Rasta's Paradise- a Journey to the Hearts And Lives of Rasta

The Daily Monitor (Addis Ababa)

NEWS
29 April 2007
Posted to the web 30 April 2007

By Binyam Tamene
Addis Ababa

In exclusive premier at the Asni Gallery on Thursday, the documentary film entitled RASTA'S PARADISE was launched to the excitement and thrill of followers of Ras Teferianism who attended the event.

Rasta's Paradise is a 50-mm documentary about Rastafarians living in Ethiopia, enlightening the historical and spiritual connection between the Rastafari movement and Ethiopia/Africa and also reveals a rarely seen side of the movement, providing a journey into the hearts, lives and minds of Rasta life.

Shooting the film starts in the capital Addis Ababa and then travels to Shashamene to voice-over a story as the black people were taken as slaves from Africa into the New World, Caribbean and North American.

It also gives the audience an idea on Rastafarian movement for the fulfillment of words by a man of African descent named Marcus Garvey who prophesized that "there shall be a black King crowned", and so it passed that when Haile Selassie was crowned in 1930 emperor of Ethiopia, the Diaspora Africans rallied behind 'HIM' (His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie) and the Rastafari movement got its name.

RASTA'S PARADISE features fascinating interviews of Rastafari Elders such as Bongo Rocky, Congo Rupert and Mama Baby I; artist/musician Teddy Dan; and activists like Ras Tagassa King and Dr. Desta Meghoo.

Elders in the film explain their belief that they are the true Jews and aspire to repatriate to Africa and to find their way back to the "Promised Land": Ethiopia.

As the film depicts, Many Rastas who have opted to move back to Ethiopia settle in Shashemene in the gifted land that Haile Selassie 1st offered to Diaspora blacks for the support they gave to Ethiopia during the war against the Italians.

The viewers also paid a visit to their tabernacle (place of worship), their homes as they explain their trials and tribulations making geopolitical connections between their message and identity and "take" on current world events.

RASTA'S PARADISE includes, witness that the "Africa Unite" celebrations in Addis Ababa, in commemoration of the 60th birthday of musician Bob Marley.

From the time when Parine Jaddo, an Iraqi filmmaker, heard Bob Marley, what she calls, "...like treble in my soul," she was anxious to know the meaning and origin of the lyrics. That is when Rastafari began to unfold for her.

Listing through the songs of Bob Marley, a legendry reggae music singer, like "Exodus", "One Love", Get Up Stand Up", "War" she realized there was so much to know and even more to understand.

Parine, who has a vast experience working with famous film makers like the award winning Ethiopian film maker Haile Gerima, began her journey into Rastafari and their unique relationship with Ethiopia.

Being one of the few film makers given access to document Bob Marley's 60th birthday, she and her partner-Executive Producer- Ishac Diwan (who happens to be the World Bank Country Representative to Ethiopia, and Sudan), saw the opportunity "beyond the momentous celebration and chose to tell the inspiring story behind 'Africa Unite' a celebration of 60th birthday of Bob Marley " "It then travels to Shashemene where we meet the Rastas living there by the help of Professor Abiyi Ford of Addis Ababa University who also provides a historical analysis of the movement", she told the attendants at the launching ceremony.

She said the inspiration from the Movement brought her closer to the message of justice, peace and love and compelled her to make a film that could expose the message and hopefully influence the human family.

Parine also found a vehicle to help her people stay strong under the very terrible and present condition. Jaddo now found a way to help; hence she produced Rasta's Paradise a message of peaceful resistance from a heart of one love, where justice and reconciliation remain a reality to be achieved one day.

The film explains the reason behind every deed in the Ras Teferian society including why they make their heir dread-lock, which will make RASTA'S PARADISE so enlightening With the rare footage of 'Africa Unite' concert and beautiful shots of rural Ethiopia, Parine Jodd's documentary film creates an exiting and entertaining feeling in the hall of Asni Gallery; and a get-to-know feeling to those who have little knowledge to the movement of Ras Teferianism.

RASTA'S PARADISE will be screened to audience on Saturday, may 6th at the Addis Ababa City Hall and to the Shashamane audience will also have an opportunity to see on Tuesday, 8th of may at Rift Valley Hotel.

VIPs including Ministry of Culture and Tourism Mohammed Drir, Professor Richard Pankhurest and members of the international community attended the launching ceremony.