Who was Haile Selassie?Haile Selassie I (1892-1975) was Crown Prince and Regent of the Ethiopian Empire from 1916 to 1928. He is a defining figure in modern Ethiopian history. Among the Rastafari movement, whose followers are estimated to number between 700,000 and 1 Million, Haile Selassie is revered as the returned messiah of the Bible, God incarnate. Beginning in Jamaica in the 1930s, the Rastafari movement perceives Haile Selassie as a messianic figure who will lead a future golden age of eternal peace, righteousness, and prosperity. He was an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian throughout his life.
What is Rastafari?The religious movement of Rastafari began in the early 1930s among the blue collar workers of Jamaica. Followers of the Rastafari believe in Jah, their God who was at one time Emperor of Ethiopia. A Black separatist by the name of Marcus Garvey helped spread the word and teachings of the Rastafari. The religion developed from those trying to reclaim the culture that was stolen from them, as many of their ancestors came to Jamaica as slaves. The movement is known throughout the world, influenced by Bob Marley and others of reggae music fame.
What is a Prophet?In religion, a prophet is an individual who is regarded as being in contact with a divine being and is said to speak on that entity's behalf. They claim to be serving as an intermediary with humanity by delivering messages or teachings from the supernatural source to other people. The message that the prophet conveys is called a prophecy. In Islam, all prophetic messengers are prophets (such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad) though not all prophets are prophetic messengers. The primary distinction is that a prophet is required to demonstrate God's law through his actions, character, and behavior without necessarily calling people to follow him, while a prophetic messenger is required to pronounce God's law (i.e. revelation) and call his people to submit and follow him.
Who is Shamsi?A Speakers' Corner is an area where open-air public speaking, debate, and discussion are allowed. The original and most noted is in the north-east corner of Hyde Park in London, England. Speakers here may talk on any subject, as long as the police consider their speeches lawful, although this right is not restricted to Speakers' Corner only. Contrary to popular belief, there is no immunity from the law, nor are any subjects proscribed, but in practice the police intervene only when they receive a complaint. Speakers' Corner is often held up to demonstrate freedom of speech, as anyone can turn up unannounced and talk on almost any subject, although always at the risk of being heckled by regulars.