An Ethiopian or Eritrean title of respect for a prince, chief, or high-ranking official, similar to 'duke' or 'lord' in European cultures.
From Ge'ez (an ancient Ethiopian language), 'ras' means 'head' or 'leader,' reflecting the hierarchical authority systems of the Horn of Africa.
Ras Tafari was the birth name of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, and the Rastafarian movement took its name from his title—making this ancient word central to a major 20th-century spiritual and cultural movement.
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