Conneal McMear Christian, who now goes by the moniker, High Priest Selah, a leader in the Nyabinghi Rastafarian Order, is the newly appointed Ambassador to the Rastafarian community, replacing the late King Frank I Tafari.
The Prime Minister expressed full confidence in the new ambassador, noting that he had personally recommended him for the role.
The new High Priest and ambassador offered heartfelt words of gratitude:
“We give thanks for that for this honour.”
He reflected on the significance of the role, emphasizing the Rastafari community’s deep spiritual and cultural connection to Ethiopia. “Just like how Mecca is to the Islamic people, so is Ethiopia to us,” he explained.
He underscored Ethiopia’s unique historical position as the only African nation to resist colonial domination and maintain an unbroken dynasty for over 3,000 years. Highlighting its role in the establishment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), he praised Ethiopia as a beacon of liberation across the continent.
The ambassador also took the opportunity to commend Prime Minister Browne for his international leadership in defending the rights of indigenous people. He recalled attending conferences with the Transnational Institute, where PM Browne was applauded for his work respecting and apologizing to the Rastafari community for historical injustices, including marginalization and violence.
“Out of all the leaders in the world, it’s the prime minister alone who respected the indigenous people… and apologized for atrocities committed against them.”
In a powerful and moving segment on Saturday’s Browne and Browne show, High Priest Selah led the group in a spiritual invocation to mark African Liberation Day and to honor Denise Charles’ symbolic liberation from decades of absence. His prayer was a deep call for divine guidance and healing—for Denise, for the community, and for the nation.
With poetic rhythm and sacred language, the prayer called for the hungry to be fed, the naked clothed, the sick nourished, and the aged protected. It was a message of love, justice, and faith. He spoke of deliverance from enemies and the hope for fruitfulness in a world facing trials. With references to the “King of Kings” and the “Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah,” the prayer placed the entire gathering within a spiritual and Pan-Africanist framework, blending religious reverence with social responsibility.
