Grange Conferred With One Of Ethiopia’s Highest Honors
Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange has been invested as a Dame Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of the Star of Honour of Ethiopia, one of the African country’s highest honors.
Grange, a former Specs/Shang executive and former manager of Bounty Killer, Patra and Shabba Ranks, and who also holds the title of the Order of Jamaica, is now entitled to be referred to as “Her Excellency Olivia Grange.”
The investiture was made by the Crown Council of Ethiopia at the command of the grandson of Emperor Haile Selassie I, His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie, at the Army Navy Club Hotel in Washington, DC on Saturday.
The occasion was the annual Victory of Adwa Commemorative Dinner and the commemoration of the Victory of Gondar, which are hailed globally as “two great military victories of Ethiopia under Emperors Menilek II and Emperor Haile Selassie I respectively, which “marked turning points for Ethiopia, Africa and the world”.
According to the Crown Council, Grange was honoured “because of the kindness and diligence with which she enabled the recent formal visit to Jamaica of Prince Ermias and Princess Desta Saba, and for her great friendship with the Crown of Ethiopia that have contributed materially to the improvement of Jamaica-Ethiopia ties”.
In conferring the award Prince Ermias it was in recognition of the outstanding work Grange has done in Jamaica in strengthening the relationship between Ethiopia and Jamaica, as well as for being instrumental in bringing him to Jamaica last year, and “her efforts to build cultural and diplomatic bridges between Jamaica and the Ethiopian people”.
According to the South Florida Caribbean News, Grange, in a accepting the award, fought back tears and described the day as a special one for her, adding that she was “humbled, honoured, and a little overwhelmed”.
“I have always dreamt of the day when I’ll feel a part of the continent of Africa in addition to recognizing that my ancestors were predominantly African,” Grange said.
“The fact that I have been recognized by a nation in Africa, and particularly The Crown Council of Ethiopia, is something that has made me so overjoyed and overwhelmed, that I am pent up with emotion,” the St. Catherine Central Member of Parliament added.
The Minister also said she was accepting the honour on behalf of Jamaica’s Rastafarians, whom she said were the ones responsible for honing her knowledge about Ethiopia and of Emperor Haile Selassie I.
“I grew up hearing about Ethiopia because of the Rastafari movement in Jamaica, because Haile Selassie has been that symbol of the movement, and for me today to be recognized by the Crown Council and to be bestowed with the title of the Dame of the Grand Cross by His Imperial Majesty’s grandson, Prince Ermias is something I have never dreamt would happen. But that is now a reality today,” Grange said.
“I accept this award on behalf of the Rastafari movement in Jamaica, primarily, because they are the ones who constantly said His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie is the symbol of Black Royalty. For me, it’s very important that I recognize that this honour that has been bestowed on me today. It is one that I’ll have to ensure, that I carry that message of One Love. Especially in recognition that as a black Race we are equally important as any other Race. Plus, that we have a great history.
The Grand Cross Order bestowed upon Grange, was created to honour foreign and domestic civilian and military officials and individuals for service to the country. It is the fifth ranking order of the Empire of Ethiopia along with the Order of Menelik II.
During his visit to Jamaica last year during National Heroes Week, Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie and the Crown Council of Ethiopia had signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a statue of Haile Selassie to be erected at the National Heroes Park in Kingston, within the upcoming fiscal year.
The Prince, who was accompanied on his trip to Jamaica by his wife, Princess Saba Kebede and members and advisors of the Ethiopian Crown Council, had engaged in several official activities, including meetings with members of the Rastafarian community in Montego Bay, where he had also been presented with the keys to the city.
He had also made courtesy calls on the Governor-General, Sir Patrick Allen and visited Marcus Garvey’s Liberty Hall, where he viewed artefacts on the life and work of the National Hero.
He had also attended the National Honours and Awards ceremony and reception where he was addressed by Sizzla Kalonji on behalf of the Nyahbinghi Theocracy Reign.