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• • • Left page, top Right: Prince Ermias, his wife with representatives from the Black Clergy of America. Left page, top Left - Ras B & Kegnazzmatch (General) Azibite Haptemariam Ethiopian Royalty Visits Chicago By Wolette Selassie Haile Selassie This past summer (June 2014), Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie, grandson of King Haile Selassie I and a prominent member of the Ethiopian Royal Family, was invited to Chicago by the Queen of Sheba on the 60th anniversary of his grandfather’s, King Haile Selassie I, visit in 1954, and the 78th anniversary of King Selassie I’s historic speech to the League of Nations in 1936. During His historic four-day visit, various receptions were held to welcome Prince Ermias to Chicago. Receptions were hosted by The Chicago Defender, The New Century Fellowship of Churches & Ministries, The Ethiopian Executive Host Committee, and The Rastafarian Host Committee of Chicago in order to re-establish bonds of friendship and brotherhood as did his grandfather in 1954. of Sheba’s board. The foundation’s television production team produced presented a number of min-documentaries to provide attendees a first-time glimpse of the ancient Holy City and its Holy Mountain. The documentaries revealed how The Throne of KUSH was continued in AXUM, the ancient capital city of the Queen of Sheba (Queen of the South) where the Solomonic Dynasty and the Throne of David began. People came from as far away as New York, Texas, New Mexico, and California to hear Prince Ermias give his presentation. Special Guest speaker Dr. Michael Murray, Chairman of The Diaspora African RasTafari Congress, Inc. (DARC) in New York and President of the New York Chapter of the Ethiopian Holocaust Remembrance Committee, accompanied by Sister I-Chelle, The crowning achievement of General Secretary, introduced The the Queen of Sheba’s inaugural Honorable Kegnazmatch (General) historical event was a scholarly Azibite Haptemariam, an 89 year presentation Prince Ermias gave old surviving Ethiopian patriot Kegnazmatch (General) Azibite Haptemariam at the Dusable Museum of African and guerrilla warrior who joined American History on “The Origins of the war against fascist Italy at 13 to defend his beloved the Solomonic Dynasty, The Throne of David in Ethiopia, and country from Mussolini’s fascist campaign of genocide from the Religious Symbolism of the Lion of Judah.” The five-hun1935 – 1941. dred seat auditorium was filled to capacity, causing people When the program concluded, one African-American atto be turned away. tendee exclaimed, “I feel as if I’ve just had four years of college This historic event was the culmination of forty years of in three hours!” An Ethiopian youth was heard saying, “Our investigative research by executive members of the Queen history must not be suppressed because of politics. I was 12 winter solstice 2014/15 Magazine / September 2012 The Black Community’s Response Most of our people have never met or had an opportunity hear the words of African royalty and those in attendance felt honored that Prince Ermias took the time to visit them in Chicago. The community gave him an overwhelming response. Enthusiastically, over 500 people came out to hear His Highness and many were turned away for lack of seating. Such an overwhelming response demonstrated and symbolized the black community’s hunger and desire, young and old, to learn more about their heritage before slavery. • • Left Image - (L-R) Dr Asantewaa’s daughter and Dr. B. Bottom Right - (L-R) Zaile Sellassie, Dr B and Dr. Asantewaa. • Top Image - Queen of Sheba (QS) Rep resentatives, Wolette Selassie, 2nd from the right and Nathaniel Mayes III, far left, with DARC Members (Dr B and Sister I-Chelle, center; Dr Asantewaa, last on the right; Ras Kwadwo, center left, at the DuSable Museum. Magazine / September 2012 winter solstice 2014/15 13