- 1924-12-05 — Martha Root gave the first African radio broadcast about the Bahá'í Faith, in Capetown.
- 1925-01-01 — The Spiritual Assembly of Alexandria was established, the second assembly to be formed in Africa.
- 1929-09-00 —
Shoghi Effendi sailed from England to Cape Town and proceeded overland to Cairo. [PP180–1, SETPE1p163]
-
He travelled through East Africa passing through Rhodesia where he visited the grave of Cecil Rhodes and further north in Rhodesia to see the Victoria Falls.
- He rode as a passenger with an English hunter through part of East Africa and travelled on a train for some five hundred miles.
- He crossed the Nile River through a papyrus swamp on a ferry.
- He was back in Haifa by October. [SETPE1p163]
- 1940-07-28 —
Shoghi Effendi, Rúhíyyih Khánum and Sutherland Maxwell left England for South Africa aboard the SS Capetown Castle. It was Mr Maxwell's close friendship with the Canadian High Commissioner in London, Vincent Massey, that helped them secure the sea passage. [PP180]
- They departed Southhampton just three days before the German High Command issued an order to the Luftwaffe to establish air superiority along the British Channel coast in preparation for the invasion of England. This resulted in the bombing and strafing of all civilian shipping out of British Channel ports.
- Risking U-Boat attacks the ship took them to Durban where they found that all flights to Khartoum had been booked by the military.
- They left Mr. Maxwell in Durban to await a flight to Khartoum while Shoghi Effendi and Rúhíyyih Khánum tried to make their way to Khartoum overland. The trip across Africa took them to Stanleyville, Congo; Juba in the Sudan; down the Nile to Khartoum and back to Palestine through Cairo. [PP180–1, TG159]
They arrived in Kisangani then Stanleyville a few weeks later (July 28, 1940), stayed for a week at the Stanley Hotel and made an excursion in the virgin forest. On the way to Juba, the Guardian also stayed in the village of Nia-Nia. [bahai.org]
- 1950-00-00 — By this year the Bahá'í population of Black Africa was probably no more than 12. [BBRSM190–1]
- 1950-04-21 —
Shoghi Effendi announced the Africa Campaign (1951-1953) in a cable to the British National Convention. [BW12:52; UD245–6]
- The British community was to lead the campaign supported by the Bahá'ís of the United States and Egypt. Shoghi Effendi expanded the plan to include the
cooperation of the National Spiritual Assemblies of Persia and of India, who were to provide additional pioneers. The Plan was not scheduled to start until Ridván 1950 but the British Bahá'í community as soon as possible after the Plan was announced. [UD245]
- The object was to open the Faith to three countries, Gold Coast, Tanganyika and Uganda. Shoghi Effendi termed it "the first International collaboration plan in Bahá'í history. (CG157, 159]
- For the objectives of the campaign see UD245–6.
- For the importance of the enterprise see UD260–3.
- The plan was to be launched after a year's respite but the British Bahá'ís begin to implement the plan immediately. [CB317]
- At the time of the Campaign there was "...since the days of the Blessed Beauty and up to the early 1950s, the activities of the friends in Africa had produced the formation of one National Spiritual Assembly with its seat in Cairo, Egypt, the opening of 12 countries to the light of the Faith, and some 50 localities established throughout its vast lands. It was at such a time that the beloved Guardian ushered in the first African Teaching Plan" [Message from the Universal House of Justice To the Friends gathered at the Bahá'í International Conference at Lagos dated
19 August, 1982
; The UK Bahá'í Journal/History]
- The first to arise for the Campaign was Claire Gung who departed from England on the Warwick Castle on the 3rd of January, 1951 bound for Tanganyika. [CG13, 26]
- Others who pioneered were: Philip Hainsworth, Uganda, June 1951;
Hasan and Isobel Sabri, Tanganyika, July 1951; and
Ted Cardell, Kenya, October 1951.
- For additional information see The Baha'i Faith in Africa: Establishing a New Religious Movement, 1952–1962 by Anthony Lee.
- 1951-04-21 —
Several National Spiritual Assemblies-Britain, Egypt, India, Iran and the United States, joined forces in their first collaborative teaching effort called the Africa Campaign (1951-1953). [Ruhi 8.2 p46, BBRSM158, MBW135-140]
- See also UD261 for the significance of the Africa Campaign.
- See Bahá'í Communities by Country:
Research Notes by Graham Hassall for further details of the Plan.
- 1951-08-03 —
The establishment of the Faith in Uganda with the arrival of Mr. Músá Banání, his wife Samí'ih Banání, their daughter, Mrs. Violette and her husband, Mr. Ali Nakhjavani, of Iran, with their baby daughter Bahiyyih, and Mr. Philip Hainsworth who arrived in Kampala from England. [Wiki Bahá'í Uganda]
- See BWNS135 for an account of the celebration of 50 years of the Faith in Uganda and the accomplishments.
- 1953-02-12 —
The first Intercontinental Teaching Conference was convened by the British National Spiritual Assembly in Kampala, Uganda. [BW12:121, MBW135-140; BN No 267 May 1953 p5-7]
- For Shoghi Effendi's message to the conference see BW12:121–4.
- For a report of the conference see BW12:124–30.
- It was attended by ten Hands of the Cause, Bahá'ís from 19 countries and representatives of over 30 tribes. [PP413]
- Over a hundred new African believers attended as personal guests of the Guardian. [PP413]
- With this conference the Ten Year World Crusade was launched. [BBRSM158–9; BW12:253; MBW41]
- Picture. [BW12p118]
- See some candid video footage taken by Ted Cardell.
- 1953-06-06 — 'Izzatu'lláh Zahrá'í (Ezzat Zahrai) arrived in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:456]
- 1953-09-03 — The arrival of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Enayat Sohaili in Nyasaland (now known as Malawi) [BWNS240]
- 1953-09-20 —
The arrival of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Mr. Max Kanyerezi in Middle Congo (now called Republic of Congo). At this time the country was, together with the Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, and Gabon, part of a much larger French territory called the Federation of French Equatorial Africa which was dissolved in 1958. [BWNS246; A Brief Account of the Progress of the Bahá'í Faith in Africa Since 1953 by Nancy Oloro-Robarts and Selam Ahderom p8]
- Max and his wife Florence later moved back to Uganda where he had been raised. [CG106-107]
- The website of the Bahá'ís of the Republic of the Congo gives a different date for the arrival of Max Kanyerezi...
"Le premier bahá'í au Congo était Max Kanyerezi. Il fut déposé par Violette et Ali Nakhjavani en 1955." (Translation) "The first Bahá'í in Congo was Max Kanyerezi. He was dropped off by Violette and Ali Nakhjavani in 1955." [Reference]
- 1953-10-51 — 'Amín Battáh, an Egyptian, arrived in Río de Oro (Western Sahara) and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455]
- 1953-12-00 — 'Abdu'l-Karím Amín Khawja became a Bahá'í in Algeria, the first person to accept the Faith in that country. [BN No277 p8]
- 1954-00-10 — The arrival in Zimbabwe (formerly Southern Rhodesia) of Knights of Bahá'u'lláh Izzat'u'llah Zahrai, Douglas Kadenhe, Nura Faridian (now Steiner), Enayat and Iran Sohaili, Shidan Fat'he-Aazam (later member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Africa) and his wife Florence. [BWNS275]
- 1954-01-04 — The arrival of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Abdu'l Rahman Zarqani, in the Seychelles. [BWNS272]
- 1954-01-11 —
John and Audrey Robarts with their two younger children, Patrick and Tina, left Toronto for their pioneer post in Mafeking (later Mafikeng), Buchuanaland (later Botswana and formerly Bophuthatswana). Older children Aldham and Gerald pioneered to Nigeria and a homefront post respectively. [LOF485-6; CBN No48 January 1954 p11]
- Later the same year he was appointed to the newly established Auxiliary Board by Hand of the Cause of God Músá Banání. They returned to Canada some 13 years later. [LOF486, 491]
- 1954-01-15 — 'Abdu'l-Rahmán Zarqání, from India, arrived in the Seychelles and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:455]
- 1954-04-00 — The arrival of future Knight of Bahá'u'lláh, Mr. Enoch Olinga, in British Cameroon. [BWNS291]
- 1954-05-07 — Mavis Nymon and Vivian Wesson, both Americans, arrived in French Togoland and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. [BW13:451]
- 1954-07-06 — The first Somali to become a Bahá'í in Djibouti, 'Alí 'Abdu'lláh, a 21-year old employee of a commercial firm, enrolled.
- 1954-09-06 — The first people to become Bahá'ís in Bechuanaland (Lesotho), Chadwick and 'Maselai (Mary) Mohapi, enrolled. [BW17:449–52]
- 1956-04-21 — In his message to the four African Conventions for the National Spiritual Assemblies of Central
and East Africa, North East Africa, North-West Africa, and South and
West Africa, the Guardian announced that there were "over three thousand avowed supporters, five-sixths of whom belong to the Negro race, scattered throughout more than fifty territories and islands, and
residing in over four hundred localities. Representatives of no less
than one hundred and forty of its tribes have, moreover, enlisted
under the banner of the Faith. Over a hundred and twenty Bahá'í
Local Assemblies are already functioning throughout its territories.
Into more than fifty of its indigenous languages Bahá'í literature
has been and is being translated. The process of incorporating
the newly formed Local Assemblies has furthermore been inaugurated.
A National Administrative Headquarters has been
established in each one of its four pivotal centres, while three
Temple sites situated within its confines have been recently purchased,
on one of which the Mother Temple of Africa is soon to be
erected." [That Promising Continent 24-26]
- 1958-01-23 —
The first Intercontinental Conference held at the mid-point of the Crusade convened in Kampala, Uganda. [BW13:317]
- Hand of the Cause Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, who had been designated by the Guardian as his representative, attended, accompanied by Dr Lutfu'lláh Hakím.
- For the message of the Custodians to the conference see MC56–60.
- For a report of the conference see BW13:317.
- 1961-07-08 — The Custodians announced that mass conversion had begun in Ceylon, Central and East Africa, and Bolivia, while in Canada native peoples had begun to enter the Faith. [MoC293]
- 1962-03-01 — Aboubacar Kâ, a school teacher and the first Senegalese known to become a Bahá'í, enrolled.
- 1963-04-20 — The number of believers in East and Central Africa numbered well over 40.000 with half of these in the Congo. Similar growth could be seen in countries like British Cameroons, Ethiopia, and Northern Rhodesia. Bahá'ís now resided in well over 30 countries and territories, and consisted largely of tribal peoples that had entered the Faith through the combined efforts of international and native pioneers. The end of the Ten Year Crusade left Africa spiritually and politically transformed. Devoted individuals, operating in daunting conditions, had succeeded in establishing the Faith on the continent while preparing for the next phase in its advancement—continued large-scale expansion would be accompanied by the formation and strengthening of the foundational institutions of the Faith. [A Brief Account of the Progress of the Bahá'í Faith in Africa Since 1953 by Nancy Oloro-Robarts and Selam Ahderom p6-7]
- 1970-06-19 — Rúhíyyih Khánum interrupted her African teaching safari to meet with more than 2,000 youth at the National Youth Conference in the United States. [BW15:331; VV10]
- 1971-00-00 — The 'Lake Victoria Plan', a joint venture among the National Spiritual Assemblies of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi designed to carry the Faith to all the peoples and tribes living within Africa's largest lake basin, was inaugurated at the suggestion of Hand of the Cause Dr Muhájir. [DM96–8]
- 1972-12-29 — The first West African Bahá'í Youth conference was held in The Gambia.
The Continental Board of Counsellors sponsored the first West African Bahá'í Youth Conference in conjunction with the National Spiritual Assembly of Upper West Africa. The Conference was held in The Gambia on the campus of Yundum College some fifteen miles from the capital city of Bathurst. Youth representing nine countries in this zone attended: Nigeria, Upper Volta, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Senegal and Mauritania, plus pioneers originating from the United States, Mauritius, Malaysia, Iran, and friiq. A young Bahá'í from Sweden was able to greet the friends during a brief stop on a boat cruise. Counsellors Mr. H. R. Ardikani and Dr. William Maxwell Jr., were present as well as six of their Auxiliary Board members, Mr. Amos Agwu, Mr. Muhammad Al-Salihi, Mrs. H. Vera Edwards, Mr. Friday Ekpe, Mr. Shidan Kouchekzadeh and Dr. B. Sadiqzadeh. A total of fifty-six persons attended. [Bahá'í News 504]
- 1973-02-00 —
Hand of the Cause Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum and her companion Violette Nakhjavání completed their tour of Africa.
- For details of the safari see BW15:593–607.
- They drove some 36,000 miles to visit more than 30 countries. [BW15:596; VV12]
- See BW15:606–7 for the countries, islands and territories visited and the heads of state and other dignitaries who received them.
- 1976-07-09 — An International Youth Conference was held in Ivory Coast, attended by nearly 200 Bahá'ís. [BW17:150, 153]
- 1976-10-15 —
An International Teaching Conference was held in Nairobi, Kenya, attended by 1,363 Bahá'ís. [BW17:81; VV33]
- For the message of the Universal House of Justice see BW17:133–4.
- For pictures see BW17:110, 119–21.
- 1977-08-12 — An International Bahá'í Youth Conference was held in Enugu, Nigeria, attended by over 250 Bahá'ís from 19 countries. [BW17:150, 153]
- 1978-08-01 — An International Bahá'í Youth Conference was held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, attended by some 380 Bahá'ís from 19 countries. [BW17:150, 153]
- 1978-12-28 —
The West African Bahá'í Women's Conference was held in Monrovia, Liberia with the theme, "Spiritual Education of Women-The Foundation of a New Human Society". [BW17:154]
- Delegates from sixteen countries attended. It was attended by 150 women and 50 men. Keynote speaker was Dr. Jane Faily, Consultant to the Bahá'í International Community's representative to the United Nations and a clinical psychologist associated with the University of Ottawa. [BN 136 April, 1979 pg10-15]
- 1982-11-00 —
The West African Centre for Bahá'í Studies was established in Nigeria. [BW18:167; BW19:366]
- For a report of its activities see BW19:366–7.
- 1985-04-05 — An International Youth Conference to support the United Nations International Youth Year was held in Bophuthatswana, attended by 198 people. [BW19:300]
- 1985-08-00 —
An International Youth Conference to support the United Nations International Youth Year was held in Molepolole, Botswana, attended by 119 youth from six countries. [BW19:300]
- For picture see BW19:320.
- 1988-00-00 — The Bahá'í International Community became a founding member of 'Advocates for African Food Security: Lessening the Burden for Women, a coalition of agencies and organizations formed to act on behalf of farm women in Africa, and is convener for 1988–92.
- 1989-00-07 — Three International Music Festivals were held in Africa. [BINS215]
- 1990-00-03 — An Association for Bahá'í Studies was established in Kenya.
- 2001-12-16 —
The passing of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Philip Hainsworth (b. 27 July 1919) at the age of 82 in Sevenoaks, Kent, England. Shoghi Effendi had described him as "the spiritual Stanley of Africa". [BW01-02p304-305]
- He was a member of the National Assembly of Central and East Africa from 1956 to 1966 and served on the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles for a total of 32 years.
- Looking Back in Wonder is the autobiography of Mr Hainsworth and his wife Lois.
- His other publications were:
- Bahá'í Focus on Human Rights
- The Bahá'í Faith by Mary Perkins and Philip Hainsworth
- Bahá'í Focus on Peace
- Historical Dictionary of the Bahá'í Faith by Hugh C. Adamson and Philip Hainsworth
|
Site Map
