Haile Selassie I in Haiti: Meeting of Two Black Thrones

“From the highlands of Africa to the shores of the Caribbean, freedom knows no color, only courage.”

Official Visit to Haiti: April 25–30, 1966

Host: President François “Papa Doc” Duvalier
Cities visited: Port-au-Prince

A Historic Encounter

Haile Selassie was received in Haiti as royalty meeting royalty. President Duvalier gave him one of the grandest welcomes ever witnessed in the Caribbean, with full military honors, parades, and state ceremonies.

“This is the meeting of two great Black nations who have never bowed before colonial rule.”
— Haitian press during the visit

Symbolism & Spiritual Meaning

Both Ethiopia and Haiti represented Black sovereignty, anti-colonial strength, and spiritual resistance.
Many Haitians saw Haile Selassie not only as a political leader but as a divinely ordained emperor, and a fulfillment of Black prophecy.
Rastafari followers, even those in Haiti, marked this as a powerful moment of confirmation of His Majesty’s global significance.

Key Highlights of the Visit:

1. Reception at Champs de Mars

Huge crowds filled the square as thousands of Haitians greeted the Lion of Judah.
Streets were decorated with Ethiopian and Haitian flags.

2. State Banquet and Decorations

Haile Selassie awarded Duvalier the Order of Solomon, one of Ethiopia’s highest honors.
In return, he received Haiti’s Grand Croix of the National Order of Honor and Merit.

3. Visit to National Heroes Memorial

Laid a wreath at monuments honoring Toussaint Louverture, Dessalines, and other Haitian revolutionaries.

4. Cultural Exchange

Participated in cultural performances, including vodou drumming, poetry, and dance.
Emphasized the role of Black heritage and resilience in both nations’ survival and glory.

Lasting Legacy:

Marked one of the most Pan-African diplomatic events in 20th-century history.
Strengthened ties between Caribbean nations and the African continent.
Inspired Rastafarian communities in Haiti and Jamaica, affirming His Majesty’s global message of unity, peace, and spiritual freedom.

Global Impact

This visit occurred just days before his famous landing in Jamaica, making it part of a powerful Caribbean tour in 1966. The sequence of Haiti → Jamaica gave both nations a historic stamp of African solidarity.

Emperor Haile Selassie I in Haiti