Members of the Rastafarian community in western Jamaica were at the forefront of yesterday’s protest in Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay, St James, which was staged to show solidarity with Burkina Faso’s leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. Traoré has been the target of several recent assassination attempts, orchestrated by outside agitators opposed to his style of leadership.
Wesley Kelly, the high priest of the Haile Selassie Jah Rastafari Royal Ethiopian Judah Coptic Church, who was among the protesters and declared himself an unapologetic admirer of Traoré’s people-centre leadership style, is urging the leaders of Jamaica’s two main political parties to take cues from him in pushing forward the people’s agenda of liberation.
Against the backdrop of Rastafarians chanting messages of African unity and waving Pan-African flags in paying homage to the 37-year-old Traoré, whom they described as a symbol of resistance against neo-colonialism and Western interference in African affairs, Kelly said Jamaican leaders need to follow his example.
“The work of leaders [here in Jamaica] must be to take a page out of Ibrahim Traoré’s book that he has written, the changing of the guard to liberate our motherland and our fatherland,” Kelly told The Gleaner.
“Jamaica is the fatherland of African dependents and Africa, Ethiopia, is our motherland. So, we in this island home, the island in the sun, must agitate for our rights,” said Kelly. “We are here to celebrate and to uphold the work of Ibrahim Traoré. We are in support of the president for the liberation of our black mother country, Africa.”
PRAISES
Another Rastafarian elder, who goes by the name ‘Teacher’, also took time out of his chanting to heap praise on Traoré, describing him as the leader who will liberate Africa from “the clutches of the white colonisers around the world”.
“We are here to support the brethren who have fought against France, European [nations] and colonialism in order to save his country’s gold, reform his country’s education [system] and [protect] other resources for his country,” said Teacher.
“We plan to keep our resources, our gold, and our intellect for our children and tribes. All the countries now in Africa, one by one for the last two weeks, are kicking out the imperialist, the colonialist and the militaries, and claiming resources for their people,” he added.
A similar protest was seen yesterday afternoon taking place across the street from the United States Embassy in St Andrew.
In a post on the social media platform X on Wednesday, Traoré, who ousted former interim President Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, acknowledged the support of African dependents and Rastafarians worldwide.
“I would like to express my gratitude to all the peace-loving, freedom-loving patriots and Pan-Africanists who rallied around the world on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 to support our commitment and our vision for a new Burkina Faso and a new Africa, free from imperialism and neo-colonialism,” Traoré said.
“Your active solidarity and this demonstration of sympathy strengthens our conviction that the fight we are waging for a fairer and more equitable world is justified,” he added.
Since taking office, Traoré has championed a bold agenda aimed at distancing Burkina Faso from its former colonial ruler, France, while promoting national sovereignty, economic self-reliance, and cultural identity.
