ለደት-The Rastafarian Christmas
Filed under: Inspire & motivate, News you won't find elsewhere, Religion, Spirituality for such a time, Topical issues
The following articel was originally published in the 24th December 2006 edition of The Sunday Mirror, Harare. The video depicts an Ethiopian hymn celebrating the Birth of Christ.
በተሳብ ቂዱስ The Blessed Virgin Maryam and Her Son
Lidät – the Rastafarian Christmas
Christmas as the saying goes, means different things to different people.
Even so, being the only Rastafarian in my wide circle of friends and family, my way of marking this occasion remains something of an enigma. I get many cards, and presents, but I never return the gesture. I also decline to attend Christmas parties. Then, in the first week of January, those of my people that are online get e-cards with the Amharic Greeting, Inkwan lalidätu baal badahna adarrasaw (lit. “Congratulations, to the Birth of Him the feast in safety He has brought you”)
And so, it emerges that Rastafarians do celebrate the Birth of Christmas, except that it’s not called Christmas and it’s not celebrated on the 25th of December. It is called Lidät, an Amharic word meaning “Birthday”. Because the Amharic language has its own alphabet, you will sometimes find this spelt as Ledet or Lidet as there is no standard transliteration in Western letters.
Already, it is clear from the name that the origin of this custom is Ethiopia, the spiritual home of Rastafari. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church, one of the oldest Christian Churches in the world, has been celebrating the Birth of Christ on the 7th of January long before European Christendom even came up with its own version of Christmas. In the light of the on-going controversy about the exact date, let me hasten to mention that the Orthodox Church does not claim that this was the day Jesus was born. Rather, the Feast was instituted by the Three Kings who arrived in Bethlehem on this day and paid homage to the Infant Christ.
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him,” Gospel of Matthew 2:1-2.
Further testament of the particular importance of Lidät is found in a prophecy of the visit if these Three Kings, dating from the time of the Patriarch Adam, who was given their gifts as a consolation after his expulsion from Eden.
“After these things God said to Adam, You asked Me for something from the garden, to be comforted therewith, and I have given you these three tokens as a consolation to you; that you trust in Me and in My covenant with you. For I will come and save you; and kings shall bring me when in the flesh, gold, incense and myrrh; gold as a token of My kingdom; incense as a token of My divinity; and myrrh as a token of My suffering and of My death. But, O Adam, put these by you in the cave; the gold that it may shed light over you by night; the incense, that you smell its sweet savour; and the myrrh, to comfort you in your sorrow,” I Adam and Eve 31: 1-3.
Tradition has it that Balthasar, one of the Three Kings, was from Ethiopia, and is often depicted as a Black man even in the West.
The Visit of the Three Kings in European Art.
In Ethiopia, Lidät is celebrated with a special service at church. The more devout will fast on the gahad (“Christmas Eve”), and the even more devout for 40 days prior. At home, a big feast is prepared. No tree, no snow, no mistletoe. The main decoration depicts the Manger scene, where the Three Kings pay homage to the Infant. Tradition has it that Balthasar, the Ethiopian King, brought the frankincense. And, only children get presents. On this day, children play a hockey-like game called Genna, from where we get the alternative name of the Feast.
It is easy to see why this version of Christmas appeals to the Rastafarian, quite apart from the fact that it signifies a return to an original, African Judaeo-Christian tradition. Lidät is there in the Bible! It is not corrupted by the materialism, debauchery and the occult overtones of the Western Christmas. In fact, when we look upon the rest of society taking part in Christmas, we see what goes on as proof of what has become an established teaching of the various Rastafarian movements- that the world is ruled by a Luciferian political and economic Order, and that what is now commonly called “Christianity” (derisively called the “Ghost-spell”) is a tool to control the masses, and deny them their heritage.
One has only to look at the millions of human beings slaving in Asian sweat-shops for less than a dollar a day- generating US$32b- so that the European child can have the latest MP3 player to see that this Christmas does not convey goodwill to all Mankind. This child is told that the gift came from Santa Claus, whose address is always given as the North Pole, and was made by his elves. To celebrate Christmas on Western terms is therefore to condone, sustain, even, such a system. This is why I won’t attend the Christmas parties.
In Zimbabwe, celebration of this Christmas by African people is no more than active cooperation in this same global political system’s continuing operation to suck wealth from this country, for the benefit of other people. And what do we get out of it- no money for school fees in January!
Many have asked me why I have continued to observe Lidät, despite the scorn and condemnation that is often poured on me even by friends and family and despite the fact that I am often alone. But, I know the nature of that which I have embraced, and also of that which I have rejected. So, there can be no question that I can be detracted, especially not by people who do not have a clue what Christmas is really about.
O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off, Nahum 1:15.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God,” Romans 12:2.
As I said, Christmas means different things to different people. For some, it is about spending US dollars, the loot of deals in the parallel economy, on the latest gadgets and trinkets. For some, the urge to spend all the bonus on booze and women will once again prove irresistible.
But for the Rastafarian, it is a time to not only celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour in the manner prescribed by tradition, but to reflect on this event in the context of the original prophecy as told to our father Adam, and the expectations of the time of the manifestation of God not only as Priest but King, which the Emperor Haile Selassie has fulfilled. Next year in September, according to the Ethiopian calendar, begins the new Millenium. Just as we use A.D. to denote dates in the Western calendar, they are called Amet Meherit ( the year of Mercy).
So, this year is the 1999th Year of Mercy. This, to the Rastafarian, says that despite all the disasters that have befallen Mankind, there is still purpose and beauty in life because of the Mercy that our Creator has shown us. Could a more precious gift be asked for?
ማልካም ባአል ሁሉ (Malkam Baal hulu -Happy Holiday to you all!)
Ethiopian hymn celebrating the Birth of Christ
Use your talents
Filed under: How Zimbabwe can be better, Inspire & motivate
Its so amazing that each and every one of us has something peculiar to us. Think about the fact that of the seven billion people that are inhabiting the world today, there is no single person who has finger prints like anyone else’s. That indeed is a miracle, a mystery that we can never be able to decode.
But thats not what I want to share with you fellow Zimbabweans. What I want to share with you is the peculiar thing we all posess- different talents.
One person has a very good voice whilst the next person is a powerful business administrator who can turn businesses right side up. We all have different talents, our strengths, things that we are good at.
I recently did an interview with one of the country’s upcoming musician who at a tender age of 19 has released an album, won numerous awards and perfomed in the United States. The question that he evoked in me was how at a tender age he has done what others have failed to do? I expected an arrogant statement, ‘I have worked hard for it.’ No, I was in for a surprise, ‘I have concentrated on my talent and did things that I liked doing,’ was his simple answer Read more
Student life
Filed under: How Zimbabwe can be better, Inspire & motivate, Zimbabwean diaries
The sun sets so beautifully into the horizon. The ordinary person marvels at the wonder of the glory of God, yet to the student who is at a university that is about to close its doors, who slept on an empty stomach yesterday, the setting of the sun does not signify anything. All he askes is a simple innocent question, ‘Is God mverled at my pain?’
This year I am certainly praising God for making me able to pay US$2500 for my college tuition which with current situation that our country is in is a fortune. As I praise God I know there is someone who is cursing the blessing of the burning syndrome that made his poor parents afford to send him to one of Zimbabwe’s most expensive universities. Why shouldn’t he, when his school fees drained everything from their coofers that all they could manage to give their son for school was a little forex which today seems to be also affected by the sporadic runaway inflation that has brougth our country down? Read more
Obama’s win should make Africa stop & ponder
Filed under: How Zimbabwe can be better, Inspire & motivate, Politics
Right here in Africa we have our own Obamas, men and women who if you hear or read their thoughts you feel inspired to change all the wrongs in your nation. Such men and women if given the chance to realize their vision of Africa could change Africa to be a nation to reckon with.
All that Africa needs to do is discover such charismatic leaders and groom them to takeover leadership democratically at a later stage. But then Africa, being Africa instead of supporting such people so that they can bloom to their full potential feel threatened by them and so frustrate them or spread lies that undermine them. Usually the end result is such men of potential deciding to immigrate to other countries were their intelligence can be appreciated. This explains the brain-drain Africa experiences, year after year.
One such inspirational and charismatic leader whom we can compare to Obama is Jeremiah Kure; he is a professional working in the corporate governance arena, based in Johannesburg. He is the founder of the Heights We Must Climb movement and a firm believer in a progressive Africa; an Africa not tied to her stereotyped past but one that is steadily reclaiming her dignity and potential in the global space. He is 33 years old. Read more
The source of selflessness
Filed under: Family, Friendship, Community, Inspire & motivate, Spirituality for such a time
Hello!
Phanuel Muverengwi here…
I hope that I find you in the best of health.
In my previous installment I asked the question: WHY DO YOU WANT TO LIVE LONG? I argued in the installment that there are people who live long, in terms of number of years, yet their long lives benefit nobody. I also argued that some people have lived very short lives but managed to bring lots of benefits to others in that short space of time. I might just as well argue that the short lives lived by such people are in reality longer than the long lives lived by some, in terms of value.
I went on to state that a truly rewarding life is one spent in selflessness, not selfishness. Before departing, I asked you a question which goes, “What is the single attribute without which one cannot be selfless?” I hope that you now have the answer to this question. Read more
Learn the seven laws of money
Filed under: Books & literature, I was just thinking, Inspire & motivate
It has since been established that in truth money is not the root of all evil, but rather a necessary tool of exchange that allows men and woman to trade goods and services and that money is also a tool that can improve the life of anyone who handles it well.
In Zimbabwe, people burn money but it does not light up in flames but rather it multiplies itself.
It is not actually money that is the root of all evil, but the love of money. Read more
Barack Obama victory speech
4th November 2008, Grant Park, Illinois, Chicago
Hello, Chicago.
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
It’s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference. Read more
Bury yourself in a good book
Over the years there have been concerns about the waning interests of Zimbabweans in their reading culture and it is believed that people mostly read for exams but other than that, they do not find it worthwhile to bury themselves in a good book. Although people are turning their back on reading, knowledge which is derived from reading books is power. Read more
Why do you want to live long?
Filed under: Inspire & motivate, Spirituality for such a time
A man lying on his deathbed says, “I wish God would give me more years.” Even people who are not Christians begin to talk about God the moment they realize that they are dying.
When people celebrate a colleague’s or relative’s birthday, they always say, “We wish you many more years to come.”
If someone asked you how long you would live if you had a choice you most probably would reply, “Forever.”
People generally want to live long. The aged want to live long. The young want to live long. People are generally agreed that it is better to live long than die early. They have managed to define WHAT they want. Read more
How God arrested me
Filed under: Inspire & motivate, Spirituality for such a time
To say the truth, I was completely puzzled when God arrested me.
It had never come to my mind that God was all this time trailing me. You might be in the same situation today. You’ve got to keep in mind that God is trailing you and will not give up on you. But you need to come to a point of being attentive for you to hear and heed the call. If you become too busy about too many things you might miss that which is most important to you. I will walk you through my personal experience just to prove that there are several ways that God could get hold of straying people.
I graduated from the University of Zimbabwe in 1991 after obtaining a Bsc. Honours Degree in Economics. When I was still at college I thought that I would get a job soon after completing my studies. I became even more convinced about this when I passed well in the final examinations; I do not, however, mean that passing well was a new experience for me. Read more
On The Zimbo Jam- Alick Macheso- Lucky Guitarist or Musical Genius?By Memory Chirere Although many Zimbabwean music lovers are agreed that Alick Macheso is the King of Sungura, the Zimbabwean brand of Rhumba, that is as far as the agreement will go. As Masimba Kuchera admits in an article on the Chesopower website, ‘there have been many schools of thought on the (real) strength of Macheso- some arguing about his skills with the bass guitar, some contending that it is his vocals and others proffering his dancing skills, it is generally agreed that the musician is of immense talent.’ When people agree that you are extremely talented but go on to debate hotly about exactly whether your strength lies in theway you walk or the way you run, then that is a mark of genius. You actually put people in a crisis of naming aspects of a phenomenon.
- A Dance Farewell for Isabel MatolaBy Ruvimbo Hope Masike Here is one of the most beautiful things about Zimbabwe. It is inimitably Zimbabwean. We Zimbabweans love peace, of course, among other things. We love fun, joy and we are naturally celebratory people even when there isn’t much to celebrate about. For instance young children jump around joyously chanting “Ndege! Ndege!” when an aeroplane passes over them. Now when there is something worthy of the celebration, the joy is electric, understandably so, considering how almost everything else around us is seemingly dull and confusing and uninspiringly so. As a result, when Isabel Matola’s Mozambique Dance Festival came by, it turned out to be one of the brightest lights in town, which was a well deserved acclaim.
- Kanda Bongo Man Lands in Harare With One Guitar[Herald] France-based rhumba maestro Kanda Bongo Man had just one guitar when he set out to perform at the Harare International Conference Centre on Wednesday evening, and his day was saved by a local musician who offered him his instruments on the 11th hour to avert what could have turned out to be an international disaster.
- Alick Macheso- Lucky Guitarist or Musical Genius?
