Along with other scheduled days of events, the government of the Virgin Islands hosted a solemn and spirited Ras Tafari Day Ceremony July 23, officially honoring the Rastafarian community that follows the life, leadership, and legacy of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia. The event was held with dignity and cultural reverence, drawing community leaders, clergy, and citizens to recognize this significant day in African and Caribbean heritage. Gov. Albert Bryan, Jr. made a formal public apology to them for the decades of persecution and prosecution endured based on their physical appearance, along with their cultural and religious practices, including the use of cannabis as a spiritual sacrament. The ceremony included Rastafarian drumming, chanting, prayers and song, including the Ethiopian national anthem. The event was gracefully led by Mistress of Ceremonies Damali Rogers, who guided the program with poise and purpose. The invocation was delivered by Mr. Tafari Tzaddi, Minister of the Ancient Divine Order of Nyahbinghi Church, setting a spiritual tone for the proceedings. Shikima Jones-Sprauve, St. John administrator, offered powerful renditions of the U.S. National Anthem, the Virgin Islands March, and a soulful delivery of the Black National Anthem, each stirring reflection on freedom, identity, and unity. Members of the Ancient Divine Order of Nyahbinghi Church, joined by attendees, led the singing of the Ethiopian National Anthem, linking the diaspora to its ancestral roots.

The highlight of the ceremony came with the official reading of the Ras Tafari Day Proclamation by Bryan, who also shared personal reflections on the contributions to the community’s health, cultural preservation, leadership, and the principles of love, unity, and respect for each other. “This is the most moving ceremony I ever had in Government House. We have to continue to promote Pan Africanism. We have to continue to promote black love. Do you know how beautiful it is to hear a black man say Empress to acknowledge the black Queens as Empress or any woman?” “When you grow up with love you take love for granted but when you go to Babylon and you go on the street and you drop down a man passes you like a dog. We still live in a place where people will help you. Now we got a lot of them taking out their phone when they see you’re hurt instead of calling the ambulance but that’s not who we are. I’m happy and honored that I had the privilege to sign and make this a reality,” said Bryan. Lt. Gov. Tregenza A. Roach delivered meaningful remarks, emphasizing the historical and spiritual importance of Emperor Haile Selassie I and his enduring influence on global Pan-African movements. “I want to first thank Governor Bryan for signing the proclamation into effect because in doing so he really says that this administration is one that respects the dignity of each person and the value of each member of this community and each component of this community who contribute to the life of the Virgin Islands. This is just not a proclamation issued one day. Our experience with this goes back far. We go back to traveling to Colorado together wit the minister,  Senator Nelson, myself and some other persons looking at this whole cannabis industry and having deep conversations about how do you reconcile making an industry where people will now make this tremendous amounts of money from cannabis and not respect and regard the community who has for decades told us about the sacred principles of this plant,” said Roach. The event concluded with closing remarks from Bryan and a reverent recitation of The Lord’s Prayer by Minister Tafari Tzaddi, bringing the gathering to a peaceful and joyful close.

The Ras Tafari Day Ceremony served as a testament to the Virgin Islands’ commitment to honoring the shared histories of its people and fostering a deeper understanding of African heritage and spiritual resilience. The group assembled in Roosevelt Park both before and after the official ceremony in Government House, then marched to the Emancipation Garden, reciting prayers and songs, where a community program was held, including speakers, the awarding of certificates, musical and poetic performances, as well as remarks from members of the Rastafarian community. Vendors who sold produce, food, drinks and Rastafari accessories were set up throughout the park. Amongst those honored were members of the Rastafarian community who had passed on, including Gene Emanuel, Jermaine Ras Koniyah Pemberton and others, as well as various members who are still living. From about quarter to midnight, ises (prayers) were held, which included drumming, singing and chanting. Also, on both the start and end of the various event days, the ises were held at the Bordeaux Farmers’ Market on St. Thomas as they closed one day in preparation for the next event to be held on St. John the following day.

“Rastafari is who kept I-and-I community and the whole Caribbean in remembrance of themselves that you are Africans first and foremost. We can’t change, neither does the leopard change spots on his back, so let us embrace I-and-I oneness, our culture, our identity, and let us show pride love and integrity that the Virgin Islands can move forward in righteousness. We give thanks to the honorable governor Albert Bryan Jr., the honorable lieutenant governor and his administration for vision and for courage and fortitude as we move forward as one Virgin Islands,” said Tzaddi.

A weeklong celebration marking the inaugural Virgin Islands Rastafari Day wrapped up Saturday on St. Croix, honoring the legacy, resilience, and spiritual traditions of the Rastafari community.

The official observance, held Wednesday, July 23, followed a proclamation signed by Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., which not only establishes Rastafari Day but also includes an official apology to the community for decades of oppression and religious persecution.

The celebration began with a Nyahbinghi Opening Ceremony on Tuesday at Serenity Nest, followed by a Rastafari Cultural Day on Wednesday at General Buddhoe Park. On Saturday, festivities continued with a motorcade and another Cultural Day at the Agriculture Department Fairgrounds.

At the cultural events, attendees gathered to share music, testimonies, and spiritual fellowship. On Saturday, local vendors showcased their products while live bands filled the air with vibrant sounds, creating a joyful and reflective atmosphere as the community celebrated under the evening sun.

Similar events also took place on St. Thomas and St. John.

A key aspect of the governor’s proclamation acknowledges the Rastafari community’s long-standing knowledge of the cannabis plant, particularly its health benefits and its sacramental use in spiritual ceremonies. The proclamation emphasizes that cannabis “brings them closer to the Almighty and His creation,” and aligns with Act No. 8680, signed into law on Jan. 18, 2023, which legalized the sacramental use of cannabis in the Virgin Islands.

“The stone that the builders refused has become the head cornerstone, and the main thread that holds the fabric of our community together. Although we were persecuted and prosecuted, we were still able to bring positive vibrations and help to lift the consciousness of our community on all levels,” said Tafari Tzaddi, president of the V.I. Rastafari Sacramental Cannabis Council Inc. and a minister in the Theocracy Reign of the Ancient Ivine Order of the Nyahbinghi.

The week of events was hosted by VIRSCC Inc., in collaboration with the Theocracy Reign of the Ancient Ivine Order of the Nyahbinghi and the Virgin Islands Rastafari community, in celebration of both Rastafari Day and the 133rd Earth Light (birthday) of Emperor Haile Selassie I.

A four-week program, hosted by the VI Architecture Center for Built Heritage and Crafts, was designed to build a social and climate-resilient history of architecture for approximately a dozen high school students on St. Croix. The course culminated Friday with presentations by the students about the curriculum and the model houses they built.

It was clear the students had formed bonds with each other and the staff as they excitedly explained their projects to an audience of family and friends. They also talked about the segments of the course.

“I enjoyed the field trips. They offered a more interactive way of learning – just being more engaged with the island itself,” Kianna Maldonado said.

Her brother, Eliasim Maldonado, said he liked learning about the indigenous plants and trees during the Featherleaf Inn field trip.

Aundre Dolcar said he liked learning some of the skills he will need to become an architectural engineer.

During the course, students learned trade skills, such as masonry, woodworking, architecture, engineering, drone photography and 3D printing. The instructors’ and interns’ goals were “to foster an understanding of how modern tools and traditional crafts can work together to preserve and sustain our rich cultural legacy,” according to the program overview.

The session on drones showed the students that a different perspective can be obtained with photos taken above the subject. The 3D printing class helped them create specific items used in old homes. They made doors, gingerbread patterns and mahogany furniture replicas to scale. One student from last year used the stipend he earned to purchase a 3D printer.

The final goal for students, working in groups of three, was to build a three-dimensional Crucian cottage using upcycled and sustainable materials to the specifications established by the instructors.

They used Popsicle sticks and pieces of galvanized metal for the exteriors. The resulting models of vernacular/ordinary homes included rooms with furniture and gingerbread details on the exteriors. One building included coconut trees with genip seeds as the fruit and another featured a hurricane-impacted building surrounded by “caution” tape.

Some of the core skills the students learned included reading an architectural ruler, understanding scale, drafting 101, LiDar scanning 101 and navigation. (According to IBM, LiDAR (light detection and ranging) is a remote sensing technology that uses laser beams to measure precise distances and movement in an environment.)

They also learned bushcraft and foraging. They had classes on communication, conflict resolution, planning and goal setting, and about the various careers in the building arts.

At the end of Friday’s demonstrations, students were presented with certificates of achievement. Each one accepted the certificates and applause appreciatively and several were excited to take the course again next year.

“It was an honor to work with these young people,” Amanda Sackey, VIAC program director, said, smiling broadly.

On the backs of giants like José Alberto Sánchez, a well-known fisherman who moved to St. Croix in the 1960s as a young boy from Fajardo, Puerto Rico, families gathered with children under 15 to participate in the free Handline Tournament in Christiansted. The event, hosted by the Golden Hook Fishing Club and the St. Croix Environmental Association, Saturday was a celebration of both community and tradition. Unlike many of the tournaments “Papa Sánchez” has won over the years catching over 800 pounds of fish, every child walked away a winner — receiving medals, hand lines, and for a few, their very own fishing rod, given away during the raffle, despite the smaller fish caught along the boardwalk, ranging from 0.5 oz. to 3 lbs. The duality of the sea — its love and the sustenance it has provided — dates back to when enslaved Africans used hand lines and traps to feed their families on these very islands. Today, although fishing rods are the most popular method, events like these continue to keep traditions alive in the territory. “The St. Croix Environmental Association was honored to be part of co-hosting this community tradition alongside Golden Hook Fishing Club! The Kids Handline Tournament, while tons of fun, is also about teaching our youth patience, confidence, and what a resilient community looks like,” said Olivia Walton, education coordinator for SEA. “For us at SEA, events like this are all about getting our kids outside and deepening their connection to the ocean that surrounds and sustains us, while sowing the seeds of food sovereignty.”