26 April 2026 / 18 ሚያዝያ 2018 – The Crown Council of Ethiopia is honuored to reflect on a week of profound historical significance in Kingston, Jamaica, as we commemorated the 60th Anniversary of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I’s 1966 State Visit.
The celebrations kicked off on Groundation Day, April 21, at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre. The atmosphere was filled with cultural performances and deep reflection as the Rastafari community and the wider Jamaican public gathered to honor His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I’s arrival to Palisadoes Airport six decades ago.
The event featured a powerful lineup of speakers and performers, including a moving dramatic presentation by students from the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts. A highlight of the day was the reading of the official statement from the Crown Council of Ethiopia, delivered by member of the Society for the Imperial Ethiopian Orders and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Psychology, and Social Work at the University of West Indies, Dr. Michael Barnett, on behalf of the Crown Council’s President, HIH Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie. The statement reaffirmed the “indestructible bonds of brotherhood” between the Ethiopian and Jamaican peoples and acknowledged the resilience of the Rastafari movement in preserving the Solomonic heritage and the Emperor’s legacy.
Distinguished Jamaican author, journalist, filmmaker, and cultural consultant Barbara Blake Hannah delivered remarks on behalf of the Jamaican Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sports, the Hon. Olivia “Babsy” Grange.
The commemorations continued April 23 with the Inaugural Annual Haile Selassie High School Lecture at the Institute of Jamaica. Titled “From Vision to Institution: The Imperial Gift and its Impact,” the lecture celebrated the Emperor’s personal gift to the Jamaican people — the Haile Selassie I High School.
The event featured esteemed speakers and panelists, including: Barbara Blake-Hannah; Dr. Angela Brown-Burke, Member of Parliament for St. Andrew South Western; Mr. Steven Golding, President of the UNIA-ACL, who served as the Master of Ceremonies and shared his deep insights on Pan-African unity; and Mrs. Anjola Jones, Principal of Haile Selassie I High School, who spoke on the responsibility of preserving the Emperor’s educational legacy.
In a dedicated Statement to the Administration, Faculty, and Students of the Haile Selassie I High School, the Crown Council expressed its profound gratitude to the institution for serving as a “living monument” to His Imperial Majesty’s belief that education is the primary foundation for a free and enlightened society. The Crown Council specifically commended the generations of alumni and the steadfast dedication of the teaching staff who continue to shape the minds of the future in the heart of Kingston.
We wish to extend our deepest gratitude to Mrs. Yodit Hylton, Honorary Consul for Ethiopia in Jamaica, whose tireless work and leadership have been instrumental in bridging our two nations and ensuring the success of these events.
We also recognize the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which has served as a spiritual guardian of this legacy in Jamaica since the Emperor’s visit. As we look toward a future rooted in this shared history, we share the following words from the Consulate’s official address, which perfectly captures the spirit of this milestone:
“The legacy of the 1966 visit of His Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie, is alive mainly through the efforts of Rastafari, whose commitment to ‘Remembering the Moment’ and ‘Continuing the work’ of building Pan-Africanism is being demonstrated in this 60th Anniversary Celebration.”
Watch the full events here:
Groundation Day 60th Anniversary Celebration
(https://www.youtube.com/live/4PzmnKqDB_M?si=vVzc8yfyTzDcGUZx)
Inaugural Annual Haile Selassie Lecture
(https://www.youtube.com/live/qX6feG_HTUQ?si=pqFcYdbCqq_D0JeZ)
