Colors often associated with
African "
nationalism" or "
black Zionism" - a movement particularly popularized early in the
20th century by
Marcus Garvey, among others.
Marcus Garvey's teachings were one of the main inspirations for
Rastafarianism, a
Caribbean movement of
blacks seeking to return to the "
Zion" of
Ethiopia and saw the last
Emperor of Eathiopia,
Hailie Salassie as a
Christ figure. The word
Rastafari means
Prince of Peace. Ethiopia has a curious
history and the
royal family of Ethiopia has always maintained to be descended from the
Queen of Sheba who visited
King Solomon in the
bible. It is maintained that she was
impregnated by
Solomon while in
Israel and returned to her homeland in "
the south" where the son of Solomon came to sit on the
throne of Ethiopia. Haile Salassie, who was killed by
Communists in the
1970's was widely believed to be a
direct descendant of King Solomon and, therefore also a
blood relative of
Jesus Christ. Ethiopia's
traditional flag features a red gold and green background with the
Lion of Zion in the center.