Rastafari movement invitation to Adwa Day march and celebration
THE Rastafari movement, through an association of various organisations and collectives, invites the public to attend the Adwa Day March to Parliament tomorrow.
This is a community-based event highlighting the marginalisation, discrimination, criminalisation and victimisation of Rastafari adherents in South Africa.
The day is also a rallying call to celebrate the Ethiopian victory over Italy at the Battle of Adwa on March 1, 1896.
The delivery of our memorandum of grievance to the secretary of the Speaker of the South African Parliament is the highlight of the Rastafari movement’s programme of events to mark Adwa Day Rastafari Nation March 2017.
This will include a legal protest march from Keizersgracht parking lot down to Parliament, where the government will be receiving the memorandum from the Rastafari movement’s delegates. Rastafari ambassadors from the various organisations involved will make short addresses in commemoration of the Adwa Day victory and the plight that Rastafari people face under the current government.
The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL) has done research on the Rastafari religion and culture and the report recommendations were completed in 20112012 under the title of “Challenges faced by Rastafari communities in South Africa”.
On March 2 last year, the Rastafari movement, through the association of organisations and collectives, marched to Parliament to submit its Memorandum of Grievance and CRL report. This was the first annual march to put pressure on the government of the day to give justice to our communities.
On December 8 last year, the Rastafari United Front marched to the South African Constitutional Court to submit the Memorandum of Grievances and CRL report on challenges faced by the Rastafari community in South Africa recommendations for implementation.
This is the second year of the Adwa Day Rastafari Nation March and the 121st anniversary of Adwa Victory Day, which is an official holiday in Ethiopa.
This is a day to affirm and reflect on the only independent African nation that defeated the European colonisers, Rastafari being a movement that is Ethiopic in its world view, ideologies, philosophies and frames of reference to culture, spirituality, arts, knowledge, consciousness and beliefs.
The purpose of the events: raising awareness and increasing public understanding of Rastafari people and the marginalisation they face in society in both public and private sector industries.
This is not even about dagga legalisation per se, it is in fact about collective governance, collaboration, networking and partnership, to ensure human rights and justice, to maintain the integrity, dignity, fundamental principles and philosophies of Rastafari communities, on the basis of respect for South Africa’s constitution.
Adwa Day 2017 Schedule:
Cape Town City Bowl: the national/ intracontinental event for Adwa Day will take place from 10am to 2pm this Wednesday. Highlights include: 9 –11am: Assembling and rallying at Keizersgracht parking lot. An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian priest will open the event with prayers and chants, while organisers will address the masses to ensure discipline and a collective vision of the day’s agenda.
11am –12 noon: Start marching towards Parliament. The procession will be accompanied with chants and prayers and with the burning of incense.
12 noon – 1pm: Address in front of Parliament. The government members have communicated that they will receive the memorandum at noon at the Louis Botha statue outside Parliament.
1 – 2pm: Return peacefully to Keizersgracht parking lot for closing prayers and a debriefing session with the participants, stakeholders and organisations involved.
Last year we were more or less 1 000, but this year we have made greater efforts to mobilise communities across South Africa and are anticipating many more.
Scheepers is a member of the Adwa Day organising committee.