Abba Jifar gave her last breath two years after Ras Tafari's birth, following a difficult childbirth.
Woziero Yeshimebet Ali Jiffar, Mother of Ras Tafari
[Unknown]
Education
Ras Tafari was under the responsibility of his father along with his adopted cousin Imru Haile Selassie. Ras Manonnen's duty kept him away from Tafari, so they didn't have a close relationship, but he always paid close attention to Tafari's education. Ras Tafari was mainly raised by his uncle Haile Selassie Abayne and some female guardians.
Ras Tafari And his father Ras Makonnem 1899 [C.P.]
Ras Tafari received a traditional education at home, with instruction in the Amharic and Geez languages, faith studies, along Ethiopian psalms. He also received education under a French tutor where he learned French and English language, history, classics, mathematics, science, etc. He has shown to be remarkably intelligent.
Ras Tafari early earned his motivation to modernize from his uncle Menelik II who had already prepared the ground for such progress to happen. Also from his father Ras Makonnen whose desire was inspired by his travel around the world as a representative of Emperor Menelik II. In Haile Selassie's early appointments we can witness the concretization of his progressive views.
Ras Makonnen appointed his son Ras Tafari (Haile) to a titular position of military command. This was in a way, an indicator of the possibility, that Haile Selassie could be Emperor Menelik II's successor.
Amidst the departure of his father (1905), Ras Tafari became under Emperor Menelik II's responsibility. Ras Tafari was indeed in Emperor Menelik II's mind, as he was getting more concerned about his health and his departure. Therefore, he started to make certain gestures concerning his succession.
Starting in 1906, at the age of 13, Ras Tafari assumes the governorship of Sidamo and eventually of Harar province. The main administrative responsibilities were under the charge of an appointed regent until Haile was fully able to assume the task. This is the period when Haile started to receive education in government and administration as he was getting to learn the dynamics of diplomacy in the Ethiopian palace.
Marriage
On 3 August 1911, Ras Tafari marries Menen Asfaw of Ambassel, the niece of Lij Abeto Iyasu, Menelik II's grandson. Menen was the daughter of Asfaw Mikael Ambasel (Ruler of Ambassel) and Sehin Mikael, daughter of King Michael of Wollo, and sister of Lij Iyasu. Menen and Tafari had six children together. Prior to Menen, Ras Tafari was with Woizero Woinetu Amede, also known as Woizero (Lady) Altayech. From this union, Princess Romane Work Haile Selassie was born (1909).
Ras Tafari And Menen marriage 1911
[Keystone Pictures]
Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Menen Asfaw in sacred costume 1930
[Robillard Collection]
Path to the Coronation
The path to Ras Tafari's coronation was initiated when Emperor Menelik II suffered a stroke at the age of 69. Though he survived, he could no longer rule, therefore, his wife, Empress Taytu assumed the interim imperial authority. At Emperor Menelik II's departure in 1913, Empress Taytu started to organize her appointees and managed to formalize the succession, of her grandson the heir Abeto Iyasu on the royal seat, while Haile Selassie was appointed governor of the city of Harar. When Empress Taytu departed in 1918, Abeto Iyasu was the official heir to the throne from 1913 to the end of 1916.
Lij Abeto Iyasu's character and his political awkwardness showed him to be unfit for the succession to the throne. Ras Tafari (Haile) showed himself to be more effective politically gained popularity with his progressive approach, and was favored by the Orthodox Church (Tewahdo). Abeto Iyasu whose father was a Muslim tended to promote Islam despite the Christian majority and made some political choices that affected his popularity. We can say that through a struggle, a series of events, and forces at home and abroad, as well as a combination of circumstances, Ras Tafari was destined for the throne.
As Abeto Iyasu was deposed, Menelik II's daughter Zewditu, replaced him. She assumed the role of governing, while Ras Tafari was appointed Regent Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia, and took charge of administrative tasks from 1916 to 1930. 1923 marks the entry of Ethiopia into the League Nations as the only African nation to become a member, with the condition of abolishing slavery.
Ras Tafari was crowned Negus on October 7, 1928. On April 2, 1930, Empress Zewditu suddenly died of complications related to diabetes. Eight months following Zewditu's departure, Ras Tafari was proclaimed King of Kings and took the name of Haile Selassie which means "Power of the Trinity". His coronation was covered by Time magazine (1930), which displayed Ethiopia to the world as an African country, paving its way as being among the great nations of the world. Haile Selassie I, at the age of 38, would rule Ethiopia with a reign that lasted from 1930 to 1974.
The Negus Tafari with his traditional commanding stick named Bitwa
October 7, 1928 [Robillard Collection]
Haile Selassie Time Magazine Cover - 1930 - Volume 16, N.18.
Haile Selassie coming out of Saint George Cathedral as he been crowned Emperor November 2nd, 1930 [Alain Le Seach' Archives]
Experience
Haile Selassie lived to experience the First and the Second World Wars. With the rise of fascism, Ethiopia is brutally affected by the invasion of Mussolini's Italy, which forces the Emperor to exile. On May 2, 1936, the Emperor first sought refuge in what was the French zone of the golf of Aden in Djibouti. He then moved to Britain for 4-5 years. Britain was then under the rule of King George VI. There, Haile Selassie, I stayed from 1936 to 1941 in what is called the Fairfield House, in the ward of Newbridge, in the city of Bath. It was under the Ethiopian and Britain agreement that forces were assembled and trained, to push back Mussolini's troops in 1941. Though not fully favorable to the Ethiopians, the agreement that was officially signed on 31 January 1942 allowed the Emperor to gain back his throne.
Before this, Haile Selassie's Appeal to The League of Nations, in Geneva (Switzerland), on June 30th, 1936, was unsuccessful. This was a crucial moment of the 20th century. From the point of view of the Emperor, international morality was at stake. As his country was being invaded, a known quote from his speech was "It is us today, it will be you tomorrow..."
Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia Addresses League of Nations June 30th, 1936.
[Keystone Pictures]
In the midst of this, we can witness the birth of the Rastafari movement during the 1930s, fueled by Marcus Garvey's Pan-Africanism movement (UNIA), and the crowning of Haile Selassie I as a prophetic manifestation of the divine on earth. With charismatic personalities such as Bob Marley, the movement finds its way into the mainstream culture. The words of Bob Marley's song titled "War" are mainly derived from Haile Selassie's Speech in the United Nation on October 4, 1963.
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Rastaman Vibration Album Cover
Official Release Date: April 30, 1976.
Here is the part of the speech that relates to Marley's song:
"...that until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned;
that until there are no longer first-class and second-class citizens of any nation;
that until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes;
that until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race;
that until that day, the dream of lasting peace and world citizenship and the rule of international morality will remain but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but never attained.
And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique, and in South Africa in subhuman bondage have been toppled and destroyed;
until bigotry and prejudice and malicious and inhuman self-interest have been replaced by understanding and tolerance and good-will;
until all Africans stand and speak as free beings, equal in the eyes of all men, as they are in the eyes of Heaven;
until that day, the African continent will not know peace. We Africans will fight, if necessary, and we know that we shall win, as we are confident in the victory of good over evil."
I, myself, also used the ending quote from the speech of 1963 in the UN:
"...we must look into ourselves, into the depth of our souls. We must become something we have never been and for which our education and experience and environment have ill-prepared us. We must become bigger than we have been: more courageous, greater in spirit, larger in outlook. We must become members of a new race, overcoming petty prejudice, owing our ultimate allegiance not to nations but to our fellow men within the human community."
Although he was seen as a divine figure or a messiah, Haile Selassie humbly stated: "Do not worship me, I am not God. I'm only a man. I worship Jesus Christ."
Haile Selassie I remained faithful to the Orthodox Church (Tewahdo) but kept an attitude of sympathy toward the Rastafari Movement, which was fully aligned with the spirit of Pan-Africanism. The Rastafari movement always being in full support of the Emperor through his trials and tribulations. As multifold Jamaican Rastas aspired to go back to Africa; during the 1950s, Haile Selassie granted them a piece of land of 200 hectares in Shashamane, situated 250 km in the south of Addis Ababa. We can still find a small Rasta community living there today.
On April 21, 1966, the Emperor makes a state visit to Jamaica. As Haile Selassie I gets out of his airplane, an ecstatic crowd of 10 000 Jamaicans invades the airport runways, screaming out of their lungs. This day is now called "Groundation Day" and is celebrated in commemoration of this event. This visit was part of a Royal tour in the Carribeans which comprised Trinidad-Tobago, Jamaica, and Haiti.
Jamaican crowd welcoming Emperor Haile Selassie I - April 21, 1966
[Giula Bonacci Archives]
African Union
In the world scene, Emperor Haile Selassie I's global perspective gave Ethiopia a place in the United Nations. The Emperor was one of the founders of the Organization of African Unity, along with Gamal Abdel Nasser, Ahmed Sékou Touré, and Kwame Nkrumah who played an initiative part in the organization. The Organization of African Unity was an intergovernmental organization that saw the light on the 25th of May 1963 and would be the precursor to the African Union (2001). The summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was presided by Haile Selassie I and gathered 32 signatory governments. The main goals were to free the African countries from colonialism, focus on economic development and growth. Also, to present the continent of Africa in a better light, and promote its true value in the international arena.
In this sense, Haile became a model for a generation of African nationalists and freedom fighters such as Nelson Mandela, who wrote about him in his autobiography titled "Long Walk To Freedom".
Organization of African Unity in Addis Ababa on May 25, 1963 [Unkown]
Internal affairs
Where Emperor Haile Selassie I was successful in his foreign relations, and his modernization incentives, the main issues he faced were at home. The difficulty in implementing his reforms and bringing change as quickly as needed; inconsistencies, ups and downs in the development process, internal and regional conflicts, during the Cold War, and the rise of Marxism in a power struggle dynamic, had their effect on national cohesion.
The Emperor faced an unsuccessful Coup d'état on December 13, 1960, involving the heir prince. Amha Selassie (Asfaw Wossen Tafari), was detained in the imperial palace by Mengistu Newway, who was the commander of the Imperial Guard, accompanied by his brother Germama Neway, leading the Council of the Revolution. While Haile Selassie was on a state visit in Brazil, they made Amha Selassie read a statement broadcasted on the radio, where he accepts to take his father's throne and implement government reforms more suited to their need. However, Prince Asrate Medhin Kassa and Major General Mared Mangesha campaigned to restore Haile Selassie's authority, having the support of other military forces and the Clergy. By December 15, they fought to expel the rebels out of Addis Ababa. On 17 December, the Emperor returns to the capital.
The Emperor would also have to deal with the beginning of the struggle for the independence of Eritrea, which have been gained by referendum only in 1993.
These events, unfortunately, created, on one hand, an atmosphere of suspicion, and obviously had an influence on Haile Selassie's approach to governing. Thus reorganizing the government, selecting new appointees to take care of internal affairs while he would concentrate more on foreign relations.
In February 1974, 14 years following the first coup, the Derg, led by Mengistu Haile Mariam, puts Haile Selassie I under house arrest and seizes power. The trust in the government decreased during a drought and crop failures in Wello province. From October 1973 to March 1974, Ethiopia as a myriad of other countries underwent an oil embargo by the OAEP. By all means, any effort to improve the country didn't meet the fast-growing population of Ethiopia. The government became overwhelmed as Ethiopia was facing a high rate of unemployment and famine. After a series of strikes from students and teachers, cab and bus drivers, the military started to put pressure on the government and force the Prime Minister to resign.
Following the arrest, Emperor Haile Selassie I was made a prisoner in his own palace where he spent the rest of his life.
Departure
The records say that Emperor Haile Selassie I expired on August 27, 1975. The next day, it is announced in the media that the Emperor gave his last breath due to "respiratory failure following complications from a prostate operation." A testimony that was denied by the Emperor's personal doctor Asrat Woldeyes. Asrat as well as rife of others attest that Haile Selassie was killed by his captors.
The Crowned Prince Asfaw Wossen demanded an independent autopsy be conducted but this was never done. And according to official sources, he was buried without ceremony within 24 hours of his departure.
Haile Selassie's funerals officially took place 25 years after his departure, on the 5th November 2000. He found his peaceful rest at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Addis Abeba to the side of his wife Menen.
Some claims around Hailie Selassie's departure, according to the official and unofficial accounts, suggest that he died of a natural cause, while other evidence would suggest that someone strangled him while he was resting on his bed. Other claims would rather say that he never died, in the spiritual sense as well as the physical sense. Other accounts would go as far as claiming the sight of Emperor Haile Selassie I, subsequently to the date of his departure; and that the Emperor went to dedicate a more spiritual life. I will leave this to each individual to make their own conclusion.
Haile Selassie I coronation is still honored and celebrated in the Rastafari community. Drums are still beating in his name. He is a memorable figure of African history as well as world history. H.I.M. Hailie Selassie lived in a period of humanity that explicitly raised the question of the legitimacy of power, morals, authority, virtue, and the dignity of all men within the human family. In the meantime, reflecting on the path mankind should take, on the way to create a future that is more promising.
*******TO BE UPDATED*******
For more information on the subject:
BOOKS
Book: L'Histoire de l'Éthiopie - L'oeuvre du temps -- Author: Paul B. Henze (French Translation) P.189-283
Book: Ras Tafari - Haïlé Sélassié -- Author: Denis Gérard
Book: Haile Selassie - The Life and Legacy of the Ethiopian Emperor Revered as the Messiah by Rastafarians - Charles River Editors
Book: Le dernier ROI des ROIS - L'Éthiopie de Haïlé Sélassié -- Author: Gontran de Juniac
Book: Chronique du 20e siècle - Éditions Chronique -- Editor-in-chief: Jean des Cars (1990)
P.389, 417, 437, 474, 477, 484, 485, 488, 490, 493, 495, 576, 578, 587, 817, 919, 967, 1108, 1112, 1116, 1117, 1118, 1120, 1123, 1124.
ARTICLES
The Winnipeg Tribune 77th Year No. 100 - 27/04/1967 - Welcome Mat Out At Expo P. 1
Chronique Montréalité no 50 : Expo 67 (1ère partie
Chronique Montréalité no 51 : Expo 67 (2e partie)
Expo 67 - Montreal Archives
Expo 67 world’s fair, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Ethiopia: Retracing Haile Selassie's State Visit to Canada 50 years Ago
Author: Dr. Richard Pankhurst - Series: A History of Early Twentieth Century Ethiopia -
Title: 01. The Beginnings of Ethiopia’s Modernisation
The Federal Democratic Republic Of Ethiopia Ministry Of Foreign Affairs - Ethio-Canada Relation
British Colombia University - "When the Emperor Came To Lunch" by Herbert Rosengarten
Governors-General Representing Canada at Home and Abroad
Le Monde Diplomatique - Un vieil empire résolument tourné vers l’avenir P. 26-27 Novembre 1964.
Bill McNeil on life and career at CBC
YOUTUBE - Documentary and Interview
Expo 67 Documentaire de 1967 (Visite de l'Expo en mai 1967)
Faces of Africa: Haile Selassie, the pillar of a Modern Ethiopia
H I M Haile Selassie 1967 Canadian Interview Part 1
H I M Haile Selassie 1967 Canadian Interview Part 2
Aksum (UNESCO/NHK)
H.I.M. Qedamawi HAILE SELASSIE Christmas Interview with Dr Oswald Hoffman, 1968.
PowerBI, Cognos, Tableau
Haile Selassie's Second State Visit to the United States, October 1963
Ethiopia; Haile Selassie RARE INTERVIEW to an Italian journalist in May 28, 1963, Sub ENG
Emperor Haile Selassie, Marxism, and Monarchy: A Conversation with Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie
Prince Ermias Sahleselassie and princess Saba kebede in Canada
Prince AsfaWossen Asserate King of Kings The Triumph of Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia
Prince Asfa-Wossen Asserate, Publicist and Management Consultant | Talking Germany
Founders of the Organization of African Unity
What is the African Union?
Son of Haile Selassie I, Amha Selassie. - The 16 Year Old Crown Prince Of Ethiopia (1932)
The last emperor of Ethiopia: Haile Selassie's legacy remains divisive
Famine in Ethiopia 1973 (French)
Ethiopia - From a Country of Famine to the Highest Economic Growth in the World
Ethiopia in 2021: Tackling Challenges and Looking Toward the Future
Ancient Abyssinia and the History of the Ethiopian Empire
Some Songs Referring to Emperor Haile Selassie I
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Song: War
Bob Marley - Song: Jah Live
Bob Marley - Song: Selassie is the Chapel
Mutabaruka,Dennis Brown & Ini Kamoze - Song: Great Kings Of Afrika
Jacob Miller - Song: Chapter A Day
Natural Ites - Song: Picture On The Wall
Sizzla - Song: Haile Selassie
Sizzla - Song: Praise Ye Jah
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