ran may of the year 2006, a very different world from today, with cell phones without cameras, and without social networks, when representatives of the Rastafarian movement They arrived for the first time in Chile – and to South America- in an unprecedented meeting that was called the Visit Real Rastafari.
It was exactly in the early morning of mars 2 of May when the Santiago Airport was dyed green, yellow and red, with Ethiopian flags flying and more than 200 people singing Nyahbinghi songs before the looks of surprise and surprise of the passengers who were circulating through the air terminal at that time, waiting for a flight from Kingston, capital of Jamaica.
At about 03:00 hours the delegation led by Bongo Shephan Y Bongo Tawny, priests of the Nyahbinghi Order (Order of the Nyahbinghi Theocracy Reign); Empress Esther, ambassador of Ethiopia Africa Black International Congress (E.A.B.I.C.), organization also known as Bobo Ashanti; Sela Race Y Empress Iffiya, representatives of the Rastafari Alliance of Panama, with his little daughter You are.
The arrival of the delegation unleashed the joy of all “brothers” Y “sisters” dreadlocks who attended this reception, on a very cold and foggy night, and who received this special visit with cheers and songs.
The background
The seed of this meeting arose the previous year, on the First Rastafari Summit of Latin America in Panama (2005). There, The Chilean delegation met with the Rastas Elders of Jamaica, marking a milestone in the “universalization” of faith.
On that occasion, for the first time, the sons and daughters of “south of the world” -not direct descendants of enslaved Africans- were formally recognized as part of the Rastafari movement and as “Ethiopian Royal Children”.
What followed was an unprecedented collective effort, with 19 organizations and more 250 brothers, from Arica to Punta Arenas, who united under the Rastafari Organization of Chile (O.R.CH.) to finance and project this Visit Real Rastafari.
There were months of joint work to achieve the set objective, for the first time bringing Rastafari representatives from Jamaica to South America, which took place precisely with the arrival of the delegation that 2 of May.
Camping Days and Sacred Fire
The visit lasted for 10 days, between 2 and the 11 of May, with multiple activities that were concentrated in Pirque and Tiltil, in addition to Santiago and Valparaíso.
The first camp was set up in Pirque, between sunday 30 from April to Thursday 4 of May, to which they reached approximately 200 brothers, sisters, boys and girls, while in another sector of the community, in San Juan, the house that received the Jamaican delegation was located.
The second Rastafari Camp was set up between Thursday 4 to sunday 7 of May, where the Nyahbinghi Ceremony was held in commemoration of the Ethiopian Liberation Day (5 of May), in addition to the Rastafari Education Assembly and the first Omega Meeting, only between “sisters” Rastafari.
Precisely These two activities were very relevant given that the Royal Delegation answered the many doubts that existed regarding the Rastafari faith, to the way of life, to Repatriation and in general about everything that involved the movement.
Other activities
There were also other open activities, like the first International Exhibition of Rastafari Culture at the Mistral Cultural Center, located in the center of Santiago, made on the day 4 of May and which was attended by around 450 people.
Meanwhile he Monday 8, in the Aula Magna of the University of Playa Ancha, in Valparaiso, The second exhibition was held, attended by more than 350 people.
Likewise, on tuesday 9, in the house prepared for the Royal Delegation, in San Juan, A beautiful ceremony was held - perhaps one of the most significant- for the blessing to the children of JAH, in which more than 25 JAH's girls and boys were anointed by the priest Bongo Tawny.
Memory of the community in Chile
The visit had a deep impact on the local Rastafari community., It promoted the movement and was also a joy for every Self who attended any of the activities..
The singer Mc Jona remembered that “It was a historic moment., a before and after both personally and for the community. It was nice to see what their day to day life was like.; His affection marked us, its simplicity and its love”.
“Have the elders here talking to you and clarifying certain doubts that one had was super important for the development that one later had forward as a rasta”, added the former Gondwana vocalist to Reggae Chalice Magazine.
While for Sista Gloria “ver, listen and feel his words closely, It was just transcendental.. It marked a before and after in my personal path as a Rastafari woman.”.
“The spiritual presence, mysticism and wisdom of the elderly, spirits of love and fire (…) hoy 20 Years later my heart and spirit once again overflow with joy and emotion.“, Gloria added..
“It was like Rastafari royalty had arrived”
For Jahime Irie, vocalist of the band of the same name, “It was as if Rastafari royalty had arrived in our country.; In those years he was a nattydread which, like everyone on this path, I had questions and doubts”.
“The elders and empress clarified everything for us, like water in the desert, like light in the shadows, He gave us that power that we are royalty, princes and princesses in this society”, the musician emphasized.
Another who remembered the visit was Robertosh, who maintained that “It was confirmation that we were on the right path.. I looked at their little faces full of love and wonder.… They came to plant the seed in the southern lands of the world!!”.
“They were days full of unity, love, learning and chanting. They would go out to the patio and we would all get around them., We were always expectant, giving thanks for those elevated moments.”, projection.
The return flight
The emotional return took place on the day 11 of May, also at Santiago Airport, where the Rastafari community said goodbye to its elders with an emotional intonation of the Ethiopian anthem by Bongo Tawny that reached the hearts of those who were there at that moment.
This Visit Real Rastafari It was very important because it planted a seed that developed and spread throughout the continent, It was the first time that a Delegation of Rastas from Jamaica arrived in South America, and it was certainly the living recognition that a year before was given to the children of this part of the earth as part of the Rastafari movement.
It was also the first time that Rastas from Arica to Punta Arenas met., living together for 10 days and learning about Rastafari culture and faith, a gift that all who participated treasure in their hearts.
