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Royal praise for Baha'i development projects
MBABANE, Swaziland, 20 July, 2004 (BWNS) -- Members of the royal family and
other dignitaries praised the Baha'i community at celebrations marking the
50th jubilee of the Baha'i Faith here.

"The contribution of the Baha'i Faith in Swaziland is highly commendable,"
said Zephania Hlatjwako, the principal secretary to Prince Gabheni, the
Minister of Home Affairs.

Mr. Hlatjwako made his comment at the national library	in Mbabane as he
opened an exhibition depicting photographs of the early Baha'is of Swaziland.

"The Baha'is have established an educational complex in Malagwane hill [in
Mbabane] which strives to provide excellent academic and moral education at
pre-primary, primary, and high school levels," Mr. Hlatjwako said.

The school, founded in 1990, has more than 850 enrollments this year.
Students
sit their examinations under the Cambridge international examinations system.

Another example of the Baha'i contribution to education is the Tarbiyat
School
in Manzini. This institution is for pupils who have difficulties in regular
schools. The curriculum focuses on moral education, youth enrichment,
computer
literacy, HIV/AIDS prevention -- and even includes a bee-keeping course.
There
are four other Baha'i schools in Swaziland.

The jubilee celebrations, held between 11-16 May 2004, featured presentations
on the history of the Swaziland Baha'i community, which now has 24 Local
Spiritual Assemblies.

The event was rich in cultural entertainment. The Swaziland Baha'i choir sang
and a local Baha'i youth dance troupe gave performances inspired by Baha'i
principles.

Thoze Nomvete and Crispin Pemberton-Piggot performed a song written for the
occasion with lyrics about the history of the Faith in Swaziland.

Some 600 participants, including visitors, who came from Botswana, Lesotho,
Malawi, South Africa, and the United States enjoyed a traditional feast,
known
as "braai," which was held at the Baha'i center.

Some of the early Baha'is -- including Ben Dlamini, Chuck Ducker, Modison
Magaluga, and Jacob Mdluli -- told touching stories about the first Baha'is
in
Swaziland, Bula Mott Stewart and John and Valera Allen.

Ms. Stewart arrived in Swaziland from the United States on 11 April 1954. As
the first person to introduce the Baha'i Faith to Swaziland, she received the
accolade of Knight of Baha'u'llah from the then head of the Faith, Shoghi
Effendi.

She spent six-weeks in that country and later moved to South Africa, where
despite the oppressive racist laws, was able to give the Baha'i teachings to
the local people, many of whom became Baha'is. Ms. Stewart later served the
Faith in Hong Kong, and the Pacific.

On 19 April 1954, John and Valera Allen, also from the United States, arrived
in the country to help to establish the Baha'i community and they too were
named Knights of Baha'u'llah. Another Baha'i who settled there that year was
Mrs. Allen's mother, Maude Todd Fisher.

Mr. Allen, who had run a successful car business in San Francisco, helped
scores of Baha'is  from other countries to settle in Swaziland. He built, and
largely financed, schools and Baha'i centers in the country.

Mr. and Mrs. Allen were both elected to the first Local Spiritual Assembly of
Mbabane in 1955. Mr. Allen served as the chairman of the first National
Spiritual Assembly of Swaziland when it was formed in 1971.

Mrs. Allen served on the National Teaching Committee. In 1959 she was elected
to the National Assembly of South and West Africa and served as secretary.

Among the first local people to become Baha'is were Isaiah Phala, a teacher,
and his wife, Jemima. Others to follow were Ben Dlamini, Chris Kuhlase,
Andrew
Mofokeng,  Maxwell Ndlovu, and some of the children of the late King Sobhuza
II. One of those was Princess Gcinaphi, an ardent promoter of Baha'i
principles, who went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1984.

On several occasions, Baha'is met the King, who often assured them of his
support for the Baha'i community. A tribute to the late King was offered at
the jubilee by Beth Allen, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors
for Africa.

Also attending from the Continental Board of Counsellors for Africa were Enos
Makhele and Maina Mkandawire.

Representatives of King Mswati III and the Queen Mother were present at the
jubilee festivities, a sign of the continuing good relations between
Swaziland's royal family and the Baha'i community.

A message from the King was read on his behalf by his brother, Prince Phinda,
a member of the Swaziland National Council.

"We have no doubt that the Baha'is have found a happy home in the kingdom of
Eswatini [Swaziland]," the King's letter to the participants said. "This is
evident through their active participation in and contribution to the welfare
of the Swazi nation."

The King's message also praised the Baha'i community's efforts in educational
and agricultural projects.

The Queen Mother sent a  message in which she related some of the main
teachings of the Baha'i Faith to current issues in Swazi society. Her message
was delivered by a royal representative, A.K. Hlope.

"As the Swazi nation, we pledge to continue to pray for unity, peace, and
harmony, and to support all organizations that promote such values, for a
better world, for the benefit of all mankind," the Queen Mother's message
said.

Several newspapers reported extensively on the jubilee, among them "The
Nation" monthly magazine and the "Weekend Observer," which published articles
about the Baha'i Faith on four weekends. Radio Swaziland broadcast several
talks on the Faith, both in English and the local language, Siswati.

Guests received a color booklet produced for the jubilee. It depicts the
major
events in the history of the Swaziland Baha'i community and tells of the
service of the local Baha'is assisted by many traveling teachers from a
variety of countries, as well as those Baha'is who settled in the country. It
also refers to visits by many distinguished Baha'is, among them Madame
Ruhiyyih Rabbani and other Hands of the Cause, including Collis Featherstone,
Leroy Ioas, Adelbert Muhlschlegel, Enoch Olinga, John Robarts, and William
Sears.