TIME
EUROPE
TIME Trail: Haile
Selassie
A look back at the life of the
Ethiopian emperor, 25 years after his death
By MICHAEL
BRUNTON
Boris
Grdanoski/AP
The funeral cortege of the late
Emperor Haile Selassie makes its way through the streets of
Addis Ababa, 25 years after his
death
|
The
extraordinary scenes in Addis Ababa on Sunday when the remains of
Ethiopia's late emperor Haile Selassie were finally laid to rest
with dignity in the Holy Trinity Cathedral, 25 years after his
death, speak to us of times past — not just of a century which saw
black Africa throwing off the chains of slavery and European
colonialism, nor of a world that increasingly lost faith in royalty
and emperors. Selassie was a potent player in all these changes,
forging a modern state out of fighting clans. But, claiming as he
did direct descent from the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon,
Selassie harks back still further to Biblical times: to a time of
prophets and gods.
Many Ethiopians are too young to remember
Selassie, the rest have had a devastating quarter-century of war,
dislocation and famine in which to forget him. But so great was his
appeal both at home and on the world stage, that for years
successive Ethiopian governments kept quiet about the circumstances
of his death — his followers say he was smothered by a pillow — and
the whereabouts of his body. In 1992 it was revealed that his
remains had been found beneath a toilet in the imperial palace that
after his death had become home to Mengistu Haile Mariam, the
Marxist dictator who emerged from the chaos of Selassie's overthrow
in 1974, to run the country until 1991.
Last month, the
government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi announced the go-ahead for
Sunday's obsequies, with only a terse reminder that Selassie was "a
tyrant and an oppressor." That may in the end be a fair judgment,
but does thin justice to the "little emperor" who was courted —
though rarely bested — by leaders of the world's great powers, who
espoused the cause of independent Africa and who became an
inspiration to millions of black people around the world. Singer Bob
Marley's widow, Rita, was among those who came to pay their respects
on Sunday, but there were only a few Rastafarians — his most devout
followers — among the crowds in Addis Ababa. After all, they believe
him to be God and that he still lives.
The archives of TIME
magazine tell a fuller, more colorful story:
As Prince
Regent Taffari, Selassie took Ethiopia into the League of Nations,
where he argued against the interference and colonial activities of
Italy and Britain (TIME, Aug.
9, 1926).
TIME, Nov. 3, 1930
|
|
TIME put Selassie on
its cover on the occasion of his coronation (TIME, Nov.
3, 1930).
A story the following week described the
coronation (TIME, Nov.
10, 1930).
Five years later, Selassie exhorted his
country to battle with Italian forces (TIME, Oct.
28, 1935).
With the world agog at the conflict between
Ethiopia and Mussolini's Italian invaders, TIME named Selassie Man
of the Year (TIME, Jan.
6, 1936).
Later in 1936, Selassie went into exile in
London (TIME, June
15, 1936).
Selassie made emotional appeal to the League
of Nations for assistance and condemnation of Italy's occupation of
Ethiopia (TIME, July
13, 1936).
In mid 1941, Selassie made a triumphant
return to Addis Ababa (TIME, May
12, 1941).
In 1957, a limited form of democracy was
introduced to Ethiopia for the first time in its history (TIME, November
11, 1957).
While on a state visit to Brazil, Selassie
learned of a coup at home (TIME, Dec.
26, 1960).
Queen Elizabeth II made a state visit to
Ethiopia in February 1965 (TIME, Feb.
12, 1965).
The following year, Selassie visited Jamaica,
where he was greeted by thousands of Rastafarians who believed him
to be the incarnation of God (TIME, April
29, 1966).
In 1967, Selassie visited the U.S. but at
home was said to be growing old and lonely (TIME, Feb.
24, 1967).
In the wake of appalling drought and famine,
the Army rebelled and riots broke out in Addis Ababa (TIME, March
11, 1974).
As a result, Selassie yielded to growing
demands for reform (TIME, March
25, 1974).
Months later, a creeping military takeover
robbed Selassie of much of his power (TIME, Sept.
2, 1974).
Selassie was deposed, arrested and replaced in
power by military government (TIME, Sept.
23, 1974).
He died a year after his overthrow,
apparently of natural causes (TIME, Sept.
8, 1975).
TIME Europe
home
E-mail us at mail@timeatlantic.com
COPYRIGHT ©
2000 TIME INC. |
.gif)
|
|