REMEMBERED for his passion for life and an avid footballer, TafariCharlemange was laid to rest on Wednesday 16 May.
The funeral service was held at the La Clery playing field just a stone throw away from where he once lived, with hundreds of people attending, including Parliamentary Representative for Castries North, Stevenson King, President – Saint Lucia Football Association, Lyndon Cooper, General Secretary, Saint Lucia Olympic Committee-Alfred Emmanuel, Ethiopian World Federation Inc President [EWF] – Kwesi Goddard, Priest and Elder of Nyabinghi, Victor Fontenelle, past and present national football players, family members and friends from near and far.
Several mourners wore white and purple jerseys with a print of Tafari at the front, so to was the Rastafarian community beautifully attired in their Ites, green and gold. Members of his local football club walked alongside him, giving him a guard of honour.
During the service conducted by EWA President Kwesi Godard who opened with Abbatir Chin Hoy Prayer (Our Father), the coffin remained closed with a large Ethiopian Flag and floral arrangements placed on the top. Tafari 29 was the founder of Beta Finkerz football club, a former national midfield player; he also represented La Clery and Big Players football teams at the national level.
Elijah Charlemagne, Tafari’s brother delivered the Eulogy. He said, “Tafari had a great vision and fashion. He created Beta Finkerz; he wanted the club to be the premiere club on the island, meaning playing professional football. He had a vision to develop young players.”
Elijah, called on the members to help him continue Tafari’s vision.
He continued. “Tafari was a strong person; his contribution had been wide spread internationally. He was a man with a good heart, a Nobel man, a leader, a King in his own rights. He never stood for wrong, and always pushed for the right. He had challenges. He was passionate.”
Elijah said, “Thanks to Ms Weekes: I could never forget when she bought him a ball and he brought it home, he send it to me. I could never forget Tafari. When we went to the playing field, he rolled the ball to me to kick, I fell, they laughed at me, but he told me, to get up. That was my brother, my true love, the closest person to me. I lose him too early.”
Leslie’ RasIsley’ Nelson gave the spoken words, he said, “The Socialist, Imperialist, Democracy, Capitalist, I am talking to you and our present politicians also. System. You failed me. But in you I trusted. Growing up on you I relied, to understand you, if you know how I tried, to live within you, I tried and I tried, still to me, you continue to lie, and lie and lie….I am talking to you.”
“Say what you doing to me, say what you doing for me, the changes you made, were not designed for me, but the place where I live you never care for it, the name you call yourself Capitalist and Democracy forever have me living in poverty. System. You know me, of course; I am in your face. I am March town, I am Grave Yard, I am Faux a Chaux, I am New Village, I am Mon Du Don, I am in LA, I am right there. I am the Ghetto. You want some drugs; you know where to find me, in the Ghetto, you want a hit man, you know where to find me, in the Ghetto. You have no respect for us, because we are Ghetto people. I am the Ghetto. I am talking to you.”
While all the drumming and chanting were taking place at the burial ground, the VOICE spoke to EWF Inc President, Kwesi Goddard, who studied in Cuba with Tafari’sbrother,and is a close friend of the family. He said, ”A young man with immense potential; we are always sad when we see some pass away. Their presence in our lives, the benefits they would have for us is no longer, the unfulfilled goals, it’s a very sad time.”
“In all hishonor he did a lot of good than wrong ways, we sincerely know that the Most High will be with him. We like to purify the environment so the soul can have a purify path. The service is for the living, the energy of life has departed. He noted.”
Priest and Elder of Nyabinghi Victor Fontenelle affectionally known as “Enchant Variety” said, “Tafari was a youth man that had high respect for I, and I had high respect for him as well. He was always a motivator; I use to watch him very close.”
“All the things he used to talk about with me, was to motivate, to uplift, to better the people that was his only goal and aim. There is nothing I could say about him than, One Black Love.” He noted.
