Rastafarians yesterday in Freetown commemorated the deliverance of Israel from Egypt signifying the feast of the Passover.
With dreadlocks of all forms, the Rastas clad in white flowing gowns with barefoot and with the African liberation colours, observed their prayers at the Victoria Park and then processed to their holy temple site on the mountain at Leicester where they feasted and prayed.
Rasta Keita, the Rastafarians secretary general, told Awoko at the Victoria Park that they were commemorating as a result of what God told Moses to write the history of the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt so it could be observed by the children’s children could do it as a feast of the Passover.
He said the commemoration started with a fasting on April 1 to yesterday 14 where they all assembled for prayers and then visited their holy mountain at Leicester.
“Rastafarianism has existed ever since the creation of man and the worship of God has existed since that creation, so Rastafarianism existed ever since”, he said.
Rasta Keita did not give the strength of their fellowship as he said Rastas existed everywhere not significantly meaning those with dreadlocks.
He said what they were preaching about was peace, love and oneness.
Why they were glorifying Emperor Hailie Gebresellasie 1, he answered “because he is the living manifestation of Christ. The Christ in the man Jesus is the spirit in this man Haile Selassie with the name written king of kings and lords of lords and even the lions guiding the kings. So you want a white god, stone god, no we got a living god, a man we know the only face high man feels and lives in the flesh and the bone that they seem he should see and we know our prophet.”
Glorifying Jah during their prayers they exalted Jah to have “mercy upon this your congregation according to your lovely kindness, according to the multitude of your tender mercy both beyond the hidden transgression and iniquities and give wisdom and water the Eden with snow and make him hear you with happiness and with clean heart and take not thy holy spirit on the Eden and restore to the Eden the joy of salvation”