Emperor Haile Selassie I – Outside Palace

This canvas art piece pays homage to Emperor Haile Selassie I’s significant impact on history and culture.

Haile Selassie I is revered as a symbol of African pride, resistance against oppression and a source of spiritual guidance.

Haile Selassie I’s life and the Rasta movement are closely intertwined, with his name and image serving as powerful symbols of African identity and spirituality.

Early Life:
Haile Selassie I, originally known as Tafari Makonnen, was born on July 23, 1892, in Ejersa Goro, a small town in Ethiopia.

He belonged to the Solomonic Dynasty, a lineage that Ethiopian tradition claims to be descendants of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.

Rise to Power:
He rose to power as Ras (a noble title) and became Regent and then Emperor of Ethiopia in 1930 after the death of Empress Zewditu.

Resistance Against Colonialism:
One of his most significant contributions was his unwavering resistance to foreign colonization.

In 1935, Italy invaded Ethiopia, leading to the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.

Haile Selassie I’s impassioned appeal for help at the League of Nations in 1936 brought international attention to the plight of Ethiopia.
Despite being exiled for several years, he remained a symbol of Ethiopian resistance and regained the throne after Italy’s defeat in 1941.

Connection to Rastas:
Haile Selassie I is a central figure in the Rasta faith, which emerged in Jamaica in the 1930s.

Rastafarians believe that he is the divine incarnation and the messiah foretold in the Bible, especially in the Book of Revelation.

The Rastafarian movement sees Haile Selassie I as the fulfillment of the prophecy in the Bible that a king from the line of David would arise as a messianic figure.

This belief was bolstered when Haile Selassie I was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia and claimed a lineage tracing back to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.

The Rasta faith is deeply rooted in the belief that Ethiopia and Africa as a whole, is the promised land and that black people in the diaspora should return to their African homeland.

Key Features:
• Matte finish coating
• High-quality durable canvas
• Hand-stretched over solid wood
• FSC certified responsibly sourced wood
• Fabric is a blend of cotton and polyester
• Vivid, fade-resistant print for long-lasting colours