It must've been 1986 when I came to know Philip Blyden and rightaway I deferred to him , knowing the root of his surname, as Edward Wilmot Blyden was the Grandfather of Pan-africanism. This was the tumultuous time of Rasta in the Bahamas when dreadlocks be carried a stigma of disdain for the general public. The objective, aims and aspirations have not changed at all and nor has the shape and diversity of the collective house of sistrens and bredrens hailing as disciples of Rastafari. Blyden as we called him then was a staunch Garveyite pan African advocate. He impressed one and all with unambiguous tolerance for dissenting points of view. I marked his settling into becoming a Bobo Shanti warrior, set to bring forward the way, the truth and the life of original culture. Simultaneously, these turbulent times made visible community changes in activism, agitation and argument. Rastafari disciples were distinct in the south, east north, west and central, not to mention the family islands. And the face of the Rasta man and woman was dreadful and terrible over Bahamaland. There was Papa Ted, Eleazar the Conqueror, Hail I,Bobo Mikey, PeterPan, Peter Brown, and Priest Gerard, Bobo Glen and Priest Willie Smith, Priest Felix,( deceased) Bobo Anton( deceased) And Sister Ronnie, Empress Debbie and Empress Lily, and etcetera. Along came The Ambassador Priest Rittmund , serving the purpose of bringing order and relevance before the peoples with a royal decree from King Emmanuel Charles Edwards to establish a ceremonial Order of the EABIC BAHAMA. As he became known as Priest Philip Blyden, we then began to see and feel his patience and organizational skills to help with making the respectable tenets of Rastafari more palatable to one and all in a non self-seeking appeal within the purvey of the ambassadorship of Priest Rittmund. The narrative continued into the present day context of human rights for small business concepts, amnesty in criminal justice, decriminalization of herb possession and use, and acknowledgement of reparations and repatriation, with Priest Philip upfront, vocal and articulate. All the lustre and valor of a patriot and pioneer was embodied in Priest Philip Blyden, and hopefully his exemplary spirit has been liberally infused watering the youth he taught at Sister Jacinta Higgs academy, and the other youth who aspire to be in contact with their true selves Thanks again for your time with us, Jah B, Priest of the Most High, Melchizedek Order. What a blessing it has been to have trod by your side in this realm. -
Jah Hugh Brennen
