I don’t realy know any books that deal with the errors of Rasta beliefs, but what I know comes from my (vast) knowledge of Eritrean and Ethiopian history.
To explain it all (Ethiopian history and Rastafarian beliefs) would be very time consuming. so I will just give you the bio of Tafari.
Haile Selassie was born Tafari Makonnen to Ras (Prince) Makonnen. Tafari (at the age of 13) was appointed governor of one of the regions of Harer Province, by his father. Upon his father’s death the following year, Tafari was summoned to the court of Emperor Menelik (king of Ethiopia), who appointed him the governor of a small province.
Upon Menelik’s death in 1913, his grandson Lij Iyasu became emperor. Iyasu, however, was considered too sympathetic toward Islam (he was of thin blood relative to Mohammed) by the Amhara(ruling ethnic class) Orthodox Christian priests, and they wanted someone who was a “good Christian”. So, in 1916 Tafari and his supporters deposed (imprisoned and then killed) Iyasu (rightful heir to the throne ) and installed Menelik’s daughter, Zawditu, with Tafari ruling through her.
After that Tafari assumed the title of “Ras” (Ras Tafari) for himself and served as her regent and heir apparent. Upon Zawditu’s (mysterious and questionable) death in 1930, Tafari assumed the throne under his baptismal name, Haile Selassie I.
That was how he came into power, through murder and deceit. What was fitting was how he was taken out of power.
In 1952 Selassie’s government annexed the province of Eritrea to provide Ethiopia with an outlet to the sea. In 1962 the province of Eritrea sought independence from Ethiopia and Eritrean rebels took up armed struggle. The educated elite, seeking democratic reforms and jobs, began to demonstrate to demand change. A student protest in 1969 ended when soldiers opened fire, killing 23 and wounding 157.
Continuing economic problems, high unemployment, and famine caused by prolonged drought led Ethiopians to demonstrate for higher wages and against the continuing economic woes. A military contingent led by junior officers deposed Selassie on September 12, 1974, after a gradual, bloodless coup. Selassie stepped down and was held under house arrest until his own (very mysterious and questionable) death on August 27, 1975. His remains was now found a few years ago under a palace toilet.
He was a despot who ruled with an iron fist (well a lose iron fist), and that is why his own people got rid of him. The only problem was that the people who replaced him and set up a new anti-Monarchy, pro-Communist government were ten times as cruel as Tafari (you never win).
