RastaSwansaii

Swansea is honoured to have been visited by a living god. 

Apparently Hailie Selassie visited this god's country several times. He popped in to see his nephew who was studying at the bible college Wales just up the road on Derwen Fawr. 

Honoured as a living god by some Rastafarians, he enjoyed camping here in '39 & '40. From wiki:-

Rastafarianism, is a relatively young religion that originated in Jamaica during the 1930s. It's an Abrahamic, Africa-centered faith with strong ties to social and political activism. Rastafarians believe that Haile Selassie I, the former Emperor of Ethiopia, is God (Jah) incarnate, and that he will lead people of African descent back to Africa. 

I want to claim a connection, also to another Howell linked to this story of Rastafarianism. Leonard Howell was instrumental in its genesis.

Leonard Percival Howell, also known as The Gong or G. G. Maragh, was a Jamaican religious figure. He was one of the first preachers of the Rastafari movement, and is known by many as The First Rasta. 

I love that he was known as "the Gong". I think as from now I wish also to be known as the gong.

Although Leonard P. Howell suffered much abuse for the foundation of Rastafari, his legacy as a perceived true hero and leader in anti-colonialism took root throughout Jamaica and the Caribbean and eventually globally. Ironically, the same government who sought his continual persecution has in 2022 awarded L.P. Howell or 'Gong' with an Order of Distinction.

I can't claim any relationship to him, apart from the vague & shameful tradition that black slaves often took their surname from their white owners. I know several Welshmen were complicit with this crime against humanity, perhaps the most notable amongst them being General Picton of waterloo fame. I guess a Howell was one, too.

Amazingly, yet another Howell is involved in this story. Rees Howells (note the added 's'), was instrumental in the setting up of The Bible college, Wales.

 Rees Howells was director of the college until his death in 1950.[10] He was succeeded by his son Samuel Rees Howells who led the college until a year before his death in 2004. In July 2009 the Bible College of Wales saw its last graduation.

The story of the Bible College of Wales is fascinating itself, but for another post