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RUDOLFO DUNA 1913—1986
In London’s Albert Hall in 1963, at the World Congress following the election of the first Universal House of Justice, Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Ehénum was overcome by deep emotion and faltered during her inspiring presentation about the beloved Guardian. Then, the golden voice of Rudolfo Duna soared out across the auditorium singing “Allah’u’Abhá”. He was quickly joined by some 6,000 voices in praise of their Lord, giving Rúḥíyyih Khánum time to regain her composure, and welding all hearts in a deep spirit of love and unity. This instant response to emergencies as well as teaching opportunities characterized Rudolfo Duna’s services to the Faith Which he loved so dearly. Rudolfo was born on 23 July 1913 in Loureneo Marques, Mozambique [now Maputo] into a staunch Christian family belonging to the Swiss Mission Church. Just before he heard about the Bahá’í Faith from pioneers Mr. John and Mrs. Charlotte de Pinto in 1955, he was preparing to become an evangelist for the Swiss Mission Church. He had no difficulty in recognizing the truth of the Teachings of Baha’u’llah, and became an ardent and indefatigable believer. Rudolfo was the third person in Mozambique to accept the Bahá’í Faith during the World Crusade of the beloved Guardian, and he became a member of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Loureneo Marques. The day after the formation of the Local Assembly, Mr. and Mrs. de Pinto were forced to leave the country, and a few days later the first three believers in Mozambique were arrested and put into prison, their homes searched and their Bahá’í books confiscated. Rudolfo spent about a week in jail and was
freed after being told that he should not fol- '
low the religion brought by the de Pintos. However, in the words of Rudolfo himself, “As we have already tasted the sweet savour of the love of the Bath and Baha’u’llah, it is hard to reject the truth of the love of God.”
THE BAHA’l WORLD
Shortly after the formation of the first Local Spiritual Assembly in Mozambique in 1955, the call came from Shoghi Effendi for pioneers to go to Angola, the sister colony of Mozambique under the rule of Portugal.
Rudolfo and his wife, Angelica, knew little about the Faith of Baha’u’llah at that time, but their hearts were filled with love for the beloved Guardian. Then, Mrs. Duna had a wonderful dream, according to Rudolfo. “She saw a light never seen before by men’s eyes and it came to her as an awakening and a warning. Then she said, ‘This gives me courage and I feel I must obey the command of God to go to Angola!’...so we began to pray that God’s Will would be done.”
This decision won them the honor of being the first African pioneers in southern Africa to arise in obedience to the call of the Guardian.
Once they had decided, they never wavered in their determination to take their beloved new Faith to another land, in spite of all the discouragement and fears of family and friends. They went with their young daughter, Dora.
“We had to travel third class”, Rodulfo related. [It was] “a long journey on hard seats and hard to sleep on too, but we were happy because we were following the command of our beloved Shoghi Effendi who was praying for us. 1 had never seen him before, but one thing for sure, he was praying for us.”
In Luanda, they met Mr. Joao, who became the first believer and together they began to teach until the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Luanda was formed that April. The arrival of new pioneers from Portugal made it possible for the Dunas to return home after one year’s stay in Angola and pick up the thread of their services in their home country.
When they returned to Loureneo Marques, they found the Local Assembly was no longer functioning and the believers were fearful and disheartened. They called the Bahá’ís together and did what they could
IN MEMORIAM
to strengthen and inspire them to hold Feasts and to teach, but it was very difficult as the authorities were watchful and suspicious.
In 1962, Mr. Duna was elected to the Regional Spiritual Assembly of South and West Africa, and it became his privilege and honour to travel to Haifa where he participated in the election of the first Universal House of Justice in 1963 at the close of the Ten Year Crusade.
After the Bahá’í World Congress, Mr. and Mrs. Duna were asked to stop in Northern Rhodesia [now Zambia] to teach in an area which showed promise for mass conversion. They spent one month in the Mwinilunga area in the northwestern part of the country, and the promise became a reality as many souls embraced the Faith. They really had the magic touch of bringing many people into the fold of Baha’u’llah.
Upon his return home, Rudolfo was appointed to the Auxiliary Board for Propagation, a post which he held until his passing.
The 1970s were days of political unrest in Mozambique. Many outstanding Mozambican leaders were put in jail, including Rudolfo, Who was imprisoned because of his Bahá’í activities. For three and a half years he suffered greatly, from solitary confinement, which lasted almost two years, to frequent beating and torture. Finally, because of his good conduct, he was permitted to take up basket weaving, ivory carving, and even to carry on his trade of plumbing outside the prison walls.
While in prison, Rudolfo was active in teaching the Faith and several of his fellow inmates became Bahá’ís. They were encouraged by him to translate Bahá’í prayers into Shimakonde, and What is the Bahá’í' Faith? into Shimakua, and he himself translated Bahá’u’lláh, Word Made Flesh? by HM. Balyuzi, into Shironga.
After his release from prison, Rudolfo continued his work as Board member, he1ping the believers and encouraging them to teach and be active. The affairs of Mozambique were looking up. In 1976, the
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Rudolfo Duna
Dunas made another trip to Angola at the request of the Counsellors, to assist the friends. They also visited Portugal, always spreading the love and knowledge of Baha’u’llah wherever they went.
In 1985, the Dunas were on hand to assist in the formation of the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Mozambique. This was something Rudolfo had dreamed of, had worked for, and had looked forward to for a long, long time. When the members of the National Assembly were announced and were asked to come forward, he looked at them and, especially because he saw his own daughter as a member, turned to Counsellor Fathi—A’zam, held his hand and said: “Shidan, this is the happiest moment of my life. My work is now ended. I am now ready to meet my Maker.”
Among the many attributes which made Rudolfo an outstanding Bahá’í was his talent to compose music and write beautiful songs Which were sung in Bahá’í meetings in many countries of the world. Among his many accomplishments was his work translating Bahá’í teachings into Shironga, one of the
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major languages of Mozambique. Bahá’í' Administration, Bahá’í' History, Tdhirih, Mulld Husayn, QuddLZs, The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, What Is the Bahá’í Faith?, and prayers are among his translation work.
Those Who knew him well will long remember his steadfastness in the Faith, his devotion and love for Bahá’u’lláh, his perseverance in teaching the Cause and his loyalty and abiding love for the Bahá’í friends.
The following message was sent on 3 November 1986 by the Universal House of Justice when informed of his passing:
DEEPLY GRIEVED PASSING DEVOTED PROMOTER FAITH RUDOLFO DUNA. HIS LONG RECORD DEDICATED LABOURS IN BOTH TEACHING AND ADMINISTRATIVE FIELDS SERVICE UNFORGETTABLE. ASSURE RELATIVES LOVING PRAYERS PROGRESS HIS NOBLE SOUL. ADVISE ALL LOCAL ASSEMBLIES MOZAMBIQUE HOLD MEMORIAL GATHERINGS IN HIS NAME.
SHtDAN FATHI-A’ZAM (Shidan Fat’he—azam)
