Date of Remembrance: November 5, 2000
Commemoration: The Grand Funeral of Emperor Haile Selassie I
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 🇪🇹
On November 5, 2000, Ethiopia stood still as the world bid farewell to one of Africa’s most remarkable figures — His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I, the 225th monarch of the ancient Solomonic Dynasty. Twenty-five years after his passing, the emperor was finally laid to rest with full honours in Addis Ababa, bringing closure to an era that had defined Ethiopia’s sovereignty and Africa’s rise toward self-determination.
Haile Selassie I, born Tafari Makonnen Woldemikael in 1892, ruled Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974, becoming a symbol of African independence, resilience, and dignity. His leadership during times of turmoil, particularly during the Italian invasion of 1935, captured the world’s attention. His impassioned plea before the League of Nations in 1936 still resonates today as a timeless call for justice and unity:
“Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted that has made evil triumph.”
For many across the African continent and the diaspora, Haile Selassie was not just a ruler — he was a visionary and spiritual icon. As one of the founding fathers of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU), he dreamed of a continent bound together in peace, equality, and progress.
Even in death, his presence remains powerful. Rastafarians around the world continue to revere him as a divine symbol of resistance and hope, while Ethiopians remember him as the Father of Modern Ethiopia, a monarch who blended faith, wisdom, and humility.
Today, as GhanaMourns joins millions across Africa and beyond in remembrance, we celebrate a man whose light has never dimmed.
A man who stood tall among the greats of history.
A man who believed in Africa before Africa believed in itself.
🕯️ Haile Selassie I (1892 – 1975)
“Vita brevis, memoria aeterna” — Life is short, but memory is eternal.
