Discovering Haile Selassie

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 01:58:00 GMT

Discovering Haile Selassie with Lemn Sissay and Asfa-Wossen Asserate

Tuesday 8 March, 7.00pm (approximate running time one hour)

Entry: £3.00 (£1.50 concessions)

Venue: Diamond Jubilee Lecture Theatre, The Business School

As part of the Huddersfield Literature Festival, one of Britain’s best-loved poets and the great-nephew of Haile Selassie discuss their shared heritage of Ethiopia and the man who was its most famous emperor. A descendant of King Soloman and an early proponent of African unity and independence, Selassie fought with the Allies in the Second World War and is considered a messiah by Rastafarians.

Lemn Sissay 2 Lemn Sissay MBE (pictured left) is a celebrated poet, playwright, broadcaster and our Festival Patron. Raised in care, he discovered his Ethiopian heritage as an adult.

Dr Asfa-Wossen Aserate (pictured right) is the author of King of Kings: The Triumph and Tragedy of Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. Having spent his childhood in Ethiopia before fleeing Asfa Wossen the ‌1974 ‌Revolution, he now lives in Germany, working as an author and corporate consultant.

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