Greetings on this 20th of April, on the day some celebrate as 420, aka the day for smoking ganja.

As Rastafari, our link with ganja as a hola herb is undeniable. Whether individuals use it or not, notable Elders and Founders of the Movement of Rastafari have used ganja, as well as ancient foremothers and fathers. And the healing uses for ganja are well documented and span a large variety of positive uses. 

So let's look at this celebration of 420. Is it really 420 we should be selahbrating or is it 4/21, April 21st? 

The idea of 420 is of unknown origin. Some say it comes from a group of students who would meet at 4:20pm after their classes and smoke some herb. Some people actually think it is Bob Marley's birthday but this is incorrect as we know our Brother Robert Nesta was born on 6 February and passed from this physical form on 11 May. So 420 has no link to Bob Marley. In short the meaning of 420 is mercurial. 

4/21 on the other hand is a truly momentous day. On 21 April 1966, Emperor Haile Selassie I visited Jamaica and was greeted at the airport by multitudes, including many faithful Rastafari.

For these beloved brothers and sisters, this was literally seeing the Most High face to face. Imagine, seeing JAH with your own eyes, after years, decades of singing and chanting for exactly this.

The meaning of that visit does not end there, however. While in Jamaica, Ras Tafari The King of Kings would meet with several individuals in person, including Prince Emmanuel Charles Edwards the leader of the Rastafari Bobo Ashanti house.

The Emperor gave a speech during his visit to Jamaica, which I cannot include in its entirety because of the limitations of this venue. His Majesty speaks:

"Upon arrival in Jamaica I have seen more than I have expected. I have seen the progress of the people and I have seen their determination to march forward in unity towards greater progress. I have also witnessed personally the extent of the feeling of the Jamaican people for the Ethiopian people.

Again I wish to take this opportunity of expressing my thanks to the Government and people of Jamaica for the wonderful reception that was accorded to me.

Our relations with the Jamaican people, as I have said already, is not of present origin. At a time when the Ethiopian people bore aggression, harsh aggression, the people of Jamaica showed their concern and sympathy to the Ethiopian people and have in this way provided us with encouragement regarding which the Ethiopian people shall be forever grateful.

Since I arrived in Jamaica, I was able to witness myself that these feelings of sympathy that had existed then have continued, and even now there is a greater desire to establish a closer relation with the people of Ethiopia.

The relations, in a broader sense, between the people of Jamaica and the people of Ethiopia and Africa are deep and abiding. We have all struggled for independence and have achieved it now. Because we are people dedicated to the achievement of our independence. we have attained an objective that Is the basis for continued mutual cooperation and goodwill.

In addition to this there is a bond of gratitude, a bond of brotherhood.

The people of Jamaica, by and large, have originated in Africa. This again gives us another basis upon which we can contract a healthy relation, a relation that is not only going to be useful to our respective peoples but a relation, because of the fundamental similarity between us, that will in the long run contribute to a better maintenance of international peace and security.

In addition to this both the people of Jamaica and the people of Ethiopia are dedicated to another cause, that is the cause of progress and prosperity. Here again the struggle we have to undergo, the difficulties we must all overcome, and the programmer we must adopt have much similarity. Thus I say the people of Jamaica and Ethiopia have much in common and these common factors can be used as the basis for even stronger relations between our two peoples

The people of African origin have immigrated to many parts of the world. Some of them have come to Jamaica; others to other parts of the world. But wherever they may be they have similar historical experiences and the problems that await them depend on sympathy, and this can be used by all of us as the basis for the establishment of greater cooperation which will be for our mutual benefit.

In addition to this I also believe that the peoples of Jamaica and Ethiopia have another important cause in common, that is the cause of international peace. For much more than means of warfare, the violation of peace somewhere, must be discouraged to prevent the utter devastation of the human race. We have as an important concern that there should not be a violation of international peace and security.

[...]

From another fundamental point of view this is why the organization of African Unity has been established. It is because the African continent, which comprises more than 250 million people, were it to remain divided among more than 30 states, their individual voices would not carry weight. It is precisely why, since there is an identity of interest, we have attempted to include Jamaica also, so that we can carry this weight in the councils of nations, and also through the process of co-operation and expanded economic relations we might be in a position to quicken the pace of development of the individual member countries of the Organization of African Unity.

Because the African people are dedicated to the cause of the maintenance of peace, because the African people are determined that there should be that material progress for their people, and because the African people believe in the essential precepts of democracy, these are the foundations of the Organization of African Unity. An organization that is based on such a solid foundation can only bring success to all its endeavours which will be for the interest and benefit of the African people, and perhaps also the interest of other peoples.

From the same point of view l say the similarity of fundamental national interest between our two peoples, that is our good friendship that has always existed, must be allowed to deepen, must expand the areas of material and full cooperation in all ways possible.

[...]

I would broadly say wherever there is African blood there is a basis for greater unity. We must also help each other in our endeavours to expand education, to raise the standard of living of our respective peoples. To this end we wish to signify the appreciation of the sentiments held by the Jamaican people for the Ethiopian people and as a manifestation of our sincere friendship, within our very limited means, we have made an agreement with the Jamaican Government to establish a school for Jamaicans here. I am confident that all the preliminary procedures will be concluded so that the construction of the school will commence within the near future.

Lastly, may God give wisdom and His blessings to the people of Jamaica. Thank you."

The utterances of Ras Tafari reach into the hearts of all of us who love peace and humanity.

It is not wrong to celebrate 420. Yet 4/21, what we call Grounation Day, the day Haile Selassie I arrived to meet his beloved followers in Jamaica, is the day we Selahbrate. 

Rastafari

Everliving JAH

🇯🇲🇪🇹 Happy Grounation Day 🇪🇹🇯🇲