RASTAFARI IN THE 21^ST CENTURY

~Pan African Perspectives~

One of the major highlights of the recent 2005 Pan African Bookfest in South Florida was a special audio-visual panel presentation entitled “Rastafari in the 21^st Century – Pan African Perspectives”, which took place on Thursday, April 21, 2005. An overflow audience of two-hundred plus people comprising students, the general public and Rastafarians, attended the entertaining and colorful 3-hour long event in the Ballroom on the second floor of the Wolfe Center at Florida International University’s North (Biscayne Bay) Campus in North Miami Beach.

The information-packed celebration/commemoration showcased Rastafarian books and other related literature, as well as traditional Rasta chanting by the Nyahbinghi Drummers. The Rastafari forum was held on April 21^st in celebration of the 39^th anniversary of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I’s arrival in Jamaica on April 21^st 1966, and the documentary film, “The Lion of Judah”, detailing the Emperor’s historic 3-day long State Visit to the island was screened during the event.

The highlight of “Rastafari in the 21^st Century – Pan African Perspectives”, were multi-media audio-visual presentations by a 4-person panel. First up was Dr. Michael Barnett, a Rastafarian Professor in Sociology and Anthropology at FIU, who used video clips as he provided insight on the Pan African significance of the Ethiopian Emperor’s 1966 State Visit to the Caribbean islands of Trinidad, Jamaica and Haiti. The FIU Professor was followed by Empress Chipo Chemoyo, a Rastafarian Global Application Scientist specializing in Immunology and Bio-technology; who used a Powerpoint presentation of photographs to report on 21^st century trends in the Pan African Movement following the recent “Africa Unite” – Bob Marley 60^th Birthday anniversary Rasta/Reggae celebration, which she attended in Ethiopia.

Priest Douggie Smith, a Rastafarian Businessman, Herbalist and one of the founding members of the Miami branch of the Ethiopia Africa Black, International Congress was the next panelist up and screened a video excerpt as he delivered a unique Rastafarian perspective on the issues of Repatriation and Reparation as being the ultimate 21^st century solutions to the current Pan African dilemma. Ras I. Jabulani Tafari, a Rastafarian Journalist, Author and Publisher of the Rootz Reggae & Kulcha Magazine was the final presenter and summarized the evening’s presentations while explaining why the Rastafarians are the socio-political successors of Pan African Patriarch Marcus Mosiah Garvey.

The evening’s proceedings concluded with the presenters answering questions posed by the audience. The Master of Ceremonies and moderator was Kevin “Ital-K” Smith, host of Sounds of the Caribbean on WLRN 91.3 FM, and he handled his duties eloquently and efficiently. The multi-ethnic capacity crowd also enjoyed the free ital refreshments which were on hand for the memorable celebration/commemoration. The event was videotaped for subsequent broadcast on COMCAST Cable by Karib Link TV.

“Rastafari in the 21^st Century” was sponsored by the Broward County Libraries and Parks & Recreation Divisions, TAFARI and the Student Government Association of FIU, Rootz Magazine, Talawah Roots Tonic, Unique Graphics, Afiwi-dot-com, and Vibez Radio 101.9 FM.

PHOTOS BY: Ronny Cush

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