Edward Tabe

Edward Tabe, 1971.

Edward Tabe (b. 1940) is a Cameroonian Bahá'í who was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh for pioneering to British Togoland early in the Ten Year Crusade opening the area to the Faith.

Background

Edward was introduced to the Faith as a child while working as a messenger at a hospital in Limbe. He was of the same tribe as David Tanyi and was introduced to the religion at the same time as David and his wife were by Enoch Olinga in 1953. He was actually too young to declare at the time, and it has been suggested that he added a year to his age in order to declare in 1954.

Edward volunteered to pioneer in April 1954, just one week after declaring, when Enoch Olinga requested pioneers from Cameroon to open parts of Africa to the Faith at the direction of Shoghi Effendi. There were more volunteers than necessary and the ultimate decision on who would pioneer was determined by drawing lots, and Edward was selected to open British Togoland, a colony which later became a part of Ghana, to the Faith. He was driven to Ho by Enoch Olinga and Alí Nakhjavání, and he assumed his pioneer post later in April. He was just fourteen at the time. By Ridvan the following year the Local Spiritual Assembly of Ho was established through his efforts. From 1957 to 1959 he served on the West Africa Teaching Committee and in 1960 he moved.

In October 1971 he met Hand of the Cause Rúhíyyih Khánum when she visited Mamfe in Cameroon and accompanied her on a visit to Upper Banyang. He moved abroad in 1975.

References

• Redman, E. The Knights of Bahá’u’lláh, George Ronald Press, London. pp 78-79