Protoje just released the video for his new single “Reference”, a song dedicated to Haile Selassie I, and the launch made this 23 july 1st coincides exactly with the birth 134 of His Imperial Majesty, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, for the Rastafarian faith.
The song is precisely a tribute to the Emperor that begins with the verse “Haile Selassie a me reference” (Selassie is my reference) and in his lyrics his figure stands out against fascism, highlighting his prophecy regarding the Italian invasion in 1935 and the future World War II: “Today it is us. Tomorrow it will be you”.
Also mentions key dates such as Selassie's birth (23 July 1892), the prophecy of Marcus Garvey en 1920 and the coronation in 1930, fundamental elements in Rastafari.
Likewise, the second sentence –“Black woman, you a di essence”– connects with the joint coronation of the Emperor and the Empress Menen Asfaw in 1930, a significant gender equality act for the time.
The Art of Acceptance it is the seventh studio album Oje Ken Ollivierre, produced together with Winta James and launched in April 2026 through In.Digg.Nation Collective e Ineffable Records, to which this single belongs.
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