Protoje releases Ethiopia-shot Reference video on Haile Selassie I’s birthday

Jamaican reggae star Protoje has released the official clip for Reference, with direction from his longtime creative partner SAMO. The drop landed on the birthday of Haile Selassie I.

Reference appears on his latest record, The Art of Acceptance, and is framed as a reflection on Rastafari, belief, and African identity. The footage was captured in Ethiopia and shows crowds dressed in white, holding candles, as they move through one of the country’s most holy observances.

Critics have praised The Art of Acceptance for pairing thoughtful lyrics with Protoje’s familiar mix of roots reggae, hip-hop, soul, and contemporary Jamaican sounds. He remains on the road promoting the album after recent headline dates in Europe and across North and South America.