Baháʼí Faith in Niger

The Baháʼí Faith in Niger began during a period of wide scale growth in the religion across Sub-Saharan Africa near the end of its colonial period.[1] The first Baháʼís arrived in Niger in 1966[2] and the growth of the religion reached the point of the election of its National Spiritual Assembly in 1975.[3] Following a period of oppression, making the institutions of the Baháʼí Faith illegal in the late 1970s and '80s, the National Assembly was re-elected starting in 1992. The Baháʼí community in Niger has grown mostly in the south-west of the country where they number in the low thousands. The Association of Religion Data Archives (relying on World Christian Encyclopedia) estimated some 5,600 Baháʼís in 2005.[4]

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Early Period

During the late colonial period of French West Africa the Baháʼí Faith entered the region in 1953.[5] Wide scale growth in the religion across Sub-Saharan Africa was observed to begin in the 1950s and extend in the 1960s.[1] There were over 1000 Baháʼís across North-West Africa[6] resulting in a regional National Spiritual Assembly including French West Africa in 1956.[7] Following the death of Shoghi Effendi, the elected Universal House of Justice was head of the religion and began to re-organized the Baháʼí communities of Africa by splitting off national communities to form their own National Assemblies from 1967 though the 1990s.[8] Following the independence of Niger in 1960, the first pioneers arrived in Niger in 1966.[2] From January to March 1970 Hand of the Cause Rúhíyyih Khanum crossed Africa from east to west visiting many country's communities including Niger, meeting with individuals and institutions both Baháʼí and civic.[9]

Development

The National Spiritual Assembly of Niger, splitting off from the North West African Assembly, was elected in 1975.[3]

As part of a sweep across several Sub-Saharan countries, the Baháʼí Faith was banned in the 1970s in Burundi (1974), Mali (1976), Uganda (1977), Congo (1978) and Niger in 1978, during the government established by the military coup of Seyni Kountché.)

"This was principally the result of a campaign by a number of Arab countries. Since these countries were also by this time providers of development aid, this overt attack on the Baha'is was supported by covert moves such as linking the aid money to a particular country to the action that it took against the Baha'is. This was partially successful and a number of countries did ban the Baha'is for a time. However, the Baha'is were able to demonstrate to these governments that they were not agents of Zionism nor anti-Islamic and succeeded in having the ban reversed in all of these countries except Niger."[10]

The Nigerien government made changes by instituting a multi-party democratic system called for by union and student demands. Following this there was a waning of military coup successor Col. Ali Saibou's power and widespread changes in laws. In 1991, all legal restrictions of the Baháʼí Faith had been ended.[11] though political instability persisted.[12] The National Spiritual Assembly was elected again at Niger's Baháʼí Convention in 1992.[13]

Modern community

Since its inception the religion has had involvement in socio-economic development beginning by giving greater freedom to women,[14] promulgating the promotion of female education as a priority concern,[15] and that involvement was given practical expression by creating schools, agricultural coops, and clinics.[14] The religion entered a new phase of activity when a message of the Universal House of Justice dated 20 October 1983 was released.[16] Baháʼís were urged to seek out ways, compatible with the Baháʼí teachings, in which they could become involved in the social and economic development of the communities in which they lived. Worldwide in 1979 there were 129 officially recognized Baháʼí socio-economic development projects. By 1987, the number of officially recognized development projects had increased to 1482. The Nigerian community has participated in literacy project initiatives.[17]

Demographics

The Baháʼís of Niger number a few thousand and are located primarily in Niamey and on the west side of the Niger River bordering Burkina Faso.[18] The Association of Religion Data Archives (relying on World Christian Encyclopedia) estimated some 5,600 Baháʼís in 2005.[4]

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See also

References
  1. "Overview Of World Religions". General Essay on the Religions of Sub-Saharan Africa. Division of Religion and Philosophy, University of Cumbria. Archived from the original on 2007-12-09. Retrieved 2008-04-16.
  2. House of Justice, Universal (1966). "Ridván Letter, 1966". Ridvan Messages from the Universal House of Justice. Baháʼí Library Online. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  3. Hassall, Graham. "Notes on Research on National Spiritual Assemblies". Asia Pacific Baháʼí Studies. Baháʼí Library Online. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  4. "Most Baha'i Nations (2005)". QuickLists > Compare Nations > Religions >. The Association of Religion Data Archives. 2005. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
  5. Baháʼí International Community (2003-12-28). "National communities celebrate together". Baháʼí World News Service.
  6. Effendi, Shoghi; Hands of the Cause residing in the Holy Land (1963). "North West Africa". Baháʼí World 1954-63. Baháʼí International Community. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  7. Hands of the Cause. "The Baháʼí Faith: 1844-1963: Information Statistical and Comparative, Including the Achievements of the Ten Year International Baháʼí Teaching & Consolidation Plan 1953-1963". pp. 22, 46.
  8. National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of South Africa (1997). "Baháʼís in South Africa - Progress of the Baháʼí Faith in South Africa since 1911". Official Website. National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of South Africa. Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
  9. "Hand of the Cause of God Rúhíyyih Khanum Travels Six Thousand Miles Across Africa". Baháʼí News (209): 3–18. June 1970.
  10. Smith, Peter; Momen, Moojan (1989). "The Baha'i Faith 1957-1988: A Survey of Contemporary Developments". Religion. 19 (1): 63–91. doi:10.1016/0048-721X(89)90077-8.
  11. "NIGER". Synopsis of References to the Baháʼí Faith, in the US State Department's Reports on Human Rights 1991-2000. Compiled by Ralph D. Wagner. Baháʼí Library Online. Retrieved 2008-05-04.CS1 maint: others (link)
  12. Amnesty International (2000-04-06). "Niger: The people of Niger have the right to truth and justice". Amnesty International News Service. Archived from the original on 2006-11-29.
  13. Universal House of Justice (1992). "Ridván Letter, 1992". Ridvan Messages from the Universal House of Justice. Baháʼí Library Online. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  14. Momen, Moojan. "History of the Baha'i Faith in Iran". draft "A Short Encyclopedia of the Baha'i Faith". Bahai-library.com. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
  15. Kingdon, Geeta Gandhi (1997). "Education of women and socio-economic development". Baha'i Studies Review. 7 (1).
  16. Momen, Moojan; Smith, Peter (1989). "The Baha'i Faith 1957–1988: A Survey of Contemporary Developments". Religion. 19: 63–91. doi:10.1016/0048-721X(89)90077-8.
  17. Baháʼí International Community (April–June 2004). "Perspective: Literacy and Development". One Country. 16 (1).
  18. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (2004). "International Religious Freedom Report". United States State Department. Retrieved 2008-04-29.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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