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Interview by Andrea
Williams for IRIE FM |
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The resistance to
slavery, colonial domination, and racism have been the struggles of
the sons and daughters of Africa in the Diaspora since we were taken
to the new world. African resistance began on the slave ships and
Continues up to the present. The right to basic human rights were
not Guaranteed after the emancipation act went into effect in 1834
and the chance of former slaves to now live as free men and women in
dignity and to develop a human potential to the fullest had to be
fought tooth and nail against former slave masters.
The list
of martyrs for black liberation are many, and the struggle for
complete freedom and self-determination have come in all shapes and
forms. One of the most glorious moments of our struggle was during
the organizational work of the honorable Marcus Garvey and the
U.N.I.A. which linked the effort and the continent of Africa for
majority rule, equal rights and justice and the struggles in the
Diaspora with the now famous words: "Africa for the Africans, those
at home and those abroad. We should move forward also with one God,
one aim and one destiny".
In 1930 in Ethiopia, Ras
Tafari Makonnen was crowned King of Kings and Lord of Lords with the
throne-name Haile Selassie the First and a new chapter in the
struggle, one with religious connotations, was opened. God was
finally real and the Christian doctrine was no longer the monopoly
of white missionaries with headquarters in Rome. The bible was
studied and any reference to Ethiopia took on added
significance.
Ethiopia, being attacked by Italy at the start
of the second world war galvanized interest and concern in the
struggle of good over evil. During this period, the Ethiopian World
Federation was formed in the United States of America under the
guidance of the Emperor Haile Selassie the First, to unite the
support for the restoration of Ethiopia's sovereignty. After the
war, and the defeat of Italy, the Emperor showed his appreciation by
donating land at Shashamane, to anyone of African descent in the
west who wanted to return to the mother-land. Time, however, was
creating Africans with various aspirations. New generations were
producing new societies of Africans in the West.
Independent
nations were beginning to form and black majority rule was imminent.
In Jamaica, the reverence of Emperor Haile Selassie continued to
create distinguishable movements, such as Nyabinghi, the Ethiopian
National Congress or Bobo dreads, the Twelve Tribes of
Israel.
The Twelve Tribes of Israel, founded by
the Prophet Gad, has added another dimension in the liberation
movement, to include liberation for all races through the teaching
of the bible, and the acceptance of Jesus Christ. Membership is not
limited, but inclusive. By identifying the spiritual sons of Jacob
and finding truth for oneself through reading the bible "a chapter a
day", man can find salvation. The divine lineage continues through
the Ethiopian Monarchy, the seed of David, of which it is said, "The
scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from beneath his
feet, until Shiloh comes and unto Him will be the gathering of the
people."
Running African caught up with the Prophet Gad
at his Hopewood home, and for the first time ever, he consented to
speak publicly on radio!
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Can you tell us first of
the history of the Twelve Tribes? |
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"I was being converted in
1961 and I read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation twice. But I
was being sent, I was called and sent, resurrected and sent to do
this work and when I read the bible I strongly see that there is a
gap that is there to be filled and I believe that I am one of them
that send to do it Do the work." |
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Where did the movement
start, where were you at the time? |
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"At Trenchtown. But I was
called when I was living at Outlook Avenue, that is at Rockfort
Garden." |
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What form did it take,
how did you convince people of what it is that you were sent to
do? |
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" Well, I keep telling
them that if they read the bible a chapter a day, they will see that
what I'm doing, if it is right or wrong. Well, majority read the
bible and them say, what I am saying is there, so they be a part of
it."
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How is the different
tribes identified, how did you know who was Simeon and who was Levi
and so on... |
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"Yes, well there's a
record in the bible, if you see it you see, that Ruben represent the
eye, and Simeon represent the ears, and such like, it is all there,
but there is a part there that the maid, that the maid have two
children and the other one have two. So that is how come the Twelve
Tribes of Israel. It's all recorded there you know. I have seen most
of things I'm doing in the bible." |
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Okay. Some more about the
Tribes. and how they identify themselves..... |
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" By a month. Each month,
like Ruben represent April, Simeon represent
May,"
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Glad You said that. I'm
Simeon. (laughs) |
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" And June represent Levy
and Judah."
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How did you make the
connection with the tribes and the months. How did you know that May
was Simeon? |
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Alright. (At this point
Gad points to body parts that correspond with the different Tribes)
Well, you see, I mean, Rueben, you see, so you know that is April,
an your Ear : that is May, June, July, August, September, October,
which is your back, November your penis, October, November,
December: the knee, January, February, and March." |
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Alright. The 12 Tribes of
Israel have been accused of being elitist, catering to the middle
class and whites. Is that a fair criticism? |
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"No that is not a fair
criticism. Because we are not catering for only one set of people,
out of one blood is all nation, so it is all called, but we know
that not everybody is going to see what we are all
doing." |
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So this talk..because I
know a lot of people are listening now are saying to themselves: But
no, we always did think that only a certain type of people were
members of The 12 Tribes of Israel, and isn't it interesting that a
Rastafarian group cared, when most Rastafarians are saying: "Down
with the with the white downpressors" that 12 Tribes of Israel
actually embrace all races. |
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"That is correct. We read
in the Bible that out of one blood all nation, so it would be wrong
for us to say only one race, we wouldn't survive that way, God make
all of us, so, that is where I stand." |
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The 12 Tribes of Israel
is seen as closer to Christianity than other Rastafarian groups. Is
there a basic difference in the doctrine? |
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"Yes there is a basic
difference because we see Christ, and that die and rose again, and
that die for our sin, we see that person. So that is, you know, a
different teaching, because is not many see this teaching, that
Christ is the person." |
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I want to remind you that
we're speaking with the Prophet Gad who is the leader, the head, the
founder of the 12 Tribes of Israel. We want to move on now to the
doctrine. Recently we've had much debate on this program "Running
African" and other programs about the Divinity of His Majesty the
Emperor Haile Selassie as it relates the return of Jesus Christ.
What are your thoughts on the matter? |
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"Well, Christ is to
return and sit on the Throne of David, so I strongly believe that,
you know, Christ is going to come and sit on the Throne of
David."
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I want you to.. You said
something very important here and something that may disturb the
Rastafarian Movement in Jamaica. Christ, You're talking about the
return of Christ. |
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"Yes I am talking about
the return of Christ who is going to sit on the throne of
David."
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Are you making a
differentiation between Jesus Christ and Haile
Selassie. |
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"Yes I am making a
differentiation. Because Christ the same yesterday, today and
forever. And even after His Majesty say, Him saved not by the man
character but by the blood of Jesus Christ." |
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Alright, let's move on.
The doctrinal principals of the 12 Tribes of Israel at the outset of
this program. I said that you as a head of a Rastafarian
organization yourself, you don't wear dreadlocks. Do you have
specific principals as it relates to hair, diet and the reading of
the Bible? |
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"When I read the Bible I
see you know, there is not a hair-doctrine. Yet we know that man,
you know, him hair is too long, but there is no law to compel him to
trim. So as for me now, I say everyone have the right to wear him
dreadlocks as long as him want to wear it. And nobody shouldn't have
anything to say about it. I read the bible and I choose, prefer to,
pole your hair. When you pole your hair, you comb your hair, like I
don't trim, but I pole. So you have some of the dreadlocks dread and
you have some that pole them hair." |
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I have heard it said even
on this station IRIE FM, that if you don't have your dreadlocks you
can't go to Zion. How do you respond to that? |
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"There is not a hair
doctrine. You see, by grace through Christ, so hair can't save
you."
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What about
diet?
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"Diet. Well, it is
already recorded in the book what you must eat from what you are not
to eat. Yet, a man free to do what him want to do. But it's
specifically recorded there in the bible what to eat (ie:cloven
footed)and what not to eat." (that through the
cut?) |
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I know members of the 12
Tribes of Israel; that I have come in contact with, one of the
differences that I found is that 12 Tribes of Israel members will
eat meat, for example, whereas most other Rastafarians are
vegetarians.
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"Yes well, there is so
many things to eat before meat it was vegetables, afterward, you
see, that you must eat this meat and you must eat that meat and you
mustn't eat that meat. But before it was vegetables. And then
afterward Noah and the flood then now we get meat to eat. And
separate from what not to eat." |
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Alright. Many argue, but
before we get to that, let us look at the reading of the bible,
because I know that one of your main principals is reading the
bible. Tell me about that. |
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"Yes well, it show to me,
His Majesty even give we a little hint , that in the Bible you know,
Him glorify in the bible, and from a little child Him was taught to
read the bible. Now, when I look I see, that to understand fully, it
is good to read timely and to read for yourself. A chapter a day it
is preferable, still anyone free that they can the bible how they
want to read it." |
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You've been in this
movement for very long time, you're the founder. Does that mean that
you have continued to read the bible a chapter a day until now, so
you must have read it a couple of times. |
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"Yes I read it a couple
of times, twice, and now again I go through it. But I don't read it
as much as, you know" |
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Many argue that the bible
is not 100% reliable but that the reading of the bible actually is a
main principal of yours and of the 12 Tribes of Israel. How do you
respond to the skeptics who say that the bible is not reliable and
burn the bible so to speak. |
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"Anytime it show that
you'll have them curse God, curse the king, and such a like, so I
don't expect for them to accept certain things, but those who
accept, well, give thanks to them." |
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Moving on to rights of
passage. How does the movement, the 12 Tribes of Israel address
birth within the movement, the adolescence period, when the child is
a teenager, and marriage and also death? |
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"Well, if I could
understand clearly, I know that, you have a birth, and after birth,
you have child, adolescence, and when they grow up they're supposed
to married, and after they marry they're supposed to help their
fellow man, and when death come, it come. But right now we're trying
to avoid that death business. But when that come, you can't run from
it. As for us, we don't die. We only sleep, waiting for the
resurrection." |
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Are there any specific
ceremonies concerning for instance birth. Is a child within the 12
Tribes of Israel christened or blessed by you as a
prophet? |
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"I don't do any
christening. I wasn't told to Christen so I don't do any
christening. Them can Christen when your born you have to Christen
and then.." |
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Not necessarily within
any strict rules and so on. What about marriage are there any
specific..?
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"Marriage is a holy vow.
And I know that marriage is right. So if you see a partner and you
love them, get married. That is as far as I'm concerned on
marriage" |
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Okay, moving on. The 12
Tribes of Israel is currently not having regular meetings. When can
we expect the resumption of these meetings? |
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"We were discussing about
it, I think the time has come for it to start. But we was organizing
for years and keeping a lot of meetings, so we take a break, a rest.
Cause the same teaching over and over, so we take a rest but soon de
we hope an trust that we open back to proceed as we was before, and
then taking back some of the members who would like to be a
part." |
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Do you have any idea how
soon, within a couple of months, or anything like
that? |
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"Not yet. I can't say it.
Probably a little more, but not right at the
moment." |
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How does one who is
interested in becoming a member of the 12 Tribes of Israel, how does
one do that? |
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"They have to wait until
we announce the time when we are going to take in members and then
they can." |
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So listen out for that
The monarchy. Discussions on the monarchy have served within the
Rastafarian movement to separate the movement. Many see Haile
Selassie as the final king. How does the 12 Tribes of Israel view
the continuation of the monarchy in relation to the current
political climate in Ethiopia? |
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"Well, His Majesty won't
be the final king, cause he is not here now, and we have other kings
to come, right, so, as for me, I strongly believe, that the monarchy
will establish, when, due time." |
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So Haile Selassie,
contrary to what a lot of other people are saying, is not the final
king? |
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"No, he is not the final
king." |
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Well, could you tell a
little bit about the succession, then? |
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"The succession His
Majesty you know him name Amha Selassie already, as the heir to the
throne, and he is not at the moment there, and him also name Yacob,
but Yacob is there now, so we are looking for the speedily return of
Yacob to Ethiopia." |
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How does this fit in with
the teaching of, not necessarily of the 12 Tribes of Israel, but of
Rastafarians in general, who, because of the (well, at first you
answered that anyway about the divinity of Haile Selassie and you've
actually made a distinction between Haile Selassie and Jesus
Christ). But many Rastafarians don't see anything outside of Haile
Selassie which means that he is the final king to sit upon the
throne, how do we resolve that? |
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"Well, I have said
before, he's not the final king, but I strongly believe that Christ
is going to sit upon the throne, but HIM His Majesty is not the
final king, you have more kings, because Amha Selassie is there, he
is not there, and then you have Yacob supposed to be seated
shortly." |
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Do you see the monarchy
being restored in Ethiopia, as a matter of fact, because what is
happening in Ethiopia now, we know that Amha Selassie tried to go
back recently, we don't know what happened with that, he didn't go
back but do you see the restoration of the monarchy in
Ethiopia? |
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"At Now they don't accept
the monarchy, but at least there is an amount of people is there
that looking forward, because that is the only person they believe
could able to get back the unity of the Ethiopian
people." |
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How do you see it
happening, the restoration of the monarchy? |
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"When the time come, you
know, we will overturn and overturn, and who's right it is them will
give it to them, so, when the fullness of time come, we don't know
when , but we're sure that it must happen." |
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Is this according to
prophecy? That the monarchy must be restored? |
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"Oh yes, Oh
yes." |
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Is the monarchy a
dinosaur in the age of democracy do you think? and could it be could
it be anything more than a constitutional
monarchy? |
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"Well I don't fully
overstand that," |
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Right now, when Amha
Selassie was trying to return, the last time, he was told that he
could only come back as a constitutional monarch with no powers
whatsoever. Do you see anything else happening apart from that, or
do you see the monarchy restored at such a point, where the monarchy
is once again as it was in the days of Haile Selassie, ruling in
Ethiopia |
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"Well, I keep saying over
and over that when the time come, then we sure that we are going to
have a king to seat up. It is going to take some time, but he is
going to be seated for sure." |
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Rumors have been
circulating that Prince Zere Yacob is mentally deranged and
therefore not fit to succeed. What light can you shed on this
matter? |
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"Well I bredda Gad don't
know him as somebody that is mentally disturbed. He was here the
last time and nobody see him and such a like, him is functioning
normal as far as I understand, when I left him in Manchester. But I
don't see him as a deranged person. It really, you know,
unbelievable." |
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I must point out at this
point, I don't know if you want me to do this, but Zere Yacob is
very close to the 12 tribes of Israel. |
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"Oh yes he is very close.
He's .... with bredrin them and sister in
Manchester." |
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Is he a member of the 12
Tribes of Israel? |
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"He's a member of the 12
Tribes of Israel yes" |
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Ermias, prince Ermias the
nephew of Amha Selassie, will visit Jamaica in August, what is his
position in the royal family? |
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"I have not much
knowledge about him but I read that he is one of the Crown Counsels,
that is as far as I know. I don't say further what he is doing and
what he is saying, but I do no have much knowledge about him, but I
know that he is one of the Crown Counsels." |
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Has Ermias been in
contact with you? |
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"No we haven't spoken and
I don't know him and he don't know me." |
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Have you been officially
informed of his visit in August? |
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"Yes, when I say
officially I mean I read this, our document there before that he was
planning to come, and now it's time for him to arrive to be here in
August." |
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The future of the
monarchy. Is it a part of the doctrine of 12 Tribes of Israel, that
the monarchy must be physical restored, you're touched on that
before that it is prophecy, but is it a part of your
teaching? |
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"Yes, that is a part our
teaching that the monarchy must be restored, just like how the sun
and the moon and the stars is there, that nobody can remove them,
same way, monarchy must restore." |
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The 12 Tribes of Israel
currently has the largest settlement on Shashamane. Is Ethiopia the
final home and what about the rest of Africa? |
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"Just Shashamane is not
the final home. The whole of Africa, because One King shall rule
over them all. And also, the whole of Africa, especially
Jerusalem." |
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Okay, you say the whole
of Africa, especially Jerusalem, and I am sure a lot of people are
saying "but Jerusalem is not Africa". |
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"Yeah, Jerusalem is
Africa. Jerusalem is a part of Africa is only certain things happen,
and it break away. But there is no argument that Jerusalem is not a
part of Africa, we are sure!" |
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So when we speak of a new
Jerusalem, what are we talking of? |
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"When we are talking
about a new Jerusalem, we are talking about Jerusalem in Asia Minor.
New Jerusalem is a different thing all entirely,
definition." |
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I wanted to look just a
little bit more at that, Jerusalem being the final home, all of
Africa, especially Jerusalem. How is that, if you will, how will
that work? How will that happen? |
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"Consider they take out a
lot of Ethiopians there if you notice the history show you that they
always were saying that the people in Ethiopia is not the Jews.
Alright? But then suddenly there is a changes, that them is the
Jews, them take out most of them and carry them Jerusalem. So we see
everything clear there that the people who is Israel and was in
Ethiopia, them ancestor was from Jerusalem, and them send them back.
So here is some of us out here, now it was quite interesting that,
those who them take from there, and they carried there, they say
they are the tribe of Dan, so them might then identify themself, as
one of the tribes, of Dan. The people them who leave and go to
Jerusalem, that them take out from Eritria, Falashas,
yeah." |
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Okay, who should lead the
repatriation exercise, because there are so many different
organizations all over the world, African organizations, non-African
organizations, but how involved should they be in helping black
people who want to go back to Africa.? |
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"The first thing the OAU
supposed to be the countries that come together and help voice for
the return of the people in the western hemisphere back to Africa. I
strongly believe they supposed to should be playing a part to help
we to come home, who want to come." |
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What about reparations
from Europe, from America, from Britain? |
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"Yes, well, we are going
to need help because, you know, the ship is there, the plane is
there, so we're looking for them to help to transport us back as
even them said that they say the only thing to do now is away back
the people them, and people that them send away, those are the
people that help back the country." |
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So we get to back to who
should lead, who should lead this exercise, this back to Africa
movement. Who do you think should lead that? |
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"Well the Rastafarian
must come together and elect a person to represent the body. And
then out of that them know we can able to write, to these different
people and to tell them that we are united. We would like them to
help us." |
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The Shashamane land-grant
is still in effect? |
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"The Shashamane
land-grant is still in effect but there is a lot of things to clear
up within the settlement." |
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Do you want to elaborate
on that, some of the we need to clear up? |
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"Not at the
moment." |
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Alright, so you say it is
still in effect but there is things that need to be clear up. Now
what is the 12 Tribes position on the EWF claim that all settlers,
who of the land, that people who settle in Shashamane are squatters,
if they do not settle through the permission of the
EWF? |
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"I really surprise them
to know that they are saying that who is there on the land,
squatters. How can African going home, going back home, can become
as a squatters, it is unbelievable. Squatters,
impossible."
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Is there need for
Rastafarians to organize and centralize? |
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"Oh yes, there is an
urgent need for the Rastafarian to organize. Yes, there
is" |
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How do you think this
process can begin? |
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"Well, somebody that is
capable of call a meeting and if they're sincere, they call a
meeting and hope and trust that from there we can get
somewhere." |
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But you as a leader of
the 12 Tribes of Israel you see a great need. Do you see yourself
playing any part in that? |
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"I strongly believe that
I will help and play my little part that I can as a person with
organizing over the years when that process, you
know.." |
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Alright, should there be
a political as well as a spiritual arm of
Rastafarians? |
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"There's political
movements, it is there, but I am not here to deal with it. I am not
fighting them. I am here to deal with the spiritual part of it. Not
politically." |
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What are your thoughts on
the Rastafarian Centralization Organization, the RCO
? |
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"I have no knowledge at
the moment I only know that them is here so is only left now to see
what they are saying, before I can give a definite statement about
them, but I have no knowledge presently." |
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The RCO, they have been
around for a little while. Haven't they contacted you officially,
informing you of the organization and inviting you to join with them
in the centralization process? |
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"It came here they send a
letter inviting us to help with the school, but we never get to it,
so that is the only letter that I know I have so far but I don't get
any letter them invited me and such to come." |
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That is quite interesting
that that is happening, that we have a Rastafarian Centralization
Organization, and that the head of the biggest, the most organized
Rastafarian movement in the world has not been invited to be a part
in that centralization process. If you were invited, would you talk
with them and see what's happening? |
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"Yes, I believe the time
must come for me to play a part of, you know, I think I would go and
hope and trust that they proceed orderly and they have no commotion,
because I don't deal the commotion, the confusion. I strongly
believe that the time has come for Rastafarian to come
together." |
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I feel very good to hear
that. The 12 Tribes of Israel have undoubtedly the most organized
body of Rastafarians in the world, as I have said before, what role
should the movement play in organizing Rastafarians in Jamaica, and
in the rest of the world? |
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"Well, at least we are
organizing for a good while now, we have the organ, the 12 Tribes of
Israel, in Jamaica, it start here, it is in Ethiopia, it is in the
United States, it is in United Kingdom, Sweden, it is Germany, New
Zealand, Tobago, Ghana, Australia, Kenya, and
Grenada." |
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That is 12
Tribes..... |
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"That is 12 Tribes
organization in these other country, and some other country, it is
still there, but..." |
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I am thinking that since
the 12 Tribes has done so well in organizing the 12 Tribes of
Israel, is there a particular role now that the 12 Tribes could play
in helping then to organize the rest of the
Rastafarians? |
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"Yes, well, I just said a
while ago that I think that I could help, to play a part, to give a
helping hand, not as somebody to come to take over nothing, but as a
helping hand, to help organize them. So we're looking
forward....." |
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The Prophet Gad. The man
who boldly declares Jesus Christ. The head of a Rastafarian movement
who doesn't wear dreadlocks. The man who coined the phrase: "A
chapter a day". The Kebra Negast, or the book of The Glory of Kings
of Ethiopia, has been in existence for at least a thousand years and
contains the true history of the origin of the Solomonic line of
kings in Ethiopia. It is as the ultimate authority and the history
of the conversion of Ethiopians from the worship of the sun, moon
and stars, to that of our Lord God of Israel.
Jesus Christ,
and Menelik, the son of Solomon and the queen of Sheba, were sons of
Solomon, and so, they were akin to each other. But Christ is the Son
of God, and therefore, being the Kinsman of Christ, Menelik was
divine.
The Kebra Negast asserts that the kings of Ethiopia
who were descended from Menelik were of divine origin, and that
their words and deeds were those of God's. Haile Selassie , a
devoted Christian, reflected that divine nature and maintained the
struggle of good over evil continually inspiring the
Rastaman.
READ MY MEDITATION ABOUT THIS
INTERVIEW
Printed with kind permission of Brother Gad
(Manchester U.K. April 1998)
Put on the Dubroom with friendly
permission from Ras
Adam |
