Page 28 - Liberia Exhibit Magazine Issue1
P. 28
Feature
BEYOND THE POMPAND
PAGEANTRY OF CULTURE
Liberia’s culture uniquely epitomizes the maxim “unity in diversity” in the
country’s diverse ethnicity with distinct roots, the Southern US heritage of
the freed Americo-Liberian slaves and the ancient African descendants of the
indigenous people and migratory tribes. The West African nation’s cultural
heritages are left to fend for themselves notwithstanding the splendor they
possess.
Known as the home of classical African and an ingrained belief in the intervention but learned from older generation.
masks, the artistic prowess of Liberian of mysterious forces in human affairs. These Consequently, the younger generation of
wood carvers is incomparable. Cultural religious ideas are laden with vast opportuni-
Liberians is gravitating towards western way
practices however differ from tribe to tribe. ties for research-theological, psychological, of life.
According to a policy paper published by sociological and so on. Suffice it to say that The deliberate neglect of Liberia’s cultural
heritage, especially over the past 12 years,
the United Nations Educational, Scientific and the tribes of Liberia, in spite of their indi- has put it in a serious extinction crisis, ac-
cording to former Assistant Culture Minister
Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the idea of vidual idiosyncracies, have been able to live Louise McMillian-Siaway.
religion, just as with everything else, varies together as one people in an atmosphere of Madam said there is an urgent need for
investment in cultural and traditional values
from tribe to tribe and characterized by a cultural accommodation and tolerance. by the government of President George
Manneh Weah in order to preserve them for
predisposition towards secrecy encapsulated Dance is a valued heritage, with the generations.
in the concept of ifa mo - “do not speak it” Liberian National Culture Group giving The former culture minister explained that
during her tenure
performances both at the ministry, she
observed that tra-
in the country and ditional languages,
spoken or written,
overseas based on are fast dying off as
most people seem
traditional themes. not to care to speak
their dialects (mostly
The gradual integra- youth), with parents
or old folks not car-
tion of all Liberia’s ing about teaching
them to the youth.
ethnic groups has
“It’s sad and deep-
given rise to a ly troubling to know
that the Vai script or
renewed interest in syllabus written by
Momolu Bukele has
its tribal culture as gone completely
missing in action.
a reminder of the The Vai language,
particular of our
diverse roots of the country, is one of the
several sub-Saharan
new country. African languages
to develop its own
The uniqueness writing system. The
worst part is that
of Liberia’s culture the civilization that
comes with that
has its roots in the language is dead.
strength of the coun- “Additionally,
historical, ancient
try’s tourism potential places lay in relative
disrepair across the
in area of detailed
decorative and
ornate masks, large
and infinitesimal
wood carvings of re-
alistic human faces,
well-known person-
alities, pictures of
daily life and frills
particularly combs,
spoons and other
artistic sculptures.
Mournfully, unlike
other countries
across the world,
culture is not taught
in Liberian schools
despite the com-
mon knowledge that
culture cannot be
inherited biologically
28 LIBERIA EXHIBIT | JANUARY - JUNE
BEYOND THE POMPAND
PAGEANTRY OF CULTURE
Liberia’s culture uniquely epitomizes the maxim “unity in diversity” in the
country’s diverse ethnicity with distinct roots, the Southern US heritage of
the freed Americo-Liberian slaves and the ancient African descendants of the
indigenous people and migratory tribes. The West African nation’s cultural
heritages are left to fend for themselves notwithstanding the splendor they
possess.
Known as the home of classical African and an ingrained belief in the intervention but learned from older generation.
masks, the artistic prowess of Liberian of mysterious forces in human affairs. These Consequently, the younger generation of
wood carvers is incomparable. Cultural religious ideas are laden with vast opportuni-
Liberians is gravitating towards western way
practices however differ from tribe to tribe. ties for research-theological, psychological, of life.
According to a policy paper published by sociological and so on. Suffice it to say that The deliberate neglect of Liberia’s cultural
heritage, especially over the past 12 years,
the United Nations Educational, Scientific and the tribes of Liberia, in spite of their indi- has put it in a serious extinction crisis, ac-
cording to former Assistant Culture Minister
Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the idea of vidual idiosyncracies, have been able to live Louise McMillian-Siaway.
religion, just as with everything else, varies together as one people in an atmosphere of Madam said there is an urgent need for
investment in cultural and traditional values
from tribe to tribe and characterized by a cultural accommodation and tolerance. by the government of President George
Manneh Weah in order to preserve them for
predisposition towards secrecy encapsulated Dance is a valued heritage, with the generations.
in the concept of ifa mo - “do not speak it” Liberian National Culture Group giving The former culture minister explained that
during her tenure
performances both at the ministry, she
observed that tra-
in the country and ditional languages,
spoken or written,
overseas based on are fast dying off as
most people seem
traditional themes. not to care to speak
their dialects (mostly
The gradual integra- youth), with parents
or old folks not car-
tion of all Liberia’s ing about teaching
them to the youth.
ethnic groups has
“It’s sad and deep-
given rise to a ly troubling to know
that the Vai script or
renewed interest in syllabus written by
Momolu Bukele has
its tribal culture as gone completely
missing in action.
a reminder of the The Vai language,
particular of our
diverse roots of the country, is one of the
several sub-Saharan
new country. African languages
to develop its own
The uniqueness writing system. The
worst part is that
of Liberia’s culture the civilization that
comes with that
has its roots in the language is dead.
strength of the coun- “Additionally,
historical, ancient
try’s tourism potential places lay in relative
disrepair across the
in area of detailed
decorative and
ornate masks, large
and infinitesimal
wood carvings of re-
alistic human faces,
well-known person-
alities, pictures of
daily life and frills
particularly combs,
spoons and other
artistic sculptures.
Mournfully, unlike
other countries
across the world,
culture is not taught
in Liberian schools
despite the com-
mon knowledge that
culture cannot be
inherited biologically
28 LIBERIA EXHIBIT | JANUARY - JUNE
