By Vinette K. Pryce

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Nationals of Jamaica are probably the best ambassadors from the Caribbean and definitely the most spontaneous public relations advocates for their country.
Often seen wearing the colors that identify their flag, they flaunt black, green and gold on T-shirts, shoes, headgear, jewelry, other paraphernalia as well as decorate fingers hand and toes brandishing the three identifying colors.
During Ethiopia’s third millennium, the trend continued with patriots proudly exhibiting pride in their heritage and culture.
From Beirut, Brooklyn, Britain and Jamaica, the conspicuous ambassadors flaunt the distinguishable brand that has made the island an international landmark.
Ava Lindo, a native of Oaks District in Clarendon, Jamaica left her United Nations’ security post in Beirut, Lebanon in order to join with Ethiopians at the Adama Ethiopia 2000 celebration in Nazareth.
“This is my first time in Ethiopia. I came on my own because I wanted to experience with Ethiopians the millennium celebration,” an excited and decorated visitor explained.
Since being assigned from the Jamaica Constabulary Force to the security detail in Lebanon six months ago, Lindo has made her way to other parts of Africa venturing for historical enlightenment to Liberia, Ghana, Senegal, The Gambia, and Nigeria.
“But coming to Ethiopia is like coming home, the cultural connection with Jamaica is one that has always attracted me here.”
Lindo said when she stepped off the plane in the capital city of Addis Ababa, she knew no one and could have been a stranger had it not been for Sister Ikema, a Rastafarian, Brooklyn repatriate.
“She just walked up to me and asked me where I was going and from there I was well taken care of by everyone.”
Lindo was ushered into the Rastafarian community of Shashemane four hours away where residents there introduced her to the community and its caretakers.
“I really expected to see a very elaborate and beautiful place,” Lindo said, “Instead I see there is a lot of work to be done.”
While there, Linda said she visited Awassa Lake and other sites.
“My reason for coming to Ethiopia is more than fulfilling, to be with so many culturally progressive people, sharing viewpoints and just being – is a wonderful privilege.” 
Yvonne Griffith AKA Ras Empress Askale along with her dancer/daughter Zela arrived from London, England via Dubai.
Determined to make the mother/daughter pilgrimage during the millennium celebrations Ras Askale accomplished a double feat by soliciting signatures for a petition to acquire funds for the elders of the Rastafarian community through her Empress Menen Foundation.
While in Adama, Shashemane and Addis Ababa Ras Askale acquired signatures from HIM Zere Yacob Asfare Wossen, the Crown prince and grandson of HIM Emperor Haile Selassie, Rita Marley, manager Copeland Forbes, Andrew Tosh and celebrated names here for the Adama 2000 concert on Sept. 16.
“I am very excited to be here but I am even happier that Jamaica has elected a new government – one that in the past was sensitive to the Rastafarian community under the Bustamante administration,” Ras Askale said.
The largest visiting contingency represented Jamaicans from the island as well as individuals from numerous states in America with a majority from New York.
“I am very pleased that so many people considered this gathering significant enough to make it a priority to travel to Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is advancing in every way and this is the just the beginning,” Dr. Desta Meghoo, Adama 2000 organizer and repatriated Jamaican said.   

JULIAN MARLEY GREETS GHETTO YOUTHS IN CHILDREN VILLAGE
Julian Marley arrived from London on the anniversary eve with his spiritual advisor, mother – Lucine Pounder, spouse, Miriam and three children, Jacob, Tsafari and Melody.
Here for the second time – the first in 2005 to mark the 60th anniversary of Bob Marley’s birthday, on arrival, the reggae singer stopped into some of the landmark sites throughout Addis Ababa and in the afternoon shared New Year’s Eve gift-giving ceremonies with former street children adopted by Dr. Desta Meghoo who founded the Children’s Village 18 months ago. 
A zinc fence encampment is reminiscent of Trench Town in Kingston.
Artwork spotlighting the images of Patrice Lumumba, Dr. Martin Luther King, Che Guevarra, Harriet Tubman, Peter Tosh, Empress Menen, Empress Taitu, Marcus Garvey, Nanny, Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta, Emperor Menelik, Emperor Haile Selassie, and reflecting symbols from Ghana’s Gye Name and Sankofa.
A tall eucalyptus tree stands in the middle of the grassy surroundings where vegetables thrive to feed the children.
To see Jacob, the grandson of Bob Marley as he defended his football against young, boys during an impromptu soccer match was heartening to Julian.

JULIAN MARLEY BAPTIZED IN ETHIOPIA
Julian “Juju Royal” Marley is now the only son of Bob Marley to be baptized in Ethiopia. On a Sunday morning, prior to the start of the Adama Ethiopia 2000 concert in Adama/Nazareth, the London-based reggae artist accepted his new name – Gebre Wolde (messenger).
The last of the Marley off-springs to be baptized, Reportedly Julian is the only Marley offspring to be baptized here.
On hearing the news Rita Marley was elated. “I am very, very happy to know that Julian is now baptized.”
 
JAMAICAN ARTIST ABBA YAHUDAH EXHIBITS HERE
St. Catherine native, Jamaican Abba Yahudah made a millennium visit to Ethiopia in order to showcase his artful, African creations which he painted on arrival here. Determined to create fresh images, the turban-wearing, RASTA (Royal Apostles of Selassie The Almighty) worked tirelessly in order to complete oil on canvas he exhibited.
“When the lights went out I painted by candlelight in order to finish what I came here to do,” Yahudah said.
Also an acclaimed singer with recordings of “M.I.L.K. (Mothers Illuminating Love & Kindness” featuring “Inna Eye,” “Fools Rush In,” Black Is DeLight” and “Pigs Ride Hogs” Yahudah is also a food specialist who operated a Park Slope, Brooklyn eatery known as Lalileba and from a loft in Williamsburg honed his skill at Ital Calabash. 

JAMAICANS TAKE SWEET SOP TO THE MOUNTAINS OF ADDIS
Ethiopia’s climate is not as conducive to tropical fruits as many Jamaicans might like. Lacking coconut trees, sweet sop and other products native to Jamaica, Jamaicans have toiled to replicate products familiar to their tradition. On a recent jaunt through one of Addis Ababa’s shopping spots, I noticed the bumpy contour resembling what I considered to be sop piled high amidst papaya, orange, nectarines and the abundance of pineapples and bananas.
Needless to say I braked from my appointment in order to confirm what I thought I had seen in the fruit store.
As I proceeded to the store, a close-up confirmed what I had seen from a distance – mounds of sweet sop.
The store operator told me they were sold by the kilo.
I was told that resident Rastafarians at Shashamane are the ones who introduced the vegetation to the country. Their persistence is paying off and apparently sweet sop is emerging on fruit stands throughout Addis.
By the way at Zebra Grill, a restaurant here, one of the specialties is a Jamaican spice fish. Tilapia is the most popular fish since the country is land-locked.
Another offering is Montego Bay chicken, an onion-flavored, spicy dish.
Jamaica juice is also prominent on the menu with bananas and pineapples flavoring a fruity, smoothie-type, non-alcoholic concoction.
However, one of the jazziest stops to spend a Thursday evening is the Coffee House. On the walls, images of Miles Davis and Billy Holiday hang throughout the intimate jazz spot. Open mic invite singers who render their best. On the evening I stopped in, an Ethiopian delivered her version to Holliday’s “God Bless The Child.” She was as earthy and passionate as Billie.
On percussion I noticed a cool dude massaging his instrument. His eyes closed and fiercely attuned to the groove he pounded, he seemed comfortably situated in the moment. He was introduced to me as Prof. Abiyi R. Ford, a former full professor of Media Studies at Howard University in Washington D.C. and Fulbright Senior Scholar serving as Dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at Addis Abeba University. His father, a Garveyite from Barbados composed the words and music to the Universal Ethiopian anthem.

UNICEF CHIEF PLANS TO SPEAK AFRICA’S GOODNESS TO DEAF EARS
Dr. Kerida McDonald is the unassuming chief of communications for UNICEF here at the United Nations. Born in Jamaica, she previously worked in Tanzania and now has the gargantuan task of disbursing information throughout the continent from her desk in Addis Ababa. The busy administrator is often bogged down explaining concepts and plans with representatives from all over the world, fine-tuning proposals and at times listening to corporate heads interested in lending support in enlightening the ignorant. As a matter of fact, these days, Dr. McDonald is held hostage by those priorities. With a seemingly media black-out on positive images from Africa to the west, she must find creative ways to educate the rest of the world on what’s good about the birthplace of humankind. During a brief conversation recently, Dr. McDonald said she was very impressed with the “Africa Unite” document which was screened at Jubilee Hall and has high hopes for a video presentation of the recent Adama 2000 presentation held in Nazareth. McDonald considers the concert/symposium, millennium event, a “sequel” that could enhance a Speak Africa concept already approved by UNICEF to foster meaningful expression and partnership with youth. According to McDonald, the platform she envisions could radically change the negative perceptions prevalent throughout the rest of the world. However, it seems Dr. McDonald also wants to empower youth to assertively claim their might. In addition to speaking truth to power, she also would like to see talented youth in positions of power where they will produce and direct documentaries and other film projects via a project titled Witness. Dr. McDonald explained that youth in Africa are often first responders in crisis and could better tell their own stories about their place in society, HIV/AIDS in Africa and other issues.
McDonald seems to have first-hand knowledge about the potential of youth in communicating and breaking the barrier of cluelesness. Her daughter, a student at the prestigious Stamford University is currently toiling to complete her final papers on media perceptions of Africa and how the continent is reported in mainstream media.
During the Adama 2000 concert in Nazareth, Dr. McDonald was engaged in dialogue with Rita Marley when she noticed her 7-year-old son had found his way of communicating with the large crowd that attended. Without invitation or notice he seemed to transmit the message she works hard to project with Speak Africa. In a blink of an eye, he walked onstage, took center-stage and upstaged headliners to the event.
Dr. McDonald plans to execute her Speak Africa initiative by teaming with Dr. Desta Meghoo who produced much of the program filmmaker Stephanie Black captured on video for the Bob Marley 60th birthday anniversary celebration here two years ago. Incorporating similar themes Dr. Meghoo advanced with the Africa Unite symposium, the UN administrator may be able to take the Adama 2000 footage to 21st century …

DR. DESTA ELEVATES RASTA WOMEN IN ETHIOPIA
Dr. Desta Meghoo, the Rastafarian woman whose intellectual might fueled and executed a successful three-day symposium at the United Nations here during the pre-concert birthday tribute to Bob Marley in 2005 debuting an Africa Unite annual is no stranger to Ethiopians in the capital city.
Walking through the streets, children greet her with big smiles and maternal reference as Mamma Desta.
Since moving here two years ago, she has nurtured many of the abandoned and homeless youths by establishing a Children’s Village where they are fed, schooled and counseled.
At corporate settings, colleagues address the attorney with professional courtesy and due respect to the academic level she attained living and studying in Florida.
At the United Nations where she recommended discussions pertinent to African youth, seniors and women during the Africa Unite concert-driven celebrations, the repatriated Rastafarian is popularly regarded as Dr. Desta.
Similarly, on entering the University of Addis, lecturers and professors welcome Dr. Desta with fervor.
Prior to moving to the continent Meghoo established a reputation throughout the southern United States in a position as acting director for the Center of Race and Race Relations at the University of Florida.
And for many of the men and women familiar with her caring concern for the under-privileged since she was a teenager, Sister Desta best describes her moniker.     
The no-nonsense, businesswoman who became a grandmother for the second time last week, is the mother of 10 and has combined family responsibility with dedication to duty advancing the Rastafarian culture and the contributions to the advancement of Ethiopia by HIM Emperor Haile Selassie I.
“It was his majesty who established Ethiopian Airlines,” Sister Desta noted as she walked past an attention-grabbing EA advertising poster recently.
Constantly pointing to the magnanimous achievements of the revered royal, Meghoo seems to unabashedly profess her acknowledgement of HIM’s global outreach which is now manifested with individuals professing a righteous way of living and regard for the continent.
At a traffic snarl along the red, gold and green millennium-decorated Bole thoroughfare, street children beseech her benevolence by asking for money for food.
“Go to the Children’s Village and ask for Mama Desta, peace and blessings,” she says as her driver meanders through the hectic daytime rush.
At her location of arrival, her 21-year-old son Tecle meets her at the gate to place a bid for dumplings and banana by saying: “Ma can you make them while I go get some Mirinda?”
That’s the beverage that rivals orange-flavored Fanta here.
“Yes son,” Meghoo responded with an endearing smile acknowledged by his younger brother Ayunde.
Placing her notebook, briefcase and business acumen aside, Meghoo transforms to providing popcorn flavored by molasses, banana fritters, Injera, and the tasty Jamaican fried dumplings specially requested.
All in all, the Rastafarian advocate seems to juggle bureaucracy, family and friends with equal attention and passion.
And her reputation as reggae music specialist impressively brands the Jamaica-native a role model for women aspiring to positive associations here in the Horn of Africa. Meghoo has negotiated business representing Jamaican talents Augustus Pablo, Judy Mowatt, Rita Marley, Israel Vibration, Nigerian Sonny Okosun, among others and previously served as managing director of the Bob Marley Foundation.
     
Catch You On The Inside!