Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Sizzla - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographerand

Munga Honourable during his performance at the Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest 2007 'Explosion' in Montego Bay.- Claudine Housen/Staff Photographer

As the start of the Ethiopian Millennium began in a shower of red, green and gold on Tuesday September 11, so too opens a new era of unity among the Rastafarian community.

As the global Rastafarian community joined with Ethiopia and Africa to celebrate the new millennium, so too did the 13 mansions of the Rastafari community join together to form the Ethio-Africa Diaspora Union Millennium Council (EADUMC). According to Ras Junior Manning, the council's chairman, "the council is an executive of over 13 mansions come together to deal with Rastafarian activities. One of the main objectives is the millennium and the function for that was held at the Mandela Park".

the 13 mansions of Rastafari

At the function the 13 mansions of Rastafari - Nyahbinghi Ancient Council, 12 Tribes of Israel, School of Vision, Royal Ethiopian Judah Coptic Church, Haile Selassie Theocracy Government, Ethiopian Orthodox Organisation, David House, International Peacemakers, Camp David, Ethiopian World Federation and Leonard Howell Foundation - all came together.

According to Manning, the aim of the council is to speak with one voice, to take Rastafari in one direction, the objective being to sensitise and educate not just Rastas, but the world on issues important to them and to build a strong unity among the mansions. Among the major objectives are reparation and repatriation, formalisation of the Ancient Council and intellectual property and economic empowerment.

In terms of intellectual property and economic empowerment, over the years businessmen, anthropologists, musicians, videographers and others have dealt informally with various groups of Rastafari for cultural and financial gain, with no benefits accruing to the members of the faith as a collective.

Manning explains that "we know the situation where people use our colours, our words. When you look in the Jamaican advertising system you see the red, gold and green, some form of Rasta. You see it when they use it at Sumfest and Sunsplash. The Rastas might perform, but the Rastas aren't really the ones benefiting. You have words such as 'irie', 'iPod' phone; is Rasta business again. We start the 'I-ness'. We have not claimed what we create. We want to protect our image, when we look and see things like a gangsta Rasta, Rasta don't promote gangsta".

In order to do this, the the council has been in touch with the World Intellectual Property Organisation. According to www.wipo.int, "the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations. It is dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international intellectual property (IP) system which rewards creativity, stimulates innovation and contributes to economic development while safeguarding the public interest. WIPO's vision is that IP

(intellectual property) is an important tool for the economic, social and cultural development of all countries. This shapes its mission to promote the effective use and protection of IP worldwide".

The EADUMC hopes to set a standard for Rastafari with the help of the WIPO that everyone worldwide would have to follow.

The Millennium Ceremony at Livity Restaurant, Haining Road, New Kingston, on September 11, was the first forum designed to sensitise the nation. According to Manning, entertainers such as Sizzla Kalonji, Tony Rebel and Ini Kamoze have been

instrumental, helping to give sponsorship to the cause. Manning claimed "Sizzla Kalonji must be commended as a true solider for the cause.

However, not all entertainers have met to their approval, including Munga Honourable, the self-proclaimed 'Gangsta Ras' who they believe gives a wrong impression of Rasta. Munga, however, told The Sunday Gleaner that there is nothing wrong in his image as the gangsta ras, for gangsta is not necessarily a bad thing.

He said "I think I'm miscalculated and misjudged because I do portray the hardcore. Rasta should not be limited in vocabulary or life in general. Mi nah tek on no limitation, we can use 100 words; at the end of the day its a choice.We have our point to get across. We (Rasta artistes) perform for audiences of different genres, different beliefs and there should be no limitation in topic or words".

Singer Tarrus Riley he can see the point behind the council's cause and he stated that Rasta, Africa and Jamaica should benefit from the intellectual property rights of Rastafarianism. "The money made off these tings should be given to di people who dem tings are indigenous to, who defend di faith, but for dat to happen it would have to be strict. All of us have to organise and centralise, physically, mentally and financially," he said.

As a singer, words are his medium to bring the message across to the people. And according to Manning, there are many entertainers who have supported the Council, but those that aren't should be doing more for Rastafari, as the Millennium Council's purpose is to protect the cultural sovereignty and intellectual property for Rastafarians locally and globally.