Africa hero Haile Selassie

Haile Selassie

Haile Selassie was emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. He was the heir to a dynasty that traced its origins to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Exiled after leading a revolt against Italian forces during
World War II, he was reinstated as emperor in 1941. He condemned Italy’s use of chemical weapons against his people. Though he worked to modernize the country, some criticized him for not doing enough. Groups such as Human Rights Watch alleged that he ruled in a repressive and undemocratic manner.