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Central African Republic

From Bahaipedia
 Central African Republic
The first National Convention of the Central African Republic, 1971.
Location of the Central African Republic
National AssemblyCentral African Republic
Statistics:
Total Population
 -  UN 2021[1] 5,457,154
Bahá'í pop.
 -  Bahá'í source  
 -  Non-Bahá'í source 11,977
History:
Firsts
 -  Local Bahá'í Charles Morgan
Pierre Sangha 
 -  Pioneers 1956, Samson Nkeng 
 -  Local Assembly 1962, Bangui 
 -  National Assembly 1971 
How to contact:
 -  Email secretariat@bahaicentrafrique.org
Official Website https://www.bahai.org/national-communities/central-african-republic
Related media
Categories: Central African Republic • People

The Central African Republic is a country in Central Africa. Its official languages are French and Sango and the predominant religion is Christianity.

The area has been inhabited since prehistory. In the late 19th century it was colonized by France, Germany, and Belgium and after the First World War it was annexed by France. In 1920 French Equatorial Africa was established, which encompassed the modern Central African Republic and in 1960 the Central African Republic achieved independence from France. It became the Central African Empire in 1976 but in 1979 the monarchy was overthrown by France and the Central African Republic was restored. The Central African Republic Bush War, fought between the government and multiple rebel groups, began in 2004 and continues to be fought to this day.

The Bahá'í Faith was established in the Central African Republic in 1956, and it has steadily grown since despite the periods of instability the country has experienced. In 1971 the Faith was officially recognized as a religion by the government and the Bahá'í community has made efforts to contribute to the social and economic development of the country in recent years.

History[edit]

Establishment of a Bahá’í Community[edit]

At the opening of the Ten Year Crusade French Equatorial Africa as a whole was set as a goal territory to be opened to the Faith, as such what is now the Central African Republic was not itself a goal territory.[2] The first Bahá'í pioneer to the region which is now the Central African Republic was Samson Nkeng who arrived in January 1956, and the first locals to become Bahá'ís were Charles Morgan and Pierre Sangha.[3] In 1960 Alí Nakhjavání visited Bangui where there was a group of six Bahá’ís and he helped the group prepare a Bahá’í pamphlet in the Sango language which was distributed.[4]

In October 1961 Qudratu’lláh Ázamíkháh pioneered to Bangui and he and Isaac Eziukwu stimulated teaching activity which resulted in the formation of a Local Spiritual Assembly in 1962. During his time in Bangui Ázamíkháh also deepened the community on the Faith.[5] In 1964 the National Spiritual Assembly of Uganda and Central Africa was formed and given the responsibility of administrating the Faith in the Central African Republic,[6] with Bangui being the only Local Spiritual Assembly in the Central African Republic as of that year.[7]

In 1967 Janet Mughrabi, Secretary of the National Assembly of West Central Africa, made a teaching trip to Bangui visiting the Bahá'ís who had largely been isolated from the wider Bahá'í community.[8] As of 1968 there was still only one Local Spiritual Assembly in the country, however teaching work undertaken in late 1968 resulted in four additional Local Spiritual Assemblies being established in 1969, and in September 1969 a Regional Administrative Committee was appointed to prepare Chad, Gabon, Congo, and the Central African Republic for the establishment of a National Spiritual Assembly of Central Africa.[9] The Local Spiritual Assembly of Bangui submitted a request for official recognition and registration from the government in October 1969, but this request was not answered.[10]

In January 1970 Hand of the Cause Rúhíyyih Khánum visited Bangui for ten days. At this time there were two pioneer families in the city, one from Haiti. During her stay she also visited Bahá'í communities in the neighboring villages Tete Source, Ounngo, and Kolongo.[11] In May 1970 the first Bahá'í Convention for Central Africa was held in Bangui with Bahá'ís attending from the Central African Republic, Chad, Gabon, and Congo, and a National Spiritual Assembly of Central Africa being formed. Prior to the Convention Hand of the Cause Abu'l-Qásim Faizi conducted a deepening class and he also opened the Convention with a Persian chant. At the Convention it was reported that the Central African Republic had five Local Spiritual Assemblies and had recently experienced a rapid increase in declarations.[12]

On November 11, 1970, the Bahá'ís of Bangui were arrested during a celebration of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh and they were held for four days while the authorities investigated the religion. The investigation found that there was no basis for suspicion and the Bahá'ís were released, however they were not permitted to teach, hold meetings without obtaining permission, or distribute Bahá'í literature. In early 1971 Dr. Aziz Navidi visited Bangui and submitted a file of documents on the Faith as part of an application for official recognition and on February 13, 1971, the Bahá'í Faith was officially registered as a religion.[13]

The 1970's[edit]

Official recognition allowed the Bahá’í community of the country to develop throughout the 1970's and in April 1971 the National Spiritual Assembly of the Central African Republic was established at a National Convention in Bangui, with Hand of the Cause ‘Alí-Muhammad Varqá in attendance.[14] Several major Bahá’í gatherings and events were held in the Central African Republic throughout the 1970's. In October 1971 a Victory Conference was held in Bangui at the newly acquired National Haziratu'l-Quds at the direction of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Central and East Africa. Over fifty Bahá'ís from all parts of the country attended to discuss the goals of the Nine Year Plan.[15] In March 1972 the Conference of the Continental Board of Counsellors and Auxiliary Board members was held in Bangui.[16]

From 1972 to 1973 over 1000 people declared in the country and in March 1973 the Bahá'ís received permission to present a weekly radio program broadcast nationally. As of 1973 the Bahá'ís had been invited to send a representative to official functions at the Presidential Palace on two occasions,[17] and in June 1973 a thirty minute interview with three members of the National Spiritual Assembly who had recently attended the Third International Convention was broadcast on Radio Bangui.[18] As of 1973 there were twenty-two Local Spiritual Assemblies in the country, and Bahá'ís resident in one hundred and fifteen localities, with the size of the community estimated at over one thousand members.[19]

In 1974 it was announced that the Bahá'ís would be participating in the national independence day parade a few weeks prior to the event, however the Bahá'í community had not been consulted and was unprepared. Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga, who was visiting the country at the time, consulted with the community and recommended that they participate even if their participation would quite modest. The Bahá'ís participated in the parade with black and white women and men marching with a banner which said "La Foi Bahá'íe".[20]

In 1975 the Bahá'ís were granted thirty minutes of television time and they prepared a children's program.[21] In March 1976 the Bahá'ís were invited to the commemoration of the death of the first President of the Central African Republic and two Bahá'í women read quotes from the Writings on life after death.[22] As of 1979 there were twenty-six Local Spiritual Assemblies in the Central African Empire with one being incorporated. There were also two regional Bahá'í centers and thirteen local Bahá'í centers.[23]

The 1980's[edit]

In May 1980 five members of the National Spiritual Assembly presented Bahá'í books to a United Nations Development Program representative in Bangui.[24] In 1981 five members of the National Spiritual Assembly and an Auxiliary Board member participated in a reception for all religious groups of the presidential palace of the Central African Republic, shaking hands with the President and reading a Bahá'í prayer for unity.[25] In July 1981 a regional Bahá'í Women's Conference attended by twenty-eight was held in Bossangoa.[26] In 1983 the National Assembly received official permission to publish articles about the Faith in newspapers from the Ministry of Information.[27]

In March 1984 a weekly Bahá'í radio program which had been broadcasting for four years was suspended, however a Bahá'í delegation met with the President in April 1985 which resulted in permission being granted for the program to resume broadcasting.[28] From April to May 1984 a Bahá'í mobile institute traveled across the Central African Republic visiting three villages in which five-day deepening institutes were held, which were based on the Ruhi Institutes at that time held only in Colombia.[29] In March 1986 The Promise of World Peace, the peace statement by the Universal House of Justice, was indirectly given to the President through his General Secretary.[30]

From October 1988 to April 1989 657 people declared in the Central African Republic and fourteen Local Spiritual Assemblies were formed.[31]

1990's to the Present[edit]

In 1992 a new National Centre was inaugurated in Bangui.[32] In 1993 a pilot literacy project was begun in the Central African Republic at the direction of the Office of Social and Economic Development at the Bahá'í World Centre.[33] In 2003 the Ahdieh Foundation was founded which promotes community schools across the Central African Republic.[34]

The war which began in 2004 has led to a decline in stability across the country, nevertheless the Bahá'ís of the country are still contactable.[35] In November 2008 a Regional Conference was held in Bangui and was attended by 831 participants. During sessions the institute process was discussed.[36] In June 2015 one of the 114 youth conferences was held in Bangui, and attended by approximately 400. It was held two years after the other youth conferences due to violence in the country requiring its postponement.[37]

In 2020 the Baháʼí inspired Ahdieh Foundation was able to provide education throughout the coronavirus pandemic through small classes in keeping with government regulations held in parents homes. The director of the organization, Clément Feizouré, said the following:

“The community feels that the school is theirs. Our organization helps with developing capacity for teaching and administration, but community members have ownership over the school’s management, resources, and educational program. They have continued to uphold this responsibility during these disruptive times.”[38]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "World Population Prospects 2022". population.un.org. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  2. ↑ Baha'i News (1953). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 265, Pg(s) 2. View as PDF.
  3. ↑ Lee, A.A., The Baha'i Faith in Africa: Establishing a New Religious Movement, 1952-1962, 2011 Brill: Boston, p 91
  4. ↑ Baha'i News (1960). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 351, Pg(s) 5. View as PDF.
  5. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1978). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 16 (1973-1976), Pg(s) 519. View as PDF.
  6. ↑ Baha'i News (1963). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 393, Pg(s) 2. View as PDF.
  7. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1974). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 14 (1963-1968), Pg(s) 125. View as PDF.
  8. ↑ Baha'i News (1967). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 434, Pg(s) 4. View as PDF.
  9. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1976). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 15 (1968-1973), Pg(s) 207. View as PDF.
  10. ↑ Baha'i News (1971). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 482, Pg(s) 7. View as PDF.
  11. ↑ Baha'i News (1970). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 471, Pg(s) 10. View as PDF.
  12. ↑ Baha'i News (1970). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 473, Pg(s) 20. View as PDF.
  13. ↑ Baha'i News (1971). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 482, Pg(s) 7. View as PDF.
  14. ↑ Baha'i News (1971). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 484, Pg(s) 11. View as PDF.
  15. ↑ Baha'i News (1972). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 497, Pg(s) 22. View as PDF.
  16. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1976). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 15 (1968-1973), Pg(s) 209. View as PDF.
  17. ↑ Baha'i News (1974). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 517, Pg(s) 7. View as PDF.
  18. ↑ Baha'i News (1973). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 511, Pg(s) 20. View as PDF.
  19. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1976). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 15 (1968-1973), Pg(s) 207. View as PDF.
  20. ↑ Baha'i News (1975). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 529, Pg(s) 2. View as PDF.
  21. ↑ Baha'i News (1976). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 542, Pg(s) 8. View as PDF.
  22. ↑ Baha'i News (1976). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 544, Pg(s) 7. View as PDF.
  23. ↑ Baha'i News (1979). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 581, Pg(s) 4. View as PDF.
  24. ↑ Baha'i News (1981). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 598, Pg(s) 16. View as PDF.
  25. ↑ Baha'i News (1981). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 604, Pg(s) 13. View as PDF.
  26. ↑ Baha'i News (1982). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 620, Pg(s) 16. View as PDF.
  27. ↑ Baha'i News (1983). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 630, Pg(s) 12. View as PDF.
  28. ↑ Baha'i News (1986). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 664, Pg(s) 14. View as PDF.
  29. ↑ Baha'i News (1984). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 641, Pg(s) 6. View as PDF.
  30. ↑ Baha'i News (1988). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 683, Pg(s) 3. View as PDF.
  31. ↑ Baha'i News (1989). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 701, Pg(s) 10-11. View as PDF.
  32. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1998). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 20 (1986-1992), Pg(s) 258. View as PDF.
  33. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1996). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 23 (1994-1995), Pg(s) 128. View as PDF.
  34. ↑ https://bahaiteachings.org/learning-education-experience-ahdieh-foundation
  35. ↑ https://www.bahai.org/national-communities/central-african-republic
  36. ↑ https://news.bahai.org/community-news/regional-conferences/bangui.html
  37. ↑ https://news.bahai.org/story/1059
  38. ↑ https://news.bahai.org/story/1435/


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