Baháʼí Faith in South Africa
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The Baháʼí Faith in South Africa began with the holding of
Early history
1911 marks the beginning of a presence of the Baháʼí Faith in South Africa at the home of Agnes Cook in Sea Point, Cape Town. Mr. and Mrs. William Fraetas from Muizenberg who had met ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, the son of the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, Baháʼu'lláh, in New York, in 1912 came back to South Africa.
ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's Tablets of the Divine Plan
ʻAbdu'l-Bahá wrote a series of letters, or
After the death of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá Baháʼís began to move to South Africa. By 1929 there were 6 small groups of Baháʼís mainly due to
Ten-Year Crusade
In 1953 Shoghi Effendi planned an international teaching plan termed the
In 1954 in Pretoria, Klaas Mtsweni, a
In April 1956 the Baháʼí Faith was present in small numbers across 15 countries of Southern Africa including islands off Southern Africa. To administer these Baháʼí communities a regional governing body was elected in South Africa to cover them. Following the death of Shoghi Effendi and the election of the
Apartheid
The 1959 Come Back, Africa film about Apartheid mentions the Baháʼí Faith as part of the discussion on the philosophical underpinnings of how the Africans were to respond to the challenge of Apartheid.[9] The mention of the religion begins about 1 hr 10 min into the film, after the performance of Miriam Makeba. It is not known if the cause of the mention of the religion was scripted or improvised, and if by the choice of Lionel Rogosin, the filmmaker (who may have encountered the religion in Israel or the USA) or the Africans themselves because of their exposure to the religion in the country.[9]
As another context for responding to the challenges of the period, it is known that the
Faced with the segregated social pattern and laws of
Abhorring all forms of
The four Baháʼís - three adults and one youth - murdered were Houshmand Anvari, Dr Shama Bakhshandegi, Vincent and Rias Razavi.[16] at the Baháʼí Faith Centre, Mdantsane, Ciskei, on 13 March 1994.[17]
Modern community
Since its inception the religion has had involvement in
In 2004 Baháʼís
In addition to a variety if singular events the Baháʼís engaged in a number of annual events. The perennial youth service and arts project "Beyond Words" has toured South African Baháʼí communities since 2000.[30] The Association for Baháʼí Studies in Southern Africa held its seventh annual conference in 2006 at Bloemfontein, South Africa, including talks by John Grayzel, Chair, Baháʼí Studies, University of Maryland and Continental Counsellor Enos Makhele.[31]
Jubiliee
In 2003 the Baháʼí community of South Africa celebrated their Golden Jubilee (50-year anniversary of the community) in
South African regional conference
Regional conferences were called for by the Universal House of Justice 20 October 2008 to celebrate recent achievements in grassroots community-building and to plan their next steps in organizing in their home areas. Just two weeks later twin conferences were held - one in South Africa and the other in Kenya. One regional conference was hosted by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of South Africa in Johannesburg in November 2008 and attracted over 1000 Baháʼís from Angola, Botswana, La Reunion, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, and Swaziland.[34]
Demographics
Estimates of the Baháʼís in South Africa range from around 201,000[35] to about 240,100 adherents by the World Christian Encyclopedia.[citation needed]
Publications
- My African Heart by Bonnie Fitzpatrick-Moore, Paperback, 196 pages, ISBN 978-1-874801-86-3, December 1999, published by Baha'i Publishing Trust of South Africa.[36] About an African-American Baháʼí author who moved to South Africa and lived there for a quarter century.[37]
- Lights of the Spirit: Historical Portraits of Black Baháʼís in North America By Gwendolyn Etter-Lewis, Richard Walter Thomas, 338 pages, ISBN 1-931847-26-6, 2006, published by United States Baha'i Publishing Trust, includes several individuals who moved or made special trips to South Africa.[37]
- * 'Abdu'l-Bahá; Shoghi Effendi (1998). That Promising Continent - - Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, the Writings and Letters of Shoghi Effendi and the Letters Written on his Behalf on Africa. Johannesburg, SA: National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of South Africa. OCLC 813530033.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of South Africa (2014). "History of the Bahaʼi Faith in South Africa". Official Website. National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of South Africa. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
- ^ ʻAbbas, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá (April 1919). Tablets, Instructions and Words of Explanation. Mirza Ahmad Sohrab (trans. and comments).
- ISBN 0-87743-233-3.
- ISBN 0-87743-233-3.
- ^ a b c Baháʼí International Community (31 December 2003). "Generation expresses gratitude". BWNS. Baháʼí International Community. Retrieved 19 March 2008.
- ^ Lowell Johnson (2007). "Reginald Turvey, painter, South Africa". BAFA. Baháʼí Faith and Arts and the Arts Dialogue. Retrieved 19 March 2008.
- ^ Igama Lamakhosikazi, Malibongwe (2008). "ANC Women's League - 50 Years of struggle". Official Webpage. The ANC Women's League. Archived from the original on 20 February 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2008.
- )
- ^ a b c Watson, Greg (2013). ""Come Back, Africa": First commercial film mentioning the Baha'i Faith". Essays and short articles. Baha'i Library Online. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
- ISBN 978-1-890688-38-7.
- ^ Buck, Christopher (2005). "Alain Locke: Race Leader, Social Philosopher, Baháʼí Pluralist" (PDF). World Order. 36 (3). National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of the United States: 7–36. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
- ^ a b Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa Report (29 October 1998). "Regional Profile: Eastern Cape and Appendix: Statistics on Violations in the Eastern Cape". Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa Report (PDF). Vol. 3. pp. 32, 146. Retrieved 19 March 2008.
- ^ a b National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of South Africa (19 November 1997). "Statement to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission". Baháʼí International Community. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
- ^ a b Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa (29 October 1998). Volume Four - Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa Report (PDF). Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa. 60, 65, 77, 80, 86. Retrieved 19 March 2008.
- ^ Reber, Pat (2 May 1999). "Baha'i Church Shooting Verdicts in". South Africa Associated Press. Retrieved 19 March 2008.
- ^ "Former APLA Commander Denies Ordering Baha'i Attack". South African Press Association. 26 March 1999. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- ^ Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa (29 October 1998). "Victim Findings". Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa Report (PDF). Vol. 7. pp. 13, 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2008. for additional information see:
- O'Malley, Padraig (29 October 1998). "Chapter 7: Political Violence in the Era of Negotiations and Transition, 1990-1994". Retrieved 3 September 2013.
- "Amnesty Hearings". South Africa Broadcast Company (SABC). 2 April 1998. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
- "APLA Cadres jailed 25 years for massacre". ANC NewsBrief. ANC. 20 April 1999. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
- Blair, David (25 November 2005). "Mbeki sued as guerrilla he freed kills again". UK Telegraph. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
- ^ a b Momen, Moojan. "History of the Baha'i Faith in Iran". draft "A Short Encyclopedia of the Baha'i Faith". Bahai-library.com. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
- ^ Kingdon, Geeta Gandhi (1997). "Education of women and socio-economic development". Baháʼí Studies Review. 7 (1).
- .
- ^ Bamford, Suzanne; Rice, Muhtadia (October–December 1999). "In South Africa, the world's religions gather for dialogue and action". One Country. Vol. 11, no. 3.
- ^ Baháʼí International Community (25 June 2001). Statement on HIV/AIDS and Gender Equality. New York, United States: Baháʼí International Community. Archived from the original on 7 November 2007.
- ^ Baháʼí International Community (31 August 2001). "One Same Substance: Consciously Creating a Global Culture of Unity". World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. Durban, South Africa: World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. Archived from the original on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2008.
- ^ Baháʼí International Community (23 August 2002). "Baha'is to stress spiritual values at World Summit on Sustainable Development". Baháʼí World News Service.
- ^ Baháʼí International Community (18 May 2007). "Bahaʼí International Community". Quadrennial reports for the period 2002-2005 submitted through the Secretary-General pursuant to Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31* - Note by the Secretary-General. United Nations. pp. 4–6. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011.
- ^ Aghdasi, Farzin; Shaker, Abbas (9 August 2002). "Community Development Using Spiritually Based Indicators in The South African Bahaʼi Community". Community Development Using Spiritually Based Indicators in The South African Bahaʼi Community. Baháʼí International Community. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2008.
- ^ "Couple put their faith into the picture". Baháʼí World News Service. Archived from the original on 31 May 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2007.
- ^ Shuler, Deardra. "Suzanne Kay and Mark Bamford: Bringing the Cape of Good Hope to America". Theodore Myles Publishing. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2007.
- ^ Baháʼí International Community (19 August 2007). "South African film shows faith in action". Baháʼí World News Service.
- ^ Varjavandi, Roya (17 February 2004). "Beyond Words and the Spirit of Africa". The Scottish Baháʼí. No. 35. Archived from the original on 3 October 2006.
- ^ members of the Association for Baháʼí Studies in Southern Africa (2006). Conference Programme with Abstracts and Notes from Presentations. Bloemfontein, South Africa: Association for Baháʼí Studies in Southern Africa. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2008.
- ^ Woodhurst, Alan (2004). "Baháʼí Activities in South Africa". Baháʼí Journal of the Baháʼí Community of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Vol. 20, no. 5. Archived from the original on 14 October 2006.
- ^ National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of South Africa; President of South Africa; Mr. Thabo Mbeki. "A message from Mr Thabo Mbeki, the President of South Africa". Official Webpage. National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of South Africa. Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 21 March 2008.
- ^ Baháʼí International Community (11 November 2008). "Big turnout for regional Bahaʼi conferences". Baháʼí International News Service.
- ^ "Country Profile: South Africa (Republic of South Africa)". Republic of South Africa: Religious Intelligence. August 2007. Archived from the original on 19 September 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ Loot Online (Pty) Ltd (2008). "loot.co.za". My African Heart. Loot Online (Pty) Ltd. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2008.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-931847-26-1. Retrieved 21 March 2008.
External links
- Baháʼís of South Africa Official Website
- Official Webpage of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís oF South Africa maintained by the Baháʼí International Community
- Baháʼí Club at University of the Witwatersrand.
- Association for Baháʼí Studies in Southern Africa
- Introduction to the Baháʼí Faith in Afrikaans.
- Baha'i Youth of South Africa