The Last Emperor of Abyssinia

The country is now known as Ethiopia. He was killed by unknown gunmen in 1975. He is also revered by Rastafarians whose religion was created in his name. In 1963 he cofounded the OAU - the ''Organisation of African Unity'' - to resist colonialisation. It is now known as the African Union ( AU).

In his lifetime he visited over 100 emerging nations to give support and fellowship. HIs legacy is complex - he is seen as a moderniser of Ethiopia, but his occupation of Eritrea is causing significant problems to this day. He was exiled to Britain in the 1930's as the Italians invaded Ethiopia.

One of the most magical memories of my African childhood is waving my national flag at his cavalcade in July 1965 when he visited Zambia in its first year of independence. After over 60 years of planning, I stepped foot on Ethiopian soil in January 2026. I was shown around the city of Addis Abiba by Biruk whose expansive knowledge of his country and its history was inspirational. I also arrived in Addis just as the 39th session of the African Union (the ''AU'') was about to open.

Bob Marley's 1976 song "War" from the Rastaman Vibration album features lyrics almost entirely taken from Emperor Haile Selassie 's speech to the League of Nations in 1936.

"Until the philosophy which hold one race superior and another inferior Is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned / Everywhere is war..."