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FM
Former Member

Woman of Guyanese descent marries Haile Selassie’s great-grandson

 

Photos and story reproduced from New York Times and originally titled “She Met Her Prince (for Real!) at a D.C. Nightclub”

story by By KATIE ROGERS OCT. 13, 2017

The couple and their wedding party pose for photos after the ceremony. When the two met, Mr. Makonnen didn’t tell Ms. Austin about his royal background. Credit Jared Soares for The New York Times

Few love stories resemble a fairy tale as much as the courtship and marriage of Ariana Austin and Joel Makonnen. Of course, it helped that the groom is an actual prince and the bride has a prominent lineage of her own.

Mr. Makonnen, known as Prince Yoel, is the 35-year-old great-grandson of Haile Selassie, the last emperor of Ethiopia. And Ms. Austin, 33, is of African-American and Guyanese descent; her maternal grandfather was a lord mayor of Georgetown, the capital of Guyana.

As the couple noted on their wedding website, their union happened when “Old World aristocracy met New World charm.” The old and new combined on Sept. 9, in a marathon day of events that lasted from 11 a.m. until late in the evening, and took place within two states.

The festivities began with a ceremony at the Debre Genet Medhane Alem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Temple Hills, Md. In an incense-filled sanctuary, guests in stockinged feet watched as at least 13 priests and clergymen helped officiate the Ethiopian Orthodox ceremony between Mr. Makonnen and Ms. Austin, who just days before had converted to the religion. Hours after the ceremony, the pair celebrated with a formal reception at Foxchase Manor in Manassas, Va., with 307 guests, amid gold sequins, platters of Ethiopian food and preboxed slices of Guyanese black cake for people to take home.

Their marriage had been more than a decade in the making. In the nearly 12 years since they first met on a dance floor at the Washington nightclub Pearl, in December 2005, Mr. Makonnen and Ms. Austin have pursued degrees, jobs and, at times, each other. Eventually, planning a wedding just became the next item on this ambitious couple’s to-do list.

“I think we both had this feeling that this was our destiny,” Ms. Austin said. “But I felt like I had things that I had to do.”

When the two met, Mr. Makonnen didn’t tell Ms. Austin about his royal background, and Ms. Austin, who was 21 at the time, wasn’t necessarily looking to meet her future husband. She was in the middle of a time in her life she fondly referred to as “the summer that never ended.” Mr. Makonnen, himself in bachelor mode, approached Ms. Austin and her friend Jami Ramberan, and told the two women that they looked like models for a brand of alcohol.

“I said, ‘You guys look like an ad for Bombay Sapphire,’ or whatever the gin was,” Mr. Makonnen recalled of the pickup line, one now infamous with Ms. Austin’s family. (At the wedding, even Ms. Ramberan, a bridesmaid, recalled the strangeness of that evening: “You don’t expect to meet the person you’re going to marry at Pearl.”)

Mr. Makonnen quickly focused on Ms. Austin: “Not even five minutes later I said, ‘You’re going to be my girlfriend.’ ”

His premonition proved correct.

The couple and their wedding party pose for photos after the ceremony. When the two met, Mr. Makonnen didn’t tell Ms. Austin about his royal background. Credit Jared Soares for The New York Times

Ms. Austin remembered being impressed with Mr. Makonnen’s worldliness. He was born in Rome while his parents, Prince David Makonnen and Princess Adey Imru Makonnen, were living in exile from Ethiopia. He grew up in Switzerland; his father died in 1989.

“He talked about weighty things as a young man,” Ms. Austin said. “He mentioned the revolution. Things that sound heavy for someone who was 23.”

Mr. Makonnen’s family is part of the Solomonic dynasty, whose reign ended in 1974. That year, a civil war in Ethiopia broke out after Haile Selassie, the 225th emperor of Ethiopia, was deposed by a Marxist Derg military coup. By the time of his death under mysterious circumstances in 1975, it was clear that Mr. Selassie had presided over a country divided by his legacy. He was deposed after months of political unrest directed at his administration, which was accused of being spendthrift and out of touch. The civil war lasted until a coalition of rebel groups overthrew the government in 1991.

The emperor, though, had been a powerful proponent of African anticolonialism, a leader adept at securing foreign aid for his country and pushing education initiatives. He was forced into exile when the Italians invaded Ethiopia in 1936, but returned in 1941 after convincing the British to aid him in a fight to secure his country’s independence.

Ms. Austin said she has marveled at the lore surrounding her new family, one whose lineage was said to reach back to the biblical King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. “It’s unbeatable heritage and history,” Ms. Austin said. “It combines sheer black power and ancient Christian tradition.”

Ariana Austin and Joel Makonnen were married on Sept. 9 in a lavish ceremony in Temple Hills, Md. Mr. Makonnen is the great-grandson of Haile Selassie, the last emperor of Ethiopia. Credit Jared Soares for The New York Times

For ambitious couples, meeting and falling in love at a young age can quickly present the kind of timing problems that can doom a relationship. And Mr. Makonnen and Ms. Austin found themselves circling the globe without each other, though they remained in touch. After graduating from American University in 2006, Mr. Makonnen took a six-month internship in France.

Then Ms. Austin went to Paris for a year. In 2008, Mr. Makonnen returned to France and went on to Ethiopia, where he joined his uncle in starting Alchemy World, an organization meant to provide young Ethiopians with business and educational opportunities.

By the time Ms. Austin left to attend Harvard University in 2012 for a master’s degree in arts education, both had grown tired of the rotation. They took some time off from each other that year. But they were back together by Valentine’s Day in 2014. Mr. Makonnen, who was finishing up his law degree at Howard University, bought a princess-cut diamond ring and showed up at the home of Ms. Austin’s parents with the bauble in one hand and balloons in another.

Perhaps a bit nervous, he knocked too loudly, leading Ms. Austin to think the house was being burglarized. She called her parents, who were returning home from a dinner party.

“She thought somebody was trying to break in,” said Bobby Austin, Ms. Austin’s father. “And it was just the poor guy trying to propose to her.”

Ms. Austin remembered the episode with a laugh: “He was aggressively knocking so I didn’t answer. He came back, and then I opened the door.”

Finally, nearly a decade after they had met, both were in the same region.

“I think I said, ‘Let’s take this journey together,’ ” Mr. Makonnen said. “When I proposed she was like, ‘It’s about time.’ ”

They said they owed it to each other to try and set down roots, and both have settled into life in the Washington area. Mr. Makonnen works in the legal department of Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, and Ms. Austin works in philanthropy at the Executives’ Alliance for Boys and Men of Color, a division of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

Both have tried to use their skills to help each other. When Ms. Austin founded Art All Night, an overnight arts festival in Washington, she said, Mr. Makonnen gave her ideas for the project. And she wants to help him create a documentary about his great-grandfather. “A biopic is definitely on our agenda,” Ms. Austin said.

“In many ways it feels like this day was written,” Sushama Austin-Connor, Ms. Austin’s older sister, said during the reception. “Ever since I have seen them together they always have been connected to each other. They have a deep-rooted friendship beyond anything else.”

Yaphet Kifle, a groomsman, said the two families had come together seamlessly. “You can tell they both value the same things: deep respect for families and their elders, and the value of marriage,” he said.

The couple say that the merging of their families came with only minor growing pains. Ms. Austin and her family had negotiated to bring her wishes into the tradition of an Ethiopian Orthodox ceremony. She had pushed for her father to walk her down the aisle, an unusual custom in this church. She was successful. Mr. Austin took his daughter’s arm as they entered the sanctuary, the train of her ivory Lazaro dress flowing behind her.

“It was a happy melding, I think,” said Ms. Austin’s mother, Joy Austin, the executive director of HumanitiesDC, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. “We, as the New World, felt that the Old World was very receptive of us, and we were of them.”

Of the reception, Mr. Austin, the president of the Neighborhood Associates Corporation, a group focused on community engagement in Washington, said that it had been “a little bit daunting” to throw a multiday party that drew several members from one of the oldest families in the world. But he relaxed as he jokingly chided his three daughters for dancing and thanked several high-profile guests for attending.

Mr. Makonnen’s mother, a retired United Nations international officer, was among those in attendance. Other guests included several of Mr. Makonnen’s relatives who have connections to the family dynasty; Brandon T. Todd, a council member of Washington’s Fourth Ward; Eleanor W. Traylor, a scholar of African-American literature; and J. R. Deep Ford, Guyana’s ambassador to the United Nations. Muriel Bowser, the mayor of Washington, could not attend but sent along her best wishes.

“Saturdays are prime politician days,” Mr. Todd said from his seat near the reception dance floor. “I had five things I canceled to be here. When Bobby and Joy ask you to show up, you show up.”

The reception came complete with a photo booth, a candy table and Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye and Bruno Mars hits. After the dancing died down, Mr. Makonnen and Ms. Austin, true to form, were planning to turn to the next thing on their to-do list: moving in together in Washington. On their wedding day, Ms. Austin still lived with a roommate in Washington, and Mr. Makonnen was in Alexandria, Va.

“If the wedding didn’t take so much time,” Mr. Makonnen joked, “we would have moved out already.”

http://demerarawaves.com/2017/...sies-great-grandson/

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Jah Rastafari! The Coronation of Haile Selassie

It was eighty-five years ago, on this day in 1930 Haile Selassie was crowned King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, or more simply as Emperor of Ethiopia at the Cathedral of St George in Addis Ababa.

The Wikipedia article on the Emperor tells us “The coronation was by all accounts ‘a most splendid affair,’ and it was attended by royals and dignitaries from all over the world. Among those in attendance were George V’s son the Duke of Gloucester, Marshal Franchet d’Esperey of France, and the Prince of Udine representing the King of Italy. Emissaries from the United States, Egypt, Turkey, Sweden, Belgium, and Japan were also present. British author Evelyn Waugh was also present, penning a contemporary report on the event, and American travel lecturer Burton Holmes shot the only known film footage of the event. One newspaper report suggested that the celebration may have incurred a cost in excess of $3,000,000. Many of those in attendance received lavish gifts; in one instance, the Christian emperor even sent a gold-encased Bible to an American bishop who had not attended the coronation, but who had dedicated a prayer to the emperor on the day of the coronation.”

 

And then there is the religion thing.

 

The emperor remained a life-long communicant of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, a part of the non-Chalcedonian or Oriental Orthodox communion.

However, he has come to be something more within the emergent Rastafarian faith. Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican native, born there in 1887, although he lived much of his life in the United States was in the early decades of the twentieth century a central leader in the American black self-empowerment movement. Significantly, Garvey also advocated a return to Africa as an almost mystical ideal. And for many, it would become a spiritual call. While he was not the founder of the movement, its actual Jamaican grassroots founders found within one of Garvey’s speeches given in 1920, where he said “Look to Africa, when a black king shall be crowned, for the day of deliverance is at hand” predicted this moment in 1930.

It does seem the trigger moment for the coalescing of what we now know as the Rastafari movement. Today it has spread from its Jamaican origins around the world. Estimates of their numbers vary wildly, although it looks like there could be as many as a million people worldwide who in some manner identify with the faith.

And today, Crowning Day is appropriately their traditional celebration of their founding.

So, to my Rasta friends, past, present, and future: best wishes to you all!

Jah Rastafari!


Read more at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/m...#dEquuzwUuo5jcF8E.99

FM
skeldon_man posted:
Chief posted:

Congratulations to the bride and groom.

Chief, you know anyone of them to throw congratulations?

Once they black and pnc affiliated, chiefy have the right to congratulate them. 

FM
skeldon_man posted:
Chief posted:

Congratulations to the bride and groom.

Chief, you know anyone of them to throw congratulations?

Chief will congratulate any woman even if they marry to an ape. I think that pretty much sums it up. 

FM
Prashad posted:

This Rasta nonsense is causing young hindu teens in Georgetown to turn their backs on their religion and follow Salessie stupidness.

Prashad daily it looks like the only person in your Indesh will be you.  Even the Indo KKK don't seem that interested.

FM
caribny posted:
Prashad posted:

This Rasta nonsense is causing young hindu teens in Georgetown to turn their backs on their religion and follow Salessie stupidness.

Prashad daily it looks like the only person in your Indesh will be you.  Even the Indo KKK don't seem that interested.

Carib I met an old Oromo elder a few years ago who told me that Salessie real father was a Sikh merchant who traded goods between India and Ethiopia. He got the chief daughter pregnant and he took off running. So the Chief arranged his daughter marriage to one of his colleagues.Moral of the story is don't believe everything that you read.

Prashad
Prashad posted:
caribny posted:
Prashad posted:

This Rasta nonsense is causing young hindu teens in Georgetown to turn their backs on their religion and follow Salessie stupidness.

Prashad daily it looks like the only person in your Indesh will be you.  Even the Indo KKK don't seem that interested.

Carib I met an old Oromo elder a few years ago who told me that Salessie real father was a Sikh merchant who traded goods between India and Ethiopia. He got the chief daughter pregnant and he took off running. So the Chief arranged his daughter marriage to one of his colleagues.Moral of the story is don't believe everything that you read.

Given the rivalry between the Amhara (Selassie's group) and the Omoro I hardly think that your source is credible. Its as if a PNC person told you that Jagdeo was born in India.

That Selassie family is an ancient one so its no way that an illegitimate child would have been allowed to lead it.

In fact I suspect you are lying. The tell tale is your use of the word "chief".  Ethiopian is an ancient empire stretching back to Biblical times so there is no "chief" who has control over anything.  Use "emperor" next time you wish to lie.

FM
caribny posted:
Prashad posted:
caribny posted:
Prashad posted:

This Rasta nonsense is causing young hindu teens in Georgetown to turn their backs on their religion and follow Salessie stupidness.

Prashad daily it looks like the only person in your Indesh will be you.  Even the Indo KKK don't seem that interested.

Carib I met an old Oromo elder a few years ago who told me that Salessie real father was a Sikh merchant who traded goods between India and Ethiopia. He got the chief daughter pregnant and he took off running. So the Chief arranged his daughter marriage to one of his colleagues.Moral of the story is don't believe everything that you read.

Given the rivalry between the Amhara (Selassie's group) and the Omoro I hardly think that your source is credible. Its as if a PNC person told you that Jagdeo was born in India.

That Selassie family is an ancient one so its no way that an illegitimate child would have been allowed to lead it.

In fact I suspect you are lying. The tell tale is your use of the word "chief".  Ethiopian is an ancient empire stretching back to Biblical times so there is no "chief" who has control over anything.  Use "emperor" next time you wish to lie.

For me it is always going to be chief.  As a Guyanese "Rass" means something else for me.

Prashad
Prashad posted:

This Rasta nonsense is causing young hindu teens in Georgetown to turn their backs on their religion and follow Salessie stupidness.

You need to check to see what is wrong with your religion!

Chief
skeldon_man posted:
Chief posted:

Congratulations to the bride and groom.

Chief, you know anyone of them to throw congratulations?

If it was a coolie couple that made NY Times you would have lined up with a mala.

This educated young black couple deserves to be congratulated given thier family lineage. 

Chief
Prince posted:
skeldon_man posted:
Chief posted:

Congratulations to the bride and groom.

Chief, you know anyone of them to throw congratulations?

Chief will congratulate any woman even if they marry to an ape. I think that pretty much sums it up. 

Your in laws congratulated, did they not ? 

ball
Chief posted:
Prashad posted:

This Rasta nonsense is causing young hindu teens in Georgetown to turn their backs on their religion and follow Salessie stupidness.

You need to check to see what is wrong with your religion!

All religion is in need of a check. Money is evil and yet the place where it is asked for the most is within the religious organization.    

ball

I have to congratulate the pair I hope that they have a strong black family. Every black man I see on the street now got a white woman hugging up. Most of them white women will do to the black men what most of the black men do to black women. They will take off running never to be seen again when the first sign of hard times show. For those black men who have some money. The white women will take off running with the money when the first sign of hard times show up.

 

 

 

Prashad
Last edited by Prashad
Chief posted:
skeldon_man posted:
Chief posted:

Congratulations to the bride and groom.

Chief, you know anyone of them to throw congratulations?

If it was a coolie couple that made NY Times you would have lined up with a mala.

This educated young black couple deserves to be congratulated given thier family lineage. 

Utter hogwash!!!! Looks like you picked this response from a swine lot.

FM
ball posted:
Chief posted:
Prashad posted:

This Rasta nonsense is causing young hindu teens in Georgetown to turn their backs on their religion and follow Salessie stupidness.

You need to check to see what is wrong with your religion!

All religion is in need of a check. Money is evil and yet the place where it is asked for the most is within the religious organization.    

Utter BS. Most moines are asked for environmental, charitable and political organizations and the head of some of these organizations earn six digit salaries.

I used to donate to Sick Kids until i found out how the SICK the head of this organization earns six digits and some other top executive also earn six digits.

Many charitable organizations have fat cats at the top and foot soldiers who are feeding their greed at the expense of unsuspecting donors. People have to donate with due diligence and be proactive in seeking the proper financial information.

Tola's organization comes to mind, it is too secretive. 

Sick Kids charity boss gets $2.7M send-off

The SickKids Foundation gave former president Michael O'Mahoney a $2.7 million golden parachute when they showed him the door early this year, documents reveal.

 
SickKids Foundation president Michael O’Mahoney’s severance package included
SickKids Foundation president Michael O’Mahoney’s severance package included "incentive payments."  (STEVE RUSSELL / TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO
FM
Last edited by Former Member
caribny posted:
Prashad posted:
caribny posted:
Prashad posted:

This Rasta nonsense is causing young hindu teens in Georgetown to turn their backs on their religion and follow Salessie stupidness.

Prashad daily it looks like the only person in your Indesh will be you.  Even the Indo KKK don't seem that interested.

Carib I met an old Oromo elder a few years ago who told me that Salessie real father was a Sikh merchant who traded goods between India and Ethiopia. He got the chief daughter pregnant and he took off running. So the Chief arranged his daughter marriage to one of his colleagues.Moral of the story is don't believe everything that you read.

Given the rivalry between the Amhara (Selassie's group) and the Omoro I hardly think that your source is credible. Its as if a PNC person told you that Jagdeo was born in India.

That Selassie family is an ancient one so its no way that an illegitimate child would have been allowed to lead it.

In fact I suspect you are lying. The tell tale is your use of the word "chief".  Ethiopian is an ancient empire stretching back to Biblical times so there is no "chief" who has control over anything.  Use "emperor" next time you wish to lie.

Emperor was not the name of the old Ethopian order. Moses never referred to them with such a name of rulers either. The Syrian Orthodox Church upon spreading the gospel in Ethiopia was taken to the King of Ethiopia for an audience. Suh, about 1917 years ago, there was a King. 

The Lion of Judah must have thought Emperor was fashionable for the times. India had an Empress.

S
seignet posted:
caribny posted:
Prashad posted:
caribny posted:
Prashad posted:

This Rasta nonsense is causing young hindu teens in Georgetown to turn their backs on their religion and follow Salessie stupidness.

Prashad daily it looks like the only person in your Indesh will be you.  Even the Indo KKK don't seem that interested.

Carib I met an old Oromo elder a few years ago who told me that Salessie real father was a Sikh merchant who traded goods between India and Ethiopia. He got the chief daughter pregnant and he took off running. So the Chief arranged his daughter marriage to one of his colleagues.Moral of the story is don't believe everything that you read.

Given the rivalry between the Amhara (Selassie's group) and the Omoro I hardly think that your source is credible. Its as if a PNC person told you that Jagdeo was born in India.

That Selassie family is an ancient one so its no way that an illegitimate child would have been allowed to lead it.

In fact I suspect you are lying. The tell tale is your use of the word "chief".  Ethiopian is an ancient empire stretching back to Biblical times so there is no "chief" who has control over anything.  Use "emperor" next time you wish to lie.

Emperor was not the name of the old Ethopian order. Moses never referred to them with such a name of rulers either. The Syrian Orthodox Church upon spreading the gospel in Ethiopia was taken to the King of Ethiopia for an audience. Suh, about 1917 years ago, there was a King. 

The Lion of Judah must have thought Emperor was fashionable for the times. India had an Empress.

"Emperor" is a term used instead of "King" when kings rule over other countries/nations through conquest or otherwise. That's where the term "empire" comes from.

It is entirely proper for the Amhara king of Ethiopia to proclaim himself "emperor" in the style of the times since he ruled over many conquered peoples in territory acquired over the centuries.

Only an idiot would describe the ruler of ancient Ethiopia as a "chief," so I don't know where you and Prashad are going with that piece of nonsense.

btw, the terminology predated Queen Victoria, Empress of India.

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Homme posted:
seignet posted:
caribny posted:
Prashad posted:
caribny posted:
Prashad posted:

This Rasta nonsense is causing young hindu teens in Georgetown to turn their backs on their religion and follow Salessie stupidness.

Prashad daily it looks like the only person in your Indesh will be you.  Even the Indo KKK don't seem that interested.

Carib I met an old Oromo elder a few years ago who told me that Salessie real father was a Sikh merchant who traded goods between India and Ethiopia. He got the chief daughter pregnant and he took off running. So the Chief arranged his daughter marriage to one of his colleagues.Moral of the story is don't believe everything that you read.

Given the rivalry between the Amhara (Selassie's group) and the Omoro I hardly think that your source is credible. Its as if a PNC person told you that Jagdeo was born in India.

That Selassie family is an ancient one so its no way that an illegitimate child would have been allowed to lead it.

In fact I suspect you are lying. The tell tale is your use of the word "chief".  Ethiopian is an ancient empire stretching back to Biblical times so there is no "chief" who has control over anything.  Use "emperor" next time you wish to lie.

Emperor was not the name of the old Ethopian order. Moses never referred to them with such a name of rulers either. The Syrian Orthodox Church upon spreading the gospel in Ethiopia was taken to the King of Ethiopia for an audience. Suh, about 1917 years ago, there was a King. 

The Lion of Judah must have thought Emperor was fashionable for the times. India had an Empress.

"Emperor" is a term used instead of "King" when kings rule over other countries/nations through conquest or otherwise. That's where the term "empire" comes from.

It is entirely proper for the Amhara king of Ethiopia to proclaim himself "emperor" in the style of the times since he ruled over many conquered peoples in territory acquired over the centuries.

Only an idiot would describe the ruler of ancient Ethiopia as a "chief," so I don't know where you and Prashad are going with that piece of nonsense.

btw, the terminology predated Queen Victoria, Empress of India.

Ras Selassie's father of record (although I believe his real father was indeed a Sikh merchant from India) was never an Emperor. His father was a Ras. A Ras is equal to the rank of Chief. Selassie mother was a Muslim.  She was the daughter of a Muslim Ethiopian Ras ( or Chief).  Selassie became Regent of Ethiopia because he was a very popular youth leader.  The Empress of Ethiopia husband died at a young age.  It was then she appointed Selassie as regent because he was a popular youth leader but he used the position as regent to appoint himself Emperor when the Empress died at the age of 52 years.  Selassie's father of record was a Ras (Chief) Selassie was a Ras (Chief) He got the position of Emperor by working his way into the position of Emperor not by inheriting it (just like Stalin did with the General Secretary position of the Communist Party to become Soviet leader).  Check the official record and tell me if I wrote anything wrong here.

Prashad
Last edited by Prashad
Prashad posted:
Homme posted:
seignet posted:
caribny posted:
Prashad posted:

Carib I met an old Oromo elder a few years ago who told me that Salessie real father was a Sikh merchant who traded goods between India and Ethiopia. He got the chief daughter pregnant and he took off running. So the Chief arranged his daughter marriage to one of his colleagues.Moral of the story is don't believe everything that you read.

Given the rivalry between the Amhara (Selassie's group) and the Omoro I hardly think that your source is credible. Its as if a PNC person told you that Jagdeo was born in India.

That Selassie family is an ancient one so its no way that an illegitimate child would have been allowed to lead it.

In fact I suspect you are lying. The tell tale is your use of the word "chief".  Ethiopian is an ancient empire stretching back to Biblical times so there is no "chief" who has control over anything.  Use "emperor" next time you wish to lie.

Emperor was not the name of the old Ethopian order. Moses never referred to them with such a name of rulers either. The Syrian Orthodox Church upon spreading the gospel in Ethiopia was taken to the King of Ethiopia for an audience. Suh, about 1917 years ago, there was a King. 

The Lion of Judah must have thought Emperor was fashionable for the times. India had an Empress.

"Emperor" is a term used instead of "King" when kings rule over other countries/nations through conquest or otherwise. That's where the term "empire" comes from.

It is entirely proper for the Amhara king of Ethiopia to proclaim himself "emperor" in the style of the times since he ruled over many conquered peoples in territory acquired over the centuries.

Only an idiot would describe the ruler of ancient Ethiopia as a "chief," so I don't know where you and Prashad are going with that piece of nonsense.

btw, the terminology predated Queen Victoria, Empress of India.

Ras Selassie's father of record (although I believe his real father was indeed a Sikh merchant from India) was never an Emperor. His father was a Ras. A Ras is equal to the rank of Chief. Selassie mother was a Muslim.  She was the daughter of a Muslim Ethiopian Ras ( or Chief).  Selassie became Regent of Ethiopia because he was a very popular youth leader.  The Empress of Ethiopia husband died at a young age.  It was then she appointed Selassie as regent because he was a popular youth leader but he used the position as regent to appoint himself Emperor when the Empress died at the age of 52 years.  Selassie's father of record was a Ras (Chief) Selassie was a Ras (Chief) He got the position of Emperor by working his way into the position of Emperor not by inheriting it (just like Stalin did with the General Secretary position of the Communist Party to become Soviet leader).  Check the official record and tell me if I wrote anything wrong here.

Haile Selassie's claim to the throne is through his paternal grandmother who is the aunt of Emperor Menelik II

This is NOT a discussion of palace intrigue and Selassie's legitimacy.

The foolishness by you and siegnet about the Ethiopic use of the term "emperor" vs. "chief" has already been thoroughly rubbished

So you now attempt to change the subject, blowing a lot smoke, gossip and unrelated nonsense [Joe Stalin, really?] and inviting me to 'refute'

Your game is the game of uneducated people. Ask yuji and the other IQ single digits here to run with you.

I'm not playing.

FM
Last edited by Former Member
skeldon_man posted:
Chief posted:
skeldon_man posted:
Chief posted:

Congratulations to the bride and groom.

Chief, you know anyone of them to throw congratulations?

If it was a coolie couple that made NY Times you would have lined up with a mala.

This educated young black couple deserves to be congratulated given thier family lineage. 

Utter hogwash!!!! Looks like you picked this response from a swine lot.

Truth hurts!

That one hit ypu in the mid section and now ypu reply with a lot of pain.

Chief
Chief posted:
skeldon_man posted:
Chief posted:
skeldon_man posted:
Chief posted:

Congratulations to the bride and groom.

Chief, you know anyone of them to throw congratulations?

If it was a coolie couple that made NY Times you would have lined up with a mala.

This educated young black couple deserves to be congratulated given thier family lineage. 

Utter hogwash!!!! Looks like you picked this response from a swine lot.

Truth hurts!

That one hit ypu in the mid section and now ypu reply with a lot of pain.

Chief, I could give a rat's ass who got married to whom. I do not glorify anyone. I believe that all mankind/womankind are equal. Describing your reply as a hit is trivial. Crap like this is , let me say it again...UTTER HOGWASH FROM THE SWINE LOT.

FM
Homme posted:
Prashad posted:
Homme posted:
seignet posted:
caribny posted:
Prashad posted:

Carib I met an old Oromo elder a few years ago who told me that Salessie real father was a Sikh merchant who traded goods between India and Ethiopia. He got the chief daughter pregnant and he took off running. So the Chief arranged his daughter marriage to one of his colleagues.Moral of the story is don't believe everything that you read.

Given the rivalry between the Amhara (Selassie's group) and the Omoro I hardly think that your source is credible. Its as if a PNC person told you that Jagdeo was born in India.

That Selassie family is an ancient one so its no way that an illegitimate child would have been allowed to lead it.

In fact I suspect you are lying. The tell tale is your use of the word "chief".  Ethiopian is an ancient empire stretching back to Biblical times so there is no "chief" who has control over anything.  Use "emperor" next time you wish to lie.

Emperor was not the name of the old Ethopian order. Moses never referred to them with such a name of rulers either. The Syrian Orthodox Church upon spreading the gospel in Ethiopia was taken to the King of Ethiopia for an audience. Suh, about 1917 years ago, there was a King. 

The Lion of Judah must have thought Emperor was fashionable for the times. India had an Empress.

"Emperor" is a term used instead of "King" when kings rule over other countries/nations through conquest or otherwise. That's where the term "empire" comes from.

It is entirely proper for the Amhara king of Ethiopia to proclaim himself "emperor" in the style of the times since he ruled over many conquered peoples in territory acquired over the centuries.

Only an idiot would describe the ruler of ancient Ethiopia as a "chief," so I don't know where you and Prashad are going with that piece of nonsense.

btw, the terminology predated Queen Victoria, Empress of India.

Ras Selassie's father of record (although I believe his real father was indeed a Sikh merchant from India) was never an Emperor. His father was a Ras. A Ras is equal to the rank of Chief. Selassie mother was a Muslim.  She was the daughter of a Muslim Ethiopian Ras ( or Chief).  Selassie became Regent of Ethiopia because he was a very popular youth leader.  The Empress of Ethiopia husband died at a young age.  It was then she appointed Selassie as regent because he was a popular youth leader but he used the position as regent to appoint himself Emperor when the Empress died at the age of 52 years.  Selassie's father of record was a Ras (Chief) Selassie was a Ras (Chief) He got the position of Emperor by working his way into the position of Emperor not by inheriting it (just like Stalin did with the General Secretary position of the Communist Party to become Soviet leader).  Check the official record and tell me if I wrote anything wrong here.

Haile Selassie's claim to the throne is through his paternal grandmother who is the aunt of Emperor Menelik II

This is NOT a discussion of palace intrigue and Selassie's legitimacy.

The foolishness by you and siegnet about the Ethiopic use of the term "emperor" vs. "chief" has already been thoroughly rubbished

So you now attempt to change the subject, blowing a lot smoke, gossip and unrelated nonsense [Joe Stalin, really?] and inviting me to 'refute'

Your game is the game of uneducated people. Ask yuji and the other IQ single digits here to run with you.

I'm not playing.

You can come up with all sorts of arguments but you cannot change the fact that neither Selassie father nor mother were ever Emperor or Empress. So I stick with my argument that the man worked his way into the position like Joe Stalin.

 

Prashad
Prashad posted:
Homme posted:
Prashad posted:
Homme posted:
seignet posted:
caribny posted:
Prashad posted:

Carib I met an old Oromo elder a few years ago who told me that Salessie real father was a Sikh merchant who traded goods between India and Ethiopia. He got the chief daughter pregnant and he took off running. So the Chief arranged his daughter marriage to one of his colleagues.Moral of the story is don't believe everything that you read.

Given the rivalry between the Amhara (Selassie's group) and the Omoro I hardly think that your source is credible. Its as if a PNC person told you that Jagdeo was born in India.

That Selassie family is an ancient one so its no way that an illegitimate child would have been allowed to lead it.

In fact I suspect you are lying. The tell tale is your use of the word "chief".  Ethiopian is an ancient empire stretching back to Biblical times so there is no "chief" who has control over anything.  Use "emperor" next time you wish to lie.

Emperor was not the name of the old Ethopian order. Moses never referred to them with such a name of rulers either. The Syrian Orthodox Church upon spreading the gospel in Ethiopia was taken to the King of Ethiopia for an audience. Suh, about 1917 years ago, there was a King. 

The Lion of Judah must have thought Emperor was fashionable for the times. India had an Empress.

"Emperor" is a term used instead of "King" when kings rule over other countries/nations through conquest or otherwise. That's where the term "empire" comes from.

It is entirely proper for the Amhara king of Ethiopia to proclaim himself "emperor" in the style of the times since he ruled over many conquered peoples in territory acquired over the centuries.

Only an idiot would describe the ruler of ancient Ethiopia as a "chief," so I don't know where you and Prashad are going with that piece of nonsense.

btw, the terminology predated Queen Victoria, Empress of India.

Ras Selassie's father of record (although I believe his real father was indeed a Sikh merchant from India) was never an Emperor. His father was a Ras. A Ras is equal to the rank of Chief. Selassie mother was a Muslim.  She was the daughter of a Muslim Ethiopian Ras ( or Chief).  Selassie became Regent of Ethiopia because he was a very popular youth leader.  The Empress of Ethiopia husband died at a young age.  It was then she appointed Selassie as regent because he was a popular youth leader but he used the position as regent to appoint himself Emperor when the Empress died at the age of 52 years.  Selassie's father of record was a Ras (Chief) Selassie was a Ras (Chief) He got the position of Emperor by working his way into the position of Emperor not by inheriting it (just like Stalin did with the General Secretary position of the Communist Party to become Soviet leader).  Check the official record and tell me if I wrote anything wrong here.

Haile Selassie's claim to the throne is through his paternal grandmother who is the aunt of Emperor Menelik II

This is NOT a discussion of palace intrigue and Selassie's legitimacy.

The foolishness by you and siegnet about the Ethiopic use of the term "emperor" vs. "chief" has already been thoroughly rubbished

So you now attempt to change the subject, blowing a lot smoke, gossip and unrelated nonsense [Joe Stalin, really?] and inviting me to 'refute'

Your game is the game of uneducated people. Ask yuji and the other IQ single digits here to run with you.

I'm not playing.

You can come up with all sorts of arguments but you cannot change the fact that neither Selassie father nor mother were ever Emperor or Empress. So I stick with my argument that the man worked his way into the position like Joe Stalin.

I sincerely hope that the jumbie with whom you are having this death match "argument" is a worthy opponent.

FM

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