PROVIDENCE ISLAND, Monrovia — In a renewed effort to reclaim and safeguard Liberia’s wealthy cultural heritage, the Workplace of Liberia’s Arts and Tradition Ambassador, in collaboration with the Liberia Nationwide Tourism Authority (LNTA), has launched a significant nationwide convention and cultural extravaganza, accompanied by sturdy calls for presidency and stakeholder help.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
The initiative, which commenced on New Yr’s Day on the historic Windfall Island in Monrovia, introduced collectively conventional leaders, cultural custodians, artists, artistic business professionals, and cultural veterans from the Liberian diaspora, all united by a shared need to revive and promote the nation’s nationwide heritage.
The occasion, dubbed the Nationwide “Dugbor” Arts and Cultural Peace Competition, marked what organizers described as the start of a sustained nationwide course of aimed toward preserving Liberia’s cultural id and strengthening peace by means of cultural diplomacy.
Why “Dugbor”?
“Dugbor,” a Bassa vernacular phrase which means Monrovia, holds deep historic significance as town the place Liberia’s political seat is situated and the place indigenous communities and returnees from slavery traditionally converged to advertise peaceable coexistence.
Organizers mentioned the competition attracts inspiration from this legacy, positioning Dugbor as a symbolic area of unity, reconciliation, and shared id.
Tradition as a Instrument for Peace and Nation Branding
Arts and Tradition Ambassador Kekura Kamara described the convention as a sacred gathering of id, reminiscence, creativity, and hope. He mentioned the first goal of the initiative is to advertise peace by means of cultural diplomacy whereas strengthening Liberia’s international picture by means of heritage preservation.
Held underneath the theme “Selling Peace, Heritage, and Diaspora Unity,” Ambassador Kamara really useful that Dugbor be institutionalized as a nationwide cultural platform the place Liberians at residence and overseas, alongside buddies of Liberia, can reconnect, replicate on shared historical past, and collectively reimagine the longer term.
“The Dugbor Arts and Cultural Peace Competition is designed to have a good time Liberia’s wealthy cultural heritage and inventive range, heal our previous by means of peace, reconciliation and artistic expression, reconnect the Liberian diaspora to their roots and nationwide growth, promote tourism and the artistic economic system, and construct an annual legacy competition that firmly locations Liberia on the worldwide cultural map,” Kamara mentioned.
“This can be a competition with a soul and a technique,” he added.
Financial Affect of Tradition
Ambassador Kamara emphasised that past cultural preservation, Dugbor has the potential to function an engine for financial progress.
“From the streets of Monrovia to chose counties throughout the nation, Dugbor will activate resorts, transport companies, markets, trend homes, meals distributors, filmmakers, musicians, writers, photographers, and tour operators,” he mentioned. “On this manner, tradition turns into a bridge for social cohesion and a magnet for worldwide goodwill.”
Name for Authorities and Stakeholder Assist
Regardless of what he described as a promising starting, Ambassador Kamara—often known as Malalawa Balawala—burdened that the imaginative and prescient can’t be achieved by one establishment alone. He referred to as on the Authorities of Liberia to offer sustained coverage help, authorized safety, and strategic partnership for the artistic economic system.
He additionally urged public companies and state-owned enterprises to spend money on tradition as a pillar of nationwide branding and youth empowerment, arguing that Liberia’s artistic business has the potential to turn out to be a significant driver of financial progress.
Moreover, the tradition envoy prolonged invites to international embassies and diplomatic missions to deepen cultural change and people-to-people diplomacy, whereas calling on worldwide organizations and growth companions to acknowledge tradition as a strong device for peacebuilding and sustainable growth.
The personal sector and most of the people, he mentioned, should additionally take possession of the method.
“Dugbor belongs to all of us. Our tradition is our first structure. Our heritage is our first college,” Kamara mentioned. “From the Kpelle hut to the Kru coast, from the Vai script to the Grebo masks, from storytelling to drumming, weaving, dance, delicacies, movie, trend, and language—we should protect, doc, promote, and go on our heritage to the following technology.”
Name for Unity throughout the Artistic Business
Ambassador Kamara additionally appealed for unity and solidarity amongst Liberia’s artistic our bodies, together with the Liberia Nationwide Tradition Union, Musicians Union of Liberia, Liberia Film Union, Liberia Writers Affiliation, Affiliation of Skilled Cooks of Liberia, Photographers Affiliation, Tailors Union, Pedigrees Affiliation, and different cultural establishments.
In accordance with him, peace and unity throughout the artistic sector are important for the success of efforts to reclaim and promote Liberia’s cultural heritage.
“This can be a motion for peace, a motion for heritage, and a motion for unity at residence and throughout the diaspora,” he mentioned. “Allow us to make this a nationwide motion that builds a permanent cultural legacy for generations to return.”
Stakeholders Name for Concrete Motion
Representatives from numerous artistic industries attending the occasion urged the Liberian authorities to take concrete steps towards restoring the nation’s practically vanished cultural heritage. They referred to as for the adoption and enforcement of insurance policies that mandate the educating of main Liberian languages and primary cultural research in excessive faculties and universities nationwide.
Diaspora Pledges Assist
Members of the Liberian diaspora, lots of whom are veteran cultural artists, pledged monetary and ethical help for the initiative.
“We wish to guarantee you of our full help—financially and morally—as a result of this course of is for the nice and betterment of all of us,” mentioned Madam Annie Banti Zehyoue, President of the Diaspora Tradition Artists group.
Different members of the group in attendance included Annie Sirleaf, recognized for her function as Rascal Garmai within the in style tv sequence Malawa Balawala; Isabella Wreh-Fofana, who portrayed Ma Saybah within the Flomo Present; Khata T. Soribah, a founding member of the Tradition Ambassador Dance Troupe; Zinnah J. Cooper, a singer and sasa participant; Laura Freeman; Williametta Ammons; and Nimely Napla, former Director of the Nationwide Tradition Troupe and Besaoh Tradition Group.
