Africa Speaks — Page 67
SIERRA LEONE THE UNITY-leading paper of Freetown--carried a curtain-raiser on May 5, the day he was to land in Freetown. Radio Sierra Leone made special arrangements for a running commentary. It started from the moment he landed at Lungi Airport and continued for about one-and-half hour till he reached the State Guest House. The UNITY reported: MESSIAH DUE TODAY His Holiness Mirza Nasir Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih III, the Supreme Head of Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, is arriving in Sierra Leone today. At the Lungi Airport he will be met and received by the Amir, the Executive, and the Elders of Ahmadiyya Jamaat and by the Freetown dignitaries including some Ministers of Government and other high officials. His visit to this country forms the last stage of his tour of West Africa which began on April 10, 1970 with his visit to Nigeria. He has visited Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia and Gambia where he met the Heads of State and addressed public meetings. The purpose of his tour is to convey the message of Islam and Ahmadiyyat to African nations. In Sierra Leone, His Holiness Khalifatul Masih will call on the Head of State and the Prime Minister, visit educational institutions in Freetown and Bo, address public meetings and grant audience. His Holiness is a great exponent of brotherhood and equality of mankind irrespective of differences of race or colour. Below is given a brief sketch of his life. Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih, 3rd Caliph of the Pro mised Messiah and Mahdi (Peace be on him) and august Head of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam; was born in 1909 at Oadian, India. Early in life he learnt the Holy Ouran by heart and was educated at Oadian, Lahore and Oxford. 68