Dr Robbie Shilliam, Senior Lecturer in International Relations in the School of Politics & IR, has contributed to a major exhibition on the RasTafari movement, at The Ethiopian National Museum and Institute of Ethiopian Studies at Addis Ababa University (AAU).
Dr Shilliam was part of the team that provided the exhibition with material charting the links between the United Kingdom and the RasTafari movement, including photographs never previously published. The exhibition, Ras Tafari: The Majesty and the Movement, which opened on 25th May, focuses on experiences and events that shaped the life of Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia and the movement that took his name as crown prince - Ras Tafari.
The collection of cultural items, art, photos, videos, music, and more, covers topics including the Transatlantic Slave Trade, Ethiopianism, Garveyism, Repatriation, the Role of RasTafari Women, traditional RasTafari drums and chants, reggae music, and more. The exhibition offers unique learning opportunities through an extensive compilation of research materials, conferences, concerts, cultural celebrations, films, and other programs exploring the diverse and unique histories and development of RasTafari around the world.
It will run until 24th June at the National Museum and plans are being formulated to subsequently take the exhibition to Ghana in 2015. The UK team also plans to deliver an exhibition on a similar theme in the UK in 2015. Dr Shilliam’s work received funding from the School of Politics & IR and support from the Black Cultural Archives.