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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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Cameroon
celebrates golden time
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YAOUNDE,
Cameroon, 23 September 2003 (BWNS) --
When there were only a handful of Baha'is in
their country, five young Cameroonians left home
to take the teachings of the Baha'i Faith to
nearby lands.
Their
actions in 1954 won them the designation
"Knight of Baha'u'llah," a title given
to individuals who brought the Baha'i Faith to
new territories.
The
five Cameroonian Baha'is were following the
example of another young man, Enoch Olinga, who
had left his homeland of Uganda to bring the
Faith to British Cameroon less than a year
earlier, in 1953.
In
a message to those attending the golden jubilee
festivities of the Faith in Cameroon held here
on 22 and 23 August 2003, the Universal House of
Justice referred to those dramatic early days as
it extended congratulations on the
"outstanding accomplishments" of the
Baha'i community.
"An
enduring model of consecrated labours," the
Universal House of Justice wrote," has been
set by a host of devoted believers, including
Enoch Olinga, and the five Cameroonians who
likewise arose to become Knights of Baha'u'llah." |
Baha'is who played an historic role in
Cameroon. Front (left to right): Enoch Olinga,
Ali Nakhjavani. Back (left to right): Benedict
Eballa, David Tanyi, Samuel Njiki. 1954.
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Cameroon is
now comprised of the former French Cameroon and part of
the former British Cameroon, which merged in 1961. It is
about twice the size of the United Kingdom and has a
population of more than 15 million.
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Home
to more than 250 tribes and ethnic groups with
nearly as many languages, it is often referred to
as "Africa in miniature."
The
first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is
of Cameroon was elected in 1967. The Baha'i
community, now 40,000 strong, has 58 local
spiritual assemblies.
Among
the accomplishments of the Cameroon Baha'i
community are contributions to their nation in the
form of social and economic development projects.
The
Baha'i Agency for Social and Economic Development,
founded by the National Spiritual Assembly, has
worked with the United Nations Development Fund
for Women on a program in the eastern province
aimed at improving family life, and easing the
lives of women. |
Forough and George Olinga at the jubilee. |
As a
result, women in villages instituted a communal
cultivation program, which increased income and improved
the quality of life. This led to further co-operation
with international agencies.
The Baha'i
agency has also worked successfully in family education
projects in central and northwestern provinces, and
assisted in programs to eradicate river blindness.
Since the
1980s, Baha'i radio programs in the northwest and in
Buea have been helping communities improve their family
life and the education of children.
Weekly
religious and moral education classes for children and
study meetings for parents are also held. The Baha'is
also organize interfaith activities, which serve to
close gaps in Cameroon's multi-religious society.
Members of the National Spiritual Assembly
of Cameroon and guests, who include Ali and
Violette Nakhjavani, Joan and Albert Lincoln. |
More
than 560 Baha'is from all regions of Cameroon
attended the 50th jubilee celebrations, including
two Knights of Baha'u'llah, Benedict Eballa and
Edward Tabe.
Other
guests came from Australia, Botswana, Canada,
Equatorial Guinea, France, Morocco, Rwanda,
Uganda, United Kingdom, and the United States of
America.
Among
the guests of honor was George Olinga, the son of
Enoch Olinga, the Knight of Baha'u'llah for
British Cameroon.
Mr.
Olinga spoke of his recollections of his father,
who initially established a cohort of believers in
Limbe, spent the rest of the decade in British
Cameroon, was later named a "Hand of the
Cause" and rendered historic services to the
worldwide Baha'i community until his passing in
Uganda in 1979. |
Also
present at the event were former member of the Universal
House of Justice Ali Nakhjavani and his wife, Violette.
In 1953 Mr.
and Mrs. Nakhjavani undertook a strenuous two-month car
journey across Africa from Uganda with Mr. Olinga and
two other Baha'is to establish the Faith in Cameroon and
other countries.
First National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is
of Cameroon, 1967. |
At
the jubilee, Mr. Nakhjavani delivered the keynote
address and later spoke on the spiritual destiny
of Africa.
In a
tribute to Mr. Olinga, Mrs. Nakhjavani spoke of
the "purity" and of the "exemplary
courage" he showed at the age of 27 by
leaving his home in Uganda to become the first
Baha'i in Cameroon.
He
arrived in British Cameroon within hours of the
deadline set by the then Head of the Faith, Shoghi
Effendi, on the last day of the Holy Year (1953)
commemorating the centenary of the Revelation of
Baha'u'llah. |
In early
April 1954, Shoghi Effendi told Mr. Olinga that he
wanted some Baha'is in Cameroon to take the Faith to
five other countries and territories by 21 April, the
holy day known as the First Day of Ridvan.
According
to Mr. Nakhjavani, there were more volunteers than
needed so the Baha'is decided to choose the names by
lot.
Four of the
five chosen then traveled to Nigeria and, with the
assistance of Mr. Nakhjavani, obtained the travel
documents necessary to undertake their mission.
Samuel
Njiki went to French Cameroon (now part of Cameroon),
and David Tanyi arrived in French Togoland (the present
Togo).
Three
others went to territories now part of Ghana: Edward
Tabe moved to British Togoland, Benedict Eballa to
Ashanti Protectorate, and Martin Manga to Northern
Territories Protectorate.
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Cables
were sent to Shoghi Effendi before 21 April to
advise him that his wishes had been carried out.
The
achievements by the Baha'is of Cameroon were among
the most remarkable in the 10-year plan (known as
the "Ten Year Crusade") which took the
teachings of the Faith around the world.
The
five men were later designated by Shoghi Effendi
as Knights of Baha'u'llah.
For
Mr. Olinga's part in the achievement, Shoghi
Effendi gave him the title of Abd'l-Futuh, a
Persian name meaning "the father of
victories."
Meanwhile,
so many people had become Baha'is in Limbe through
the efforts of Mr. Olinga (the first Cameroonian
Baha'i was Jacob Tabot Awo), that a Local
Spiritual Assembly was able to be formed there by
21 April 1954. |
Cameroon sent out many pioneers... James Mbu on
his way to Northern Ghana, 1956. |
Other
guests of honor at the jubilee festivities included Joan
Lincoln, Counsellor member of the International Teaching
Center, and her husband Albert Lincoln,
secretary-general of the Baha'i International Community.
Mrs.
Lincoln spoke about the role of the International
Teaching Centre in supporting community development. She
also talked about her personal experiences in the
Cameroonian Baha'i community.
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In
his speech Mr. Lincoln spoke on the activities of
the Baha'i International Community.
The
program also included a talk by a member of the
National Spiritual Assembly, Francois Guebe, on
"50 Years of the Faith in Cameroon".
Chairing
the sessions were Tiati a Zock, a member of the
continental board of counsellors, Christine
Tchamegni, and members of the National Spiritual
Assembly, Honoree Atem and Alexander Tatah Eyong.
Also
present at the festivities from Buea in Cameroon
was Dr. Mihdi Samandari, Knight of Baha'u'llah for
Somalia, who, with his wife Ursula, moved to
Cameroon three decades ago to aid the Baha'i
community there. Mrs. Samandari, also a Knight of
Baha'u'llah, passed away this year. (See here) |
Meherangiz Munsiff. |
The
celebrations included songs at regular intervals in the
program and two evenings dedicated to cultural
performances. Some 15 performance groups from all parts
of the country, each comprising about 20 people,
presented songs, poetry and traditional dance.
Following
the celebrations in Yaounde, Mr. and Mrs. Nakhjavani,
accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln and some other
guests of honor, went to Limbe to visit the Baha'is of
the South West Province.
They also
went to Buea where they were received by the paramount
chief, and traveled to Douala, a city that has special
significance in the history of the Cameroonian Baha'i
community.
Mrs.
Meherangiz Munsiff, a young Indian woman, arrived there
in April 1954, for which she was honored with the title
Knight of Baha'u'llah.
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| Published in Bahá'í
World News Service |
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