Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/140546
•pg_23-32__BMT_pg3-58 6/21/13 9:35 PM Page 29 more African-Americans to Africa. "I know first-hand through my 25 years of travel experience the only way to be empowered and know the truth about who we are, where we are from and what we have accomplished around the world is by stepping outside of our comfort zone and see the world for ourselves," said Champion. "I also believe knowledge is power… and we have to "Stop allowing the World to Paint our Portrait." Nearby sat Tesfaye Tsige Alayo, an Ethiopian living in the U.S. who was on a personal journey to learn about his country's past, noting that "if you don't know about your past, you cannot connect to your present." The San Francisco-based longshoreman grew up in Addis, but had never visited historic Axum. Alayo decided to visit after some AfricanAmerican friends, ironically, had encouraged him to visit after they had toured the area. Axum's storied history includes numerous fascinating legends, with the most well known being the story of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Through Tsegay, I met Axum's high priest, Affe Gebez Yehdeg Zeratseyen, who confirmed that the Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon in Israel and later bore his son, Menelik. At age 22, Menelik went to visit his father and returned to Ethiopia with the Ark of the Covenant, which today resides in the chapel built by Haile Selassie's wife. It is overseen by a custodial priest who is the only one who is allowed to see the "tabot," or the Ark as it is known. The priest is said to be directly selected by God and he is never allowed to leave the grounds where the Ark is kept, although the Ark itself is brought out seven days each month and carried around the outer grounds in an ancient processional. During my visit, I participated in the moving, 3,000-year-old ceremony that begins before dawn and is attended by men and women attired in white clothing, carrying candles as they walk reverently in prayer. All around, white and grey doves fluttered overhead, as participants sang a 3,000-year-old song in Geez that was composed by Saint Yared, with the procession being led by the masinquo (a one-string violin) and the inzira (a large flute), invented by the saint. Locals getting water in Axum from pool once used by Queen of Sheba At the procession's end, one can check out the ruins of the first St. Mary of Zion Church, built in the 4th century, but later destroyed by a queen who opposed Christianity, and stop by a well where Mary is said to have rested when she visited with Jesus. In the newer St. Mary of Zion Church, one also can view a 1,500-year-old book, which contains stories about miracles that Mary performed. If visiting Axum, be sure to stop by the pool used by the Queen of Sheba, but which is used today by locals as a place to fetch water for livestock and for watering local gardens. One also can view the nearby ruins of the Queen of Sheba palace and see the impressive obelisks, or stelae, that served as the tombstones for royalty buried there. I was able to stand beside the actual 2,000-year-old obelisk that Engineer Tadele helped to oversee the final return of in 2008. Axum is home of several small, but impressive churches, that open daily at 4 a.m. for mass. The Jesus Christ Church depicts beautiful and elaborate scenes from the Bible on its interior and exterior walls and is close to the mystical Jesus Christ Mountain. The mountain is said to be the place where Jesus stepped out of heaven and threw sand into the surrounding waters when people prayed during a flood. The area where land is said to have miraculously appeared is where the first St. Mary of Zion Church was built. If planning a trip to Addis, you may contact Engineer Tadele's Duka Travel at info@dukatravelandtours.com or engtadelekibrat@yahoo.com. In Axum, Sisay Tsegay may be reached at LifeSisay@yahoo.com. People interested in supporting the Pan African Technical Association's education project may visit www.pataus.org or email Yaw Davis at yawethiopia@gmail.com. Now Meet Mr.Tadele Bitul Kibrat (Tour Guide) B M & T ••• May/June 2013 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 29