Rasta Christ-mas held in The Bahamas

Nassau,Bahamas - The Rastafari community celebrated Christ-mas, pronounced as "Christ" and "mass", honoring the birth of Christ this January 7, along with the Eastern Orthodox churches of the world.  In the Bahamas, the Bobo Shanti held a feast at its Fire Trail Road east camp, where Rastas as well as other visitors joined in the all night celebrations.

The Bobo Shanti's church is called the Ethiopia Africa Black International Congress True Church of Divine Salvation (E.A.B.I.C.), and the Christ-mas service is one of the most important in its churchical calendar.  The service began at 8pm with the opening hymn: "Hark the Herald Angels Sing", which was followed by seven psalms and then the continuation of hymns for Christ-mas such as "O Come O Come Emmanuel".  The Bobo Shanti host their celebration services much longer than the average church, as their service can continue until the sun rises, at which time it ends only for the morning roll call service and Psalms reading, held each morning at 6am.  The all night service includes the singing of what many refer to as Negro spirituals, with choruses such as: "A little more oil in my lamp", "Roll River Jordan roll", and "I'm gonna lay down my burdens, down by the riverside".

Each celebration is a chance for the Rastas to renew their call to the government to act swiftly for their cause, which they say is righteous, therefore deserving of government attention.  E.A.B.I.C. Ambassador Hon. Priest Rithmond McKinney said the government can expect to receive formal petition from the church's Bahamas branch in the coming months, with a renewed call for the government to assist in the church's efforts to repatriate to Africa.  Priest Rithmond, has been agitating to the government with official communication since the early 1990's shortly after the visit of Queen Elizabeth II, and after his return from a tour of east and west Africa, culminating in his appeal to the African Union in Addis Ababa.  Since then, the Bahamas Branch has grown significantly in membership.

The building of a new tabernacle is almost complete, and other facilities are being erected at the camp grounds on Fire Trail Road.  However, they are only for the sake of having a proper and standard place of worship until the day of repatriation, of which the Rastas say, is sure.  They are so confident in this aim, using the Bible for reference, pointing out that they are the same Isrealites taken into captivity from times of old, who were told to hearken to the call to return to their home, being Africa the motherland.  If the people will so, the Rastas say, God will make all things possible just as he did for Moses as he led the Isrealites out of bondage.

The E.A.B.I.C. reveres the Holy Trinity as a Prophet, Priest and King, noting that this was revealed in the transfiguration, when the disciples opened their sleeping eyes to see Moses the Priest, Elijah the Prophet, and Christ the King communing together on the mountaintop. In this day and time, the Bobo Shanti sees King Emmanuel 7 as the High Priest, for he is the one who established their church; Rt. Hon. Marcus Mosiah Garvey as the Prophet, for he is the one who rallied millions of black people on an Africa mission; and Emperor Haile Selassie as King, for he sat on the throne of King David and was crowned "King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Elect of God, and Light of the World.  The Rastas also revere Empress Menen, referred to as Queen Omega, Empress of Ethiopia noted for her humility, generosity and faithfulness to the church.

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