Some Baha'i communities in Africa:
In Africa, four communities celebrate 50 years of progress
LILONGWE, Malawi -- Fifty years ago, the first two members of the Bahá'í community here would meet in the bush at night. There they would say prayers together, 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, describing the first Bahá'í gatherings in Malawi during commemorations of the community's 50th anniversary in August.
Mr. Sohaili, of Persian background, had arrived from India in 1953 and was considered white. The first Malawian Bahá'í, Dudley Smith Kumtendere, was black. And colonial policy at the time discouraged racially mixed gatherings.
But much has changed in the 50 years since the Bahá'í Faith was first established here. Since Malawi gained its independence in 1964, Bahá'ís have been able openly to express their commitment to the basic principles of their Faith, such as the oneness of humanity.
Today, there are more than 15,000 Bahá'ís in Malawi -- along with other signs of a flourishing community life: a handsome national headquarters, 15 local centers, and the existence of some 101 local-level governing councils, known as Local Spiritual Assemblies.
There have been similar signs of progress for Bahá'í communities in the three other African countries where Bahá'ís also celebrated 50th anniversaries in August and September 2003.
In Cameroon, there are now some 40,000 Bahá'ís. In the Republic of the Congo, some 20 Local Spiritual Assemblies have been established. And in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the national Bahá'í governing body, the National Spiritual Assembly, was recently able to meet in the capital for the first time in five years, since the outbreak of civil war in 1998.
All of these accomplishments and more were commemorated in gala celebrations held in the capital cities of each of the four countries last summer.
It is no coincidence that four African Bahá'í communities celebrated their 50th anniversaries this summer. In 1953, Bahá'ís around the world embarked on a ten-year plan aimed at spreading the principles of their Faith to every land. During that period, Bahá'ís carried the Faith to some 131 new countries and territories, raising to 259 the places where the Faith was established -- including many countries and territories in Africa.
In all this year, Bahá'í communities in some 17 countries will observe their golden anniversaries. In addition to the four mentioned here, they include: Cyprus, Guinea-Bissau, Kiribati, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Namibia, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Togo, Vanuatu, and Zimbabwe.
In the African countries celebrating their jubilees in August and September, the commemorations were marked by visitors from around the world, significant media coverage, and ceremonies featuring song, dance, and prayer.
In Cameroon, more than 560 Bahá'í from all regions of the country attended the jubilee celebrations, which were held in Yaoundé on 22-23 August 2003. Guests also came from Australia, Botswana, Canada, Equatorial Guinea, France, Morocco, Rwanda, Uganda, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
