Marking 118th InIversary with Music and Message from the King of Kings on Disarmament

"The Lion of the Tribe of Judah has conquered! Haile Selassie I, Elect of God King of Kings of Ethiopia".

Afrika ni Moto by Mau Mau and Zingaro Percussion Band

Check out this rare filming

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs74_z0mWC4

A 5min odd rare footage of original African drums played by Zingaro Percussion Band, the lead Singer is called Mau Mau or just Mau "Puruguchu". He comes from a lineage of brave Warriors who fought for Kenya's independence from the English Imperialists in the 1950.

Mau Mau also crafts African jewellery and curves drums that he sells at the Masai Market every Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday.

This video is done with compliments from the Small axe Magazine; the first Rastafarian Magazine in East Africa, Kenya. Small axe Magazine Editor-in-chief can be reached at smallaxe.mag@gmail.com

BlakHillz.Media is the documentation wing of the Warriors a self help youth group based in Nairobi.BlakHillz.media can be contacted via email blakhillz.media@yahoo.com

Mau Mau can be gotten hold of by calling his cell number +254 734486069 or alternatively through any of the above contacts.

Enjoy the song "Afrika ni Moto" literally means Africa is Hot implying Afrika is fly and beautiful.

This video would like to acknowledge Top-A-Tings,Kijiji Culture House,Ghetto Echoes and All Rastamen and Women in Kenya.

LION PAW by Tarrus Riley

Lyrics by Rasuli
Photo by Rasuli Hands model William and Benjamin
Song by Tarrus Riley's Lion Paw from the Parables Album

Lion Paw by Tarrus Riley;Parables 2006
Reference:Tarrus Riley - Lion Paw(live) www.youtube.com

{Interlude}
He's so humble yeaaah
Can't touch the lion
Lion paw Tarrus Riley

I walk in this through valley of test
and I never been away caught in the wilderness
The power of Jah perserve I
Riding in all that I do
So trodding through the heights and the depth
We trample frustration and we conquer stress
the power of Jah perserve I
And right in all that I do

{chorus}
So all the evil that been leading me on
can go back where they came from
No demonic works performed shall prosper yeah
Me tell the oviah and the science smart car
cause they can't squeeze my lion paw
No demonic words performed shall prosper

Can't touch the lion {bridge}
no no no

The wage of blessing in everliving life
So I keep my meditation in a Haile I
I weather the storm and put up a fight
Cause we can do anything
Should you feel like giving up
Let the strength of your ancenstors fill your cup
The power of Jah Rastafari right in all I do

{chorus}

Selassie I Know
Say the more
Dem aile up
a dem more
dem taste the spoil up
And say dem more dem come wid science
nuh dem cyan break the heart of a lion
The more dem aile up
a dem more dem taste the spoil up
The power of Jah preserve I
and guide in all that I do

{chorusx2}

{Outerlude}

I,I,I,I,I He's so humble yeah yeah yeah
Higher I,I,I,I Selassie I,I,I yeah yeah

Founding Fathers of African Unity and Their Countries of Origin

We salute these Honorable men for their valorous deed in laying the foundation for a one-forged united Africa.

The list is ordered according to the alphabet, however an exception for Ethiopia exists because of Her Unconquerable nature to conquest and colonization since 200BC.

Ethiopia Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
H.M. HAILE SELLASEI I
the Emperor of ETHIOPIA

Algeria People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
H.E. BEN BELLA
President of Republic of ALGERIA

Angola Republic of Angola

Benin Republic of Benin
H.E. HUBERT MAGA
President of DAHOMEY Now Benin

Botswana Republic of Botswana

Burkina Faso
H.E. MAURICE YAMEOGO
President of UPPER VOLTA

Burundi Republic of Burundi
H.M. MWAMBUTSA IV
King of BURUNDI

Cameroon Republic of Cameroon
H.E. AMADU AHIDJO
President of Federation of CAMEROON

Cape Verde Republic of Cape Verde

Central African Republic Central African Republic
H.E. DAVID DACKO
President of CENTRAL AFRICAN Republic

Chad Republic of Chad
H.E. FRANCOIS TOMOLBAYE
President of Republic of CHAD

Comoros Union of the Comoros

Côte d'Ivoire Republic of Côte d'Ivoire
Dr. F. HOUPHOUET BOIGNY
President of IVORY COAST

Djibouti Republic of Djibouti

Egypt Arab Republic of Egypt
General ABDUL NASSER
First President of the Arab Republic of EGYPT

Equatorial Guinea Republic of Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea State of Eritrea

Gabon Gabonese Republic
H.E. LEON M'BA
President of the GABON Republic


Gambia Republic of The Gambia

Ghana Republic of Ghana
Dr. KWAME NKRUMAH
President of GHANA

Guinea Republic of Guinea
H.E. SEKU TOURE
President of the Republic of GUINEA

Guinea-Bissau Republic of Guinea-Bissau

Kenya Republic of Kenya
Hon. JOMO KENYATTA
First Prime Minister of KENYA

Lesotho Kingdom of Lesotho

Liberia Republic of Liberia
Dr. WILLIAM V.S. TUBMAN
President of the Republic of LIBERIA

Libya Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
H.M. KING IDRIS of LIBYA

Madagascar Republic of Madagascar
H.E. PHILBERT TSIRANANA
President of MALAGASY Republic.

Malawi Republic of Malawi
Dr. HASTINGS BANDA
First Prime Minister of NYASALAND Now Malawi


Mali Republic of Mali
H.E. U. MODIBO KEITA
President of Republic of MALI

Mauritania Islamic Republic of Mauritania
H.E. MOKHTAR OULD DADDAH
President of the Republic of MAURITANIA

Mauritius Republic of Mauritius

Morocco Kingdom of Morocco
H.M. KING HASSAN II of MOROCCO

Mozambique Republic of Mozambique

Namibia Republic of Namibia

Niger Republic of Niger
H.E HAMANI DIORI
President of Republic of NIGER

Nigeria Federal Republic of Nigeria
H.E. Dr. NNAMDI AZIKIWE
Governor- General and Commander -in- Chief of NIGERIA

Alhaj SIR ABUBAKA TAFAWA BALEWA
Prime Minister of NIGERIA.

Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo
H.E. FULBERT YOULOU
President of the Republic of the CONGO (Brazzaville)

H.E. JOSEPH KASAVUBU
President of the CONGO (Leopoldville)

Rwanda Republic of Rwanda

Sao Tome and Principe

Senegal Republic of Senegal
H.E. LEOPOLD SENGHOR
President of the Republic of SENEGAL

Seychelles Republic of Seychelles

Sierra Leone Republic of Sierra Leone
H.E. SIR HENRY BOSTON, G.CM.G.
Governor-General and Commander-Chief of SIERRA LEONE

SIR MILTON MARGAI, Kt., M.B.E.
The Prime Minister of SIERRA LEONE

Somalia Somali Republic
H.E. ABDIRASCID SCERMARCH
Premier Minister of Republic of SOMALI

South Africa Republic of South Africa

Sudan Republic of Sudan H.E.IBRAHIM ABBOUD
President of the Republic of the SUDAN


Swaziland Kingdom of Swaziland


Tanzania United Republic of Tanzania
H.E. JULIUS K. NYERERE
President of TANGANYIKA

Togo Togolese Republic
H.E. SYLVANUS OLYMPIO
President of TOGO

Tunisia Tunisian Republic
H.E. HABIB BOUGUIBA
President of TUNISIA

Uganda Republic of Uganda
H.E. APOLLO MILTON OBOTE
Prime Minister of UGANDA

Western Sahara Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic

Zambia Republic of Zambia

Zimbabwe Republic of Zimbabwe

These additional territories are part of Africa according to the Wikipedia

Melilla
Reunion
Mayotte
Ceuta
Canary Islands
Madeira


References:

www.au.com/almanac of african unity
wikipedia

Lets Dance. No Daggering

Poem by Rasuli
photo originally by Smithsonian Photography Initiative

Sum a dubbling
Other shuffling
Sum ah bubbling
Sum ah muscling in

But nun uh daggering
ca dat no rhatid

The night brings man and wombman come a dance
Music take dem higher into a trance
And just irieness a flow
Nuh cut inna de creft
Nuh blow cleans one catty
Both dem a chant

Sum a twirling
Other gyrating
Sum ah swirling
Sum ah waltzing

Ital love we a deal wid
Bak way wid de nuclear

De water pumpie
De fire house rock
De Africa harvest dance
De Carribean step
Jazzy mellow blues
Any move will do
Just do it anyhow
No rules no vows

Sum a whirling
Others grooving
Sum ah swinging
Sum ah moving

If you a dagga
move uh wid your slacka

Granson to Granpops
Having some fun
Good vibes, good times
Ditter no romp wid daddy
It's paradise brought back to the poor people
DeeJay ball out nuh misnomer

Sum a dubbling
Other shuffling
Sum ah bubbling
Sum ah muscling in

What you see is what you get

The Time is now!

The past week has been witnessed, howbeit from an espying public eye of scrutiny, the trend in Africa today in regards to world's perceptive.

Africa is no longer the dark continent reeking with pestilence and wallowing in the vicious cycle of poverty and corruption. It is the El-Dorado of neo-capitalistic investors who have taken a renewed breath in food production and agro-economic strategies to increase their capital gains.

The past week has not eluded, not the conscious anyway, our most often divided attention and easily red herringed concentration. The riots to have hit the Nairobi's down town between irate garage-gangs allegedly plying their trade on a private property and the police agents, has no doubt left many people enraged.However, at the epicenter of this dispute is probably the cause for concern not only for the nearly 2,000 second hand auto spares dealers but the continent at large.

In 2008, the massive land sell out to foreign investors started in earnest. The most promising of these loaded financiers were the Arabs from the Arab worlds and the Middle East.Many African governments fell prey to major leaseholds of their arable lands to these corporates and individuals without proper acknowledgment of the rightful owners, who happen to the custodians of the land, the citizenry themselves. In a continent where land is abundantly found yet archaic farming techniques and funding constraints for implements and equipment affords close to 3 Billion people to go without a meal daily. These governments probably thought that they were doing their respective nations a huge favor. Besides, the money would go into far more pressing needs like Anti-Retro viral Drugs to keep the HIV/AIDS pandemic in check or buy weapons to wade away any insurrectionist resistance from the masses they rule with iron fists.

The Grogan riots were a reflection of this, a tip of the ice berg, come to think of it might as well be the whole of Antarctica by the looks of things that underline it. Brewing is xenophobia, and no one is to blame here,creeping among Kenyans who earlier on were swollen up with overoptimism and goodwill.Kenya is by fate and geographical convenience located within a region where conflict has been the main stay and continues to ravage the neighboring countries. This fact has brought about a staggering influx of aliens seeking asylum within it haven-like borders. These foreigners bring along their distinct and variegated culture and lifestyles.Recently the government passed to law the issuance of refugee Identity cards giving these people equal rights to own property, work and school in Kenya without any prejudice, coercion or hindrances means they enjoy subtle citizen privileges although they can't participate in any national electoral processes like the referendum, by or General elections. Apart from this technicality they are as Kenyan as the term has many definitions.

Of course, the international community has its part to play in safeguarding rights in cases of human conflict and reimbursement of the same since its only fair in return for the spoils of war.It sponsors these refugees heftily for them to make something out their lives in the countries of amnesty. These funds no doubt find their way into stable economies or at least stable in comparison, like Kenya's.The Grogan riots sparked to minds the extend by which one can take a mile from the given inch. The investor allegedly from the blues,twenty plus years showed up and claimed the source of livelihood of Kenyan already trying to pick up the pieces of a rough year since last. This would have been acceptable before the mechanics eyes were it that a Kenyan was claiming ownership although I doubt they would have let it go easily.You must have guessed it by now that a foreigner is the storm in the tea cup and his guise doesn't help much to quell the phobias that are inbound today.Many ordered out the premises claim to have earned advance right of ownership as stipulated in the Land laws and ordinances of Kenya. The alleged developer wants to build a mosque there and has even marshaled the Islamic leaders and organization to his side to make sure that his plans fulfills scenario is not unique to Kenya alone even though the Grogan land dispute seems to touch a nerve,despite a further 4000 hectares along the Tana river delta leased to Qatar for farming sugar cane last year.Uganda has sold enough to Egypt and Tanzania of all the African countries has heaved off tracks to the Chinese. Ethiopia has the Saudis to thank and Madagascar's controversial deal viewed as a tussled bone between South Korean company Daewoo, provided the best catalyst for the presidential take over that shocked the Indian ocean island only this year.Sudan has probably sold the most land to foreigners than the East African countries put together have.

Africans bear a natural bond with their land and only death can separate it from them actually walking on it and becoming part of it. Land is a very sensitive matter and touches a chord of many leaders who having come to power dish out tracks reserved for administrative purposes as appreciatory token to loyalists.This does not nonetheless underplay the the fact that due to this irregular allocations of lands, Africa stands at the vague of acute desertification due to dwindling water catchment areas and irregular rainfall. Consequently because of the trees coverage destructions Africa has 2% of forest cover remaining as we speak, this means two trees remain where were had a hundred.

Coupled with all these problems Africa cannot afford to lease land to capitalist corporations even if it is to revert the dangers of hunger and malnutrition while thinking of an utopia-like win win scenario as the world leading economies are seriously restructuring from fossil oils to bio-fuels at the same time reaching out to fill the own food baskets. Africa cannot just sit back and get re-colonized all over again!We have seen the re-emergence of more or less of the scramble for Africa of 1800s by the Arabs,The Chinese and the Europeans threatening to repeat itself echoing these prophetic words "Africa will never be free.." We are not advocating racial hatred, war neither nor any form of oppression.

But.

The question now at hand is; will we just stick it out and fight later on when our backs are against the wall?


References and links:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/land-grab-the-race-for-the-worlds-farmland-1677852.html

Photograph link:
www.spraguephoto.com

Albinism taking over the African wild

MyOpinion

The content of this post is my very opinion and should not be deemed to be that of the Smallaxe Magazine, newsletter, Blog or Association in whatever way.These is an OpEd article that tries to define an occurrence peculiar to the area of reference and should be treated as such.The writer wishes not to be held responsible for any slander,slur,injury both physical or financial to the right thinking members resultant of its publication.

Article by: Alex Kanyi

We have grown up knowing the existence of albino Zebras in the various game reserves squattered around the country. To some admirable extent these zebras are quite a spectacle to behold.

Recently I heard of an albino giraffe. Of course an exception to the case, but unlike the hazards likely to meet a zebra, a giraffe stands a chance from predators of the savanna. As if wonders never cease a lion story came up and now a buffalo is lacking melanin somewhere under the scorching heat of the African sun.

These if you haven't taken note by the way are among the big five; famous wildlife that are the main tourist attraction for many visitors.

Thus, it is no longer just a coincidence now we have a croc-albino. How it looks like, I do not know. But I would imagine, awashed and pale lime like a dead reptile, till you get near and have your hamstring bitten off.

Ancient Africans used to reckon accurately the times and tides by observing animal behaviors.Could this be something that the bustle of today's fast city living be eluding us? That we are at the blink of all becoming extinct or worse not black. I should be quoted correctly here, not being black does not mean you are white and being white on the other hand does not mean that is a bad thing either. What am saying is that albinism is the lack of melanin pigments in ones skin organ. White people at least have some form of pigment although not as their counterpart the African breed have. This is purely environmental although many African would again disagree with this sweeping statement by complaining that they are not chameleons.Given!White people are not so because of the cold now are they?I may not be well informed on this matter so I won't get into much of it for now.

Nevertheless the wild holds a lot of some truths hidden to man, his understanding and political correctness. What however remains to be seen now is the last drop of melanin to fall off a cheetah's back. Thenafter we should be very wary.Cause as it was written "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?".This will be the apocalyptic end of days for some and their way of life will not matter anymore,they will be lost forever into oblivion.


picture:best-animal-wallpapers.blogspot.com

March Issue#3

Newsletter by Smallaxe Magazine
P.O. Box 00200-60554
Nairobi,Kenya
mobile:+254 726 885 807




Design and layout:
Oliver Jungmann





Editorial:
Jah'cob
Smallaxe Magazine
Rasuli
Joseph Wainaina


Photography:
Bishop

Dear Subscriber,

I'm pleased to unveil the December 2008-March 2009 newsletter issue. Although we had anticipated to have it on print, the prevailing credit crunch has necessitated the production of this issue as a soft copy, virtually on a CD.

I hope you find it as near interesting as a hard copy.We are still working on the logistics of subscription, but we are positive to be through with the ground work before you can say "sharp and ready".

If you have any comments, inquiry or suggestion please contact the Editor-in-Chief through:

e-mail:smallaxe.mag@gmail.com
or +254 726 885 807
P.O. Box 00200-60554
Nairobi,Kenya.

Regards
Rasuli

Grass up pon Blue Dance

poem by Rasuli


Babylon raid I blue dance
Someone mass grass up
Why then the popo show up at the entrance
and mash everyone into a pulp

Dey come and pack upfront
By de main door and order everyone around
They cover the backway with their boys and baton
and restrain the patrons to the ground

They drink up de bar
and empty de till
they eat up de jar
the slap me with a hefty bill

Down at the station
I cyan believe what a tell a lie
and mek a big deal out of the situation
The squealer mass have an eye of the pie in the sky

I get a week of community service
Down at the fisherman's wharf
scooping murk with a spatula device
A heap a stunk dunk a dwarf

President Obama vs Fredrick Douglass

There has been no time as trying in the United States of America, as was the 1800s and as comparatively fulfilling as the 2000s. The former was when the abolition of slavery and crusade on manumission was just ‘hotting’ up, the latter has had the near ‘impossible’ happen. The dream has been realized and lived. The first African-American President has been elected by a popular mandate to lead the most powerful nation in the world. The world awakes to the 44th newly elect US President Barack Hussein Obama.

Though consistent, the relentless forge for the improvement of African people in the American continent is far from over. This fact is commonly known among the coloured nations in America today. President Barack Obama, has been cited to have acknowledged the struggle that preceded his historical victory by saying that he wouldn’t be where he’s today were it not that t[his] torch been passed from generation to generation. He does not however promise in on manner of way to erase the past that has made his bones. No leader can turn the wheels of time at least no black leader can overcome such expectation.

Fredrick Douglass comes to mind. Often romanticized in American literature as the “first African president”, Douglass probably comes close to what Obama might relate to in terms of the political power, centre of attention and eloquence at speech. Douglass could have probably shaped events differently if he ran for office then. But during his time running away from lynching mobs of the South was the most preoccupation many Negroes had in mind. The Negro suffrage that he was actively involved in would have had him turning in his grave had it not been for what the Obama’s campaign aimed at. Simply getting new voting-aged black youngsters to register and for all to vote.

Barack Obama is as was Douglass, a mutt, though I don’t think he would have approved as much as he would stomach being called a nigger. Both pretty much raised by their mothers with their grandmothers playing the most influential parts in their upbringing. Tracing their kin to Native American heritage Obama and Douglass find and found it easy to amass the confidence to mobilize the citizenry towards causes he feels and felt should head. Obama’s chequered community organization goes to show that leaders are not made but are born made not made ready but already made. On the other hand Douglass contravened a law that stated that any marshalling of a Negro army battalion would lead to imprisonment and or attract a death sentence during the 1860s civil war. Despite this ordinance it didn’t deter him from aiding in recruiting the 54^th Massachusetts Regiment in preparation for the standoff at Wagner.

Both leaders have had to fight their own battles at their own time. Howbeit similar in calling they have been able to seamlessly made it look like the same battle has to be fought again as long as the torch’s flame still burns and the disfranchise, discrimination and stereotyping ceases not by man’s own free and good will.

Picture: Page iv Race,Class and Party – A history of Negro suffrage and White politics in the South by Paul Lewinson

The Lion and the Eagle

Poem and photo by Rasuli

For how long will the Lion
spare the eagle.

For how long will it fly the high skies
and swoop down for the meaty remains

For how long will the stars spangle
and at night startle brawls among the pride

How long..
how long?

Who is this king?

In August 2008 an eccentric Muammar Gaddafi was conferred upon the title king of kings of Africa by more than 200 kings, shiekhs and traditional African chieftainship. However, the authenticity of these chiefs was brought to question immediately by Uganda's Head of state Yoweri Museveni who has been an antagonist of the Libya's longest serving State leader. Apparently some of the chiefs were from his East African country. The ceremony took place in Libya's old city of Benghazi seven months ahead of the 12th African Union summit, whose main agenda was to be the integration of Africa into a confederation government, with one currency and Federal Head of States. The summit held on February 6th 2009 elected Col. Gaddafi to head it for the one year term till 2010.Time at which he plans to marshal for faster integration among the A.U member states.

Muammar Gaddafi may have been making a bold statement to fellow African leaders to either hurry up things concerning the integration process or was just showing off his radical reforms he wishes Africa should take up on leadership. He has in his part done away with the cabinet form of governance in his country, and now the form of governance existing is according to his Green Book a three volumes ideal guide on the Arab Jamahiriya, a socialistic-cum-brotherhood kind of constitution. In Jamahiriya the councils are directly responsible for and answerable to the citizenry, who then determine what form of leadership they desire and how state resources should be spent and distributed. In this system of self-rule there are no political parties and no National assembly.

Whatever Gaddafi meant by crowning himself such a dignified title may not have had a shake on conventionals like it did on the Rastafari faithfuls across Africa and undoubtedly the World. Rastafarians hold at their core belief the prophecy of Jamaican civil rights movement leader, Marcus Garvey that the coronation of an African emperor would signify the ripeness of time for all African children scattered in the Diaspora to converge homewards, Africa. They further believe that this came to pass with the coronation of Haile-Selassie I on November 2nd 1930, seventy-two nations were in attendance at the St.Giorgis Cathedral in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Ethiopian monarch was coronated as King of Kings, Lord of Lords1, The conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Elect of God, Defender of the Faith and Bearer of the King David Throne, Blessed King of Israel in a royal ritual conducted by forty-nine Ethiopian Orthodox Church Archbishops, priests, monks and before 800 guests amidst world diplomats, Ambassadors and leaders. Among key dignitaries present was envoy to H.M. the King of England and Emperor of India; H.R.H. The Prince Henry Duke of Gloucester, the Duke had the privilege of unveiling a statue of Menelik II prior the ceremony. Also attending was H.R.H. the Prince of Udine, the envoy of H.M. the King of Italy, H.E. Baron von Waldthausen, envoy of the German Republic, envoys of Japan, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, Greece, Turkey, U.S.A, Poland, France and Egypt.

Revered as God-reincarnate, Haile-Selassie I is believed to be the saviour2 of the Black race, the messiah from the imminent danger of what His dreadlocked followers term as the 'Great Black Slaughter', referring to the annihilation of the African race by the wicked forces of dirty Babylon (New World Order). Rastafari as a Movement was founded in the 1940s and although popular among the Caribbean circles, its roots can be traced in Africa. The faith's tenets are not always strict however there are those that are universally accepted to be fundamental. They include a vegetarian dietary, growing of dreadlocks or wearing ones hair matted into naps, smoking or the use of ganja-marijuana considered as the Holy Herb given to a righteous man in service to the Creator and following the Teaching of His Majesty Haile-Selassie I. These teaching are lessons derived from the Emperor's speeches, way of life and writings. Rastafarians or Rastas in short occasionally read the Bible, but with reservations on the precept of Christ being White or of Caucasian extraction. They perceive, understand (in their case overstand) and interpret the Scriptures from a Black point of view. For instance they purport that Jesus was Black or of African3 stock and that he had dreadlocks, as he was a Nazarene bearing the vow of separation from God-Jah. Also all his disciples were black and matted their hair and grew their beards. Rastas dispute vehemently the declaration of the demise of their God-King Haile-Selassie I claiming it a media hoax to control the movement from spreading. His reformist Reign was toppled by the Red Terror Military Dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1974 while the Empire was grappling with fuel crises. U.K. based Reggae Artist Macka B challenges in his song Haile Haile 'Dem say Selassie gone, but dem never show no evidence, no body, no dental records, no DNA, very mysterious...'confirming the general consensus of many dreads regarding this issue.

Reggae music still remains the most preferred media of evangelism among Rastafarians. The genre was popularized by Bob Marley and the Wailers who took the Island's music admixture of RnB and strong African drumming to the world's top charts. Today reggae music is celebrated alongside Rock, Hip-Hop and RnB as a contending genre at the Grammy Music Awards since its debut in 1985. Black Uhuru's Anthem album was the first reggae album to win the coveted award, ever since reggae has been adequately represented. This in conjunction with the heavy spiritually infused lyrics, tagged with anti-corruption, pro-life, truth, peace, love and unity might be the reason why British Broadcasting Corporation, B.B.C infers that Rastafarism is the fastest growing new religions in the world.

So as the new A.U Chairperson, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi toys around with the idiosyncratical notion that he's the newly crowned king of kings, someone should ask him this question, King fe oom?


1 Revelation 19:16
2 Revelation 5:13
3 Revelation 1:14-15

References:
My Life and Ethiopia's Progress;
An Autobiography of Emperor of Ethiopia Haile-Selassie I

www.rastaites.com
www.africa-union.org
www.en.wikipedia.org
www.zimdaily.com
www.nazret.com
www.allafrica.com

Tomorrow's Sorrows

A poem by Rasuli.

Today's your sorrow
Mine's Tom'rrow
You must return what you borrow
Lend if you must
Deep ah deep this vibe
Nuh shallow
Deeper than deep you should know

I can see you are proud
Hear your sound
black out loud
Although they keep you down
Take heart today's sorrows
will end tom'rrow
Just widen the narrow
Lest your seed lack to follow
This vibe they must know

Tears everyone got them
Blood is a precious gem
Joy cometh in the morning
There's no reason for frowning
Today's sorrow
Will be gone tomorrow
Good humor will fill your marrow
And all hatred you will have to swallow
Full ah Full this vibe nuh shallow
Full ah Full your mind will blow

It may seem dark and no end
Lonely,hapless no friend
The Most High watches over the road you trend
And a companion he has sent
Your sorrow
Mine tomorrow
Will you help me scare away the crow
or wipe away the sweat of my brow
Real ah real dis'ya vow
Real ah real it no show

Today's your sorrow
Mine's Tom'rrow
You must return what you borrow
Lend if you must
Deep ah deep this vibe
Nuh shallow
Deeper than deep you should know
What goes around is bound
to come around
Just stand your ground
For what is right and good
As expected of you, Just as you should.

- March 2008

Commemorating 113th Vict'ry at Adwa.

Blog by Smallaxe Magazine
smallaxe.mag@gmail.com

Exactly 113 years ago today, Africans dealt probably the mightiest blow to a formidable White imperial power proving her decisiveness in the invincibility of her unconquered people. The Battle of Adwa,1896 between an Ethiopian united front comprised of peasantry, noblemen, different tribes, religions and sundry fought off a better trained, sophisticated armed Italian army to much humbling by the Eastern African country.

Ethiopia since time in memorial, in fact, as far back as c.350 has had been plundered by numerous infidels. The Persian attacked it in 570 and the Turks took their swing at the Solomonic dynasty between 1578-1589.At its prime time the Turks' Ottoman Empire invaded it from the North, through Habesh a colony that they controlled adjoining the Red Sea.

A painting portraying the Battle of Adwa.Copyright British Museum.

Despite this however, Ethiopia has had to maintain a firm withstand even when compounded by dexterous military strategists, Jihadist cruelty at the fore front and natural calamity. The Battle of Adwa was perhaps a confirmation of the resilience that makes up an Ethiopian.Putting first their faith in the form of the Mosaic Tabot,Tablets of Law, in their priced possession, within the legendary memory of the first commander, its no wonder the battle only lasted seven hours or less.

Folklore has it that Queen Makeda of Seba sometimes pronounced as Sheba bore Solomon a child when she went to Jerusalem to test his Wisdom. The son was christened Menelik, Menelik I when he ascended to the throne after Queen-Mother died. According to Kebra Negast ,the Glory of the Kings,Menelik brought the Tabot to Ethiopia from Jerusalem. This belief has most Rastafarians axiomatizing Ethiopia as being the New Jerusalem, Zion, a pious solace of peace.

The Tabot form the core processional item in the Ethiopia Orthodox devotion,Ba Beta Kristyan Tewaido. Every church has a replica that they set at the center of the altar; where only ordained Priests and Monks can access for the sole reason of prayer and supplication.

This is the reason why in most likelihood Menelik II used these Tablets of the Law as the unifying aspect at the Battle of Adwa and proved so successful.Today as we honor the gracefully dead of Adwa we cast our eyes upon the great mountain that arguably the Tabot has found as a newly-revered haven and implore "Peace,Oh Lord grants us Peace".



References:
www.tadias.com
www.wikipedia.org
www.rastaites.com
www.zum.de
www.hakobo.art.pl

Repatriation What is it?

Lately with the Babylon falling on it knees, I have been meeting with Brothers and Sisters from Abroad willingly and happy to come back home to Africa.

However, there's a flicker of hope, that from the test of time and adversity Africa might just weather this kind of economical disaster. Naturally, this is also the time that these famous words begin to sound sublime "CENTRALIZE and ORGANIZE.

So I ask from an informed point of view. Is repatriation a Must? Or is it Educational? What is it?