A long-time dream of many Rastafari and Garveyites in Jamaica is for repatriation to Africa. Some have made that dream over the years since the idea took root a reality and in 1969, after a gift of 700 acres of land from Emperor Haile Selassie, Shashamane, Ethiopia became the focal point of that dream.

Published Saturday, September 6, 1969

Mission off to develop 700 acres in Ethiopia

A mission from the Ethiopian World Federation Inc Association of Jamaica left Kingston by air on September 5 en route to Ethiopia to introduce a programme for the development of some 700 acres of land at Shashamane, reported given to the Federation by Emperor Haile Selassie.

Leaving by Pan Am jet to New York were Messrs Solomon Wolf (leader), Frederick Pryce, Gerald Brissett, Zeptah Malcolm, Mrs. Malcom’s 8-year old daughter Ophia and Mrs. Carmen Clarke.

Another member of the mission, Mr. B.J. Moodie, is expected to join them in New York shortly where the mission will be having discussion with the Ethiopian Ambassador there before proceeding to Addis Ababa.

The mission was seen off by several well-wishers and relatives headed by Mr. H.A. Brown, chairman of the Ethiopian World Federation Inc Association of Jamaica Fund Raising Committee.

A spokesman said the Federation was founded primarily to bring about repatriation of its members to Africa, the home of their ancestors.

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