On April 22, 1966, Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I made a historic visit to Jamaica, marking a turning point for the global Rastafari movement. Thousands of Rastafarians gathered at Kingston’s Palisadoes Airport, many seeing the emperor as a divine figure, the returned Messiah. The event became symbolic of Pan-African identity, Black spiritual consciousness, and resistance to colonialism. Selassie’s calm demeanor during the overwhelming reception helped legitimize the movement globally.
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