Iyahblazze will perform at charity concert marking Haile Selassie's coronation. - File

Western Bureau:

The local Rastafarian community will be celebrating the 79th anniversary of the November 2, 1930 coronation of His Imperial Majesty (HIM) Haile Selassie I next Monday with a cultural concert at the Bob Marley Museum, in Kingston, starting at 6 p.m.

The event, which is a joint project between Livity Vegetarian Restaurant and Roots Foundation, is being staged to raise funds to assist both the Haile Selassie High School and the Ethiopian Orthodox Cathedral Building Fund - two institutions highl-revered by Rastafarians.

"On July 23, 2008, we hosted a similar charity concert, raising $100,000 for the Haile Selassie High School," said Denise 'Roots' Miller, a member of the organising group. "That amount was handed over to the school one week after the event."

raising funds

According to Miller, Livity Vegetarian Restaurant and Roots Foundation have made an annual commitment to use July 23 (Haile Selassie's birthday) to raise funds for the Haile Selassie High School and November 2 (HIM coronation day) to raise funds for the Ethiopian Orthodox Cathedral Building Fund.

"We did not host an event for July 23 this year because of the unavailability of a suitable venue," said Miller. "So this Monday's event will be a two-in-one event. The proceeds will be split 50-50 for both the church and the school."

As is customary, the event will give patrons a chance to get an up-close exposure to Rastafarian livity - food, art, music and history. The organiser said it would be a family-friendly event and she is urging parents to take along their children for the experience.

The entertainment package, which will have Miller as master of ceremony, will feature artistes such as Nelly Stharre, Empress, Keteis Oyonde, Iyahblazze, Errol Bonnick and the veteran Bongo Herman. All the artistes, including two major surprise guest artistes, will be backed by the Lion's Den band.

To ensure there will be no drop in momentum between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m., the designated duration of the event, top sound systems will be on hand to deliver an offering of what the promoters said would be appropriate music.

"The event is for a worthy cause so we are inviting the support of the general public," said Miller. "It will be educational and entertaining."