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"lighten and uplift
them, so that they may soar on the wings of the Divine verses"
-Baha'u'llah
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Dramatic
stories thrill Malawi golden jubilee
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LILONGWE,
Malawi, 19 August 2003 (BWNS) --
Fifty years ago the two original members of the
Baha'i community in Malawi would meet in the
bush at night where they would say their
prayers, discuss plans, enjoy biscuits, and then
go their separate ways.
"This
was done because in those days, blacks and
whites could not meet openly," said Enayat
Sohaili, who was describing the first
Nineteen-day Feasts held in the country to an
enthralled audience at the 50th jubilee
celebration here on 9 August 2003.
Mr.
Sohaili, a Baha'i of Persian background, had
arrived from India in 1953 and was considered
white. The first Malawian Baha'i, Dudley Smith
Kumtendere, was black.
The
colonial policy of discouraging racially mixed
gatherings ended when Malawi, once known as
Nyasaland, gained its independence in 1964. |
The group BABY (Blantyre Active Baha'i Youth)
performs at the Malawian Baha'i community's 50th
jubilee celebration.
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Since then
Baha'is have been able to openly express their
commitment to a basic principle of their faith, the
oneness of humanity.
They did so
when they commemorated the golden anniversary of the
Faith's establishment in their country. Baha'is came
from all over Malawi -- Nsanje to Mzuzu, from Nkhata Bay
to Mulanje. They were joined by participants from as far
away as Bermuda Australia and Mauritius, and from nearby
African countries like South Africa, Zambia, and Lesotho.
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The
celebrations were in great contrast to the early
days. Julius (Robert) Kasakula, one of the first
Malawian Baha'is, recalled that when Baha'i
meetings were held indoors they were just as
secretive as the encounters in the bush.
"Because
the blacks and whites could not meet openly, we
used to have meetings at our house at night,"
Mr. Kasakula said.
Mr.
Sohaili, who now lives with his wife, Iran, in
Zimbabwe, recounted the time when he asked a
restaurant owner to provide a table to allow
visiting Americans John and Val Allen (Baha'is
living in Swaziland), to meet with him and Mr.
Kumtendere. |
Julius (Robert) Kasakula tells a story while
Enayat Sohaili and master of ceremonies, Brown
Malikete, look on. |
"When
the owner was approached, he asked us to come after 2
p.m. when there would be few customers. He put us right
at the back where we had our lunch."
These days
the Faith is highly visible in Malawi. There are some
15,000 Baha'is, a handsome national center, 15 local
Baha'i centers, two institute buildings, and some 101
Local Spiritual Assemblies.
These
achievements are considerable in such a time span.
In
September 1953, Mr. Sohaili arrived as a participant in
what came to be known as the "Ten Year
Crusade." From 1953 until 1963, in a plan initiated
by Shoghi Effendi, Baha'is from various nations took
their beliefs to countries that had not been exposed to
the Faith. The ten-year effort more than doubled the
number of national communities.
Baha'i women from Lilongwe at the celebrations. |
In that decade, the
Faith entered 131 new countries, 37 of those in
Africa. Accordingly, half a century on, many
nations, including Malawi, are celebrating the
50th anniversary of the arrival of the faith.
As well as Dudley
Kutendere and his brother Douglas (both have since
died), the first Malawian Baha'is included Albert
Ntala and Mr. Kasakula and his wife Alice.
Present at Malawi's
celebrations was Counsellor Maina Mkandawire, a
keynote speaker. Also there was Ramucy Namkopowe,
whose 1964 wedding was the first Baha'i marriage
service in the country.
The festivities
included songs, traditional and modern dance
performances and comedy sessions. |
Baha'is
offered prayers of thanksgiving and read from the Baha'i
writings and from the Bible and the Qur'an.
An
uplifting message to the National Spiritual Assembly of
the Baha'is of Malawi came from the Universal House of
Justice, who said in part: "The foundation has been
laid on which a spiritual and social structure of
unprecedented splendor can be raised that will spread
its shelter of unity and peace over your struggling
land."
A highlight
of the evening was the performance by a Zambian Baha'i
theatrical group of a drama portraying the life of Mona
Mahmudnizhad, a 17-year-old Baha'i girl martyred in Iran
in 1983.
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As
part of the jubilee festivities, a formal
reception was held at the Capital Hotel, where
guest of honor Counsellor Enos Makhele of South
Africa gave a talk on the Baha'i Faith from a
global perspective. Among the distinguished guests
was British High Commissioner Norman Ling and
Lilongwe city councilor Stella Thunyani.
In
her address, Councilor Thunyani spoke of the
oneness of humanity and the unity of religions.
"You
may wish to ask yourself as to why a group of
people of different races and creed are dining
together in a friendly atmosphere," Councilor
Thunyani said. |
First national convention of the Baha'is of
Malawi, held in 1970, in the presence of Hand of
the Cause Paul Haney (near center, second row). |
"I
feel it is through the Divine love which is taught to us
by the different messengers of God that we are
one."
Today's
Baha'i community in Malawi is comprised of Baha'is from
villages, cities and from numerous tribes who speak
different languages. Baha'is hold regular children's
classes and study circles, perform in choirs and
undertake social and economic development projects.
The Bambino
School, a Baha'i initiative, has an enrolment of 1,100
from nursery level to secondary school and secretarial
college.
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These
results have come after years of effort. By 1970
there were 12 Local Spiritual Assemblies, enough
for the country to have its own National Spiritual
Assembly, which was elected in the presence of
Hand of the Cause Paul Haney.
The
next year a Hand of the Cause, Enoch Olinga, asked
for official registration of the Faith, a request
met by President Hastings Banda, who was quoted in
the local newspaper, The Times, as saying the
Faith was a good religion because it had respect
for the culture.
The
next year, Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani, the widow of
Shoghi Effendi, had a cordial audience with Dr.
Banda, and traveled throughout the country,
meeting and encouraging local Baha'is. |
Musicians from Mchinji singing Baha'i songs in
Chichewa. |
In 1975,
the first Baha'i book -- about teaching classes -- was
translated into Chichewa, and that work has continued
with expansion into the Tonga and Tumbuka languages. In
1985, as a contribution to the International Youth Year,
Baha'i youth planted fuel wood and fruit trees
throughout the country, benefiting entire villages.
In 1982 and
1992, Malawi hosted international summer schools with
participants from 17 and 10 countries respectively.
The Baha'i
National Center in Lilongwe was completed in March 2000.
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| Published in Bahá'í
World News Service |
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