✦ In Loving Memory — Photographs of Elder Chuckie ✦
Founder of Selassiefest · Elder · Spirit of One Love
In Rastafari, we do not speak of death as a finality. It is a transition — the spirit returning to Jah, the physical form changing as the soul journeys back to Zion. As His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I taught, "Observe that anyone who dies for his country is a fortunate man, but death takes what it wants, indiscriminately." Our dear Elder Chucky now lives in the eternal presence of Jah, where there is no sorrow, only perfect livity. We do not mourn in despair; we celebrate the life, the love, and the foundation he laid for us all.
In Rastafari culture, an elder is a spiritual guide, a guardian of wisdom, and a living bridge between the past and the present. Chucky was all of these. To honor him, we turn to sacred rituals that reflect our deep respect for those who have walked before us.
Nyabinghi sessions are central to Rastafari worship, creating a sacred space for prayer, reasoning, and connection with the Divine. For a departed elder, the community gathers with bass, fundeh, and repeater drums, chanting Psalms and singing hymns of liberation. The rhythm lifts the spirit and celebrates the elder's journey back to Jah.
"Libation is acknowledging our ancestors. When somebody pass they become our ancestors, whether male or female. You can use oil or water, and you normally pour it in a plant and call the person's name." We pour a small amount of water or juice onto the earth, speaking Chuckie's name and offering thanks for his life and guidance. This act connects the living with the ancestral spirit world.
A "groundation" is a sacred gathering of the Rastafari community, involving drumming, chanting, and reasoning (scriptural reflection). We invite all who loved Chucky to hold their own reasoning circle — to share a memory, light a candle, listen to reggae music, and give thanks for the seeds of unity he planted at Selassiefest.
Chucky envisioned Selassiefest as a place where "One Day. One Love. One Community." was not just a slogan, but a living reality. He built this festival on the principles of I-n-I (the oneness of all people), Ital living, and the celebration of African heritage. Every drumbeat at dawn, every Ital meal shared, every reasoning circle held is a continuation of his prayer. His spirit moves through the Heritage Village, the Main Stage, and the Healing Grove. He is not gone; he is in the wind, in the drum, in every heart that feels the vibration of love.
Share your memories of Chuckie. In the spirit of Rastafari reasoning, we gather here to uplift his name and share the wisdom he gave us.