Sizzla 'president of the Rastafari movement'? This must be a joke

Rastafari en nyahbinghi zijn weer talk of the town in Jamaica. Een paar weken geleden was het programma Runnin' Africa op Irie FM (4 uur!) nog volledig gewijd aan het bericht dat Sizzla voortaan door het leven zou gaan als de officieel verkozen president van de nyahbinghi, en bij uitbreiding van rastafari wereldwijd. Er was sprake van een (gestolen) zegel dat Sizzla nu in zijn bezit zou hebben, en de artiest beweerde zelf dat hij onder meer in Zimbabwe een groot stuk land heeft gekregen waar de rasta's mogen komen wonen. Als Sizzla en Robert Mugabe al iets gemeen hebben, kan dat alleen hun homohaat zijn. De Zimbabwaanse president/dictator heeft wel eens gezegd dat hij een hekel heeft aan rasta's, zeker als ze ganja roken.

Rastafari heeft geen behoefte aan leiders of welke hiërarchie dan ook. Zo hebben de rasta's van de eerste generatie het ons geleerd, en zo willen wij de livity ook beleven. Los daarvan vragen we ons af hoe een man die black supremacy predikt, de superioriteit van het zwarte ras dus, de liefde en wijsheid kan vertegenwoordigen van Haile Selassie I, wiens woorden Bob Marley zo eloquent in herinnering heeft gebracht: 'Untill the pilosophy which holds one race superior...'

Dit is het uitgebreide en goed gefundeerde antwoord van de elders van de originele Nyahbinghi Order, de oudste mansion van rastafari. Zij hebben nooit geclaimd dat ze alle ware rasta's vertegenwoordigen maar ze bewaken wel de authentieke erfenis van rastafari.

The announcement made on the Running African programme on IrieFM, Sunday October 21st 2012, by Lynford "Junior Negus" White, thatMiguel 'Sizzla Kalonji' Collins, was elected President of the RastafariMovement, by the mansions of Ras Tafari including the Twelve Tribesof Israel, the Ethiopia Africa Black International Congress (Boboshanti)and the Theocray Reign Ivine Order of the Nyahbinghi (NyahbinghiHouse), was not just misleading, it was a blatant lie.The event that took place on this date at the Lion's Club in Old Harbour, happenedwithout the official endorsement and participation of the abovementioned mansions.

Since then, despite the immediate rebuttal by Ras Iyah V, the Cochairmanof the Nyahbinghi Administrative Council, on the sameprogramme, the lies and deceit continue to reverberate.Prior to October 21, 2012, Sizzla Kalonji had announced on Winford Williams's programme 'On Stage' on CVM TV, that he was elected President of the Ancient Council of the Nyahbinghi House at the ScottPass Nyahbinghi Center in Clarendon and that there will be a banquet(supposedly in honor of his appointment) at the Lion's Club in OldHarbour on Sunday October 21st. This was the first time that thebroader collective of the House, including the some members of theAncient (Elder's) Council and the broader Rastafari community werehearing of this.

The position or office of President does not exist within the guidelinesof the Nyahbinghi House, therefore this selection or appointment isunprecedented and was never brought to the broadercollective for approval and ratification as is customary and thereforerepresents a clear breach of procedure and protocol.The members of the Ancient Council, including the priest of the House,George 'Iron' Latty, responsible for selecting Sizzla as the President ofthe Ancient Council and then conducting an 'Inauguration Ceremony'of Sizzla as the President of the Rastafari Movement, haveundoubtedly exceeded and abused the authority given to them by thecollective of the Nyahbinghi House.

In the first place, at 36 years of age, Sizzla, does not fit the criteriaestablished for admission to the Ancient Council, of one being 60 yearsand 40 years service within the Livity of Rastafari, with good characterand qualities befitting an exemplary Matriarch and Patriarch within thefamily. The appointment of Sizzla to any office in the Ancient Council,is therefore an act of violation on the part of those who knew andendorsed this and is without prejudice, declared null and void by thecollective.

Sizzla has also acted unscrupulously by accepting any office orposition, since at an Ancient Council election in December 2011, hewas told that any position that was previously given to him by PriestGeorge Irons would be immediately terminated. The Ancient Councilmembers present reconfirmed the criteria for ones qualified to voteand hold an office in the Ancient Council. Sizzla himself conceded andagreed to the results of the process. It was therefore surprising to thebroader collective when Sizzla continued to refer to himself as theTreasurer of the Ancient Council and to sign documents as such.

Junior Negus, who acts as a spokesperson for Sizzla, was stronglyreprimanded for continuous misconduct at Pitfour Nyahbinghi Center inNovember 2011, including the removal of the Nyahbinghi House Stamp and Seal from the Priest's residence without his approval and giving it Sizzla, who still has it in his possession, despite calls andrepresentation made to him to return it to the House. Due to this andother violations, Junior Negus, was by unanimous decision, deniedholding any position or office in the House and is therefore notauthorized to represent the House in ANY CAPACITY.

At the 82nd Coronation Anniversary at Pitfour, Mobay in November2012, the broader collective of the House, many of whom were justhearing about Sizzla's 'Presidential appointment' and knowing that this was not done by collective consultation or endorsement, unanimouslydeclared this an unlawful act, as no individual or minority group isempowered with such authority to act on behalf of the collective. Sizzla Kalonji therefore does not and cannot legally hold ANY office inthe Nyahbinghi Ancient Council nor is he acknowledged as 'President'of the Rastafari Movement. This unprecedented and unlawful action byall individuals involved, resulted in disciplinary action and penalties,including impeachment of officers.

The Nyahbinghi House trusts that this clarification will bring order andunderstanding to the matter and that Sizzla will do the right thing inreturning the sacred Stamp and Seal to the House, so that his financialcontributions to the House and assistance given its family members,will not be seen merely as a means of 'buying' his way to power.We pray also that those in favour of Sizzla as President will recognizethat any objections raised, do not represent a 'fight' against him, butare emphasing the importance of observing proper procedure andprotocol, so those in authority will recognize that power does not meandictation and leadership does not mean domination, so succeedinggenerations will not fall prey to wrong precedences.

With the best interest of the welfare, progress, stability and Inity ofthe Nyahbinghi family in mind, I and I pray, that instead of personalaggrandizement and egoism, humility and the acceptance of the truthand right will prevail.We have no problem which is insurmountable...Let Us work in unityand diligence. -H.I.M. Emperor Haile Sellassie 1

Nyahbinghi Order