(Transcript of a talk given in East London, South Africa in
2001)
We have been travelling for five weeks so far, and have visited Ethiopia,
Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. We have been immersed in a sea of
singing and of music, and we are so happy and grateful to Baha'u'llah that this
trip was possible. I was in South Africa 29 years ago, with Amatu'l-Baha
Ruhiyyih Khanum. She left her home in Haifa in July 1969, and didn't get back
until April 1973. She was travelling for three years and nine months, and
during this time, she visited 60 countries, 34 of which were on the continent
of Africa. South Africa was towards the end of the trip, and was very special.
South Africa, and all of Africa, was a different place 29 years ago.
South Africa was very, very different. Meetings like this, with mixed races and
colors present, were almost impossible. Ruhhiyih Khanum said that this country
was the greatest test to her, because she was told since childhood about racial
unity, amity between the different races and people, so coming here was a real
shock to her. During the four weeks that she was in South West Africa, as it
was called then, she would have daily prayers, to be free of any form of
prejudice. She would say, Baha'u'llah didn't tell us to chose our prejudice, so
we must feel a total lack of prejudice in life. So it was quite hard for her
when she was refused permits to see the Baha'is in different areas, so today,
she is rejoicing with us. I firmly believe that her spirit is in Africa. She
loved this continent, the people, and she had the best years of her life after
the passing of the Guardian here.
