Rastafari believe that blacks are the chosen people of God. Rastas claim that Haile Selassie will lead the Rastafarians into their paradise called Zion. He is their God and King. Rastas revere him as a religious symbol. Selassie lives by the example of Christ. He became one with Jah by his destiny.
His desire as the leader of Ethiopia was to give the land back to the people. He was born as Tafari Makonnen in 1892 but adopted the name Haile Selassie (which means the power of the Trinity).