The children performing brilliantly at the program
Children Applaud Day of African Child
Published: 27 June, 2008
Hundreds of children applauded the day of African Child which was celebrated on the 16th of this month starting with parade and followed by an indoor program with the kids really dominating the whole occasion.
MISS MALAIKA LIBERIA 2008: The Search Begins
Published: 27 June, 2008
The Ghana based Charter House in collaboration with Renaissance Incorporated, operator of Truth FM Radio and Real TV is bringing to Liberia, for the first time in the country's history, Africa's most recognized event, Miss Malaika. Many have heard about the Miss Malaika pageant, but for a good percentage of the Liberian population, this is news.
Free Anti-Rape Concert at SKD Tomorrow
Published: 27 June, 2008
Peter Cole will headline a cast of national and internationally acclaimed artists at SKD tomorrow
Thousands of music and entertainment fans are expected to storm the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) sports complex tomorrow for a jamboree kicking off an anti-rape campaign in Liberia. The Government of Liberia in collaboration with UNMIL is taking its anti-rape campaign to another level in a free entertainment show that will include cultural performances, anti-rape dramas and, of course, fantastic musical performances by secular and gospel artistes. The Saturday event which is already being noised in every nook and corner of Monrovia and its environs will blend national and international stars to give the audience a full dose of modern entertainment. Artists such as Liberian international sensation Peter Cole, rastaman Rabbie Nas, Friday the Cell-phone Man, Star is Born champ Moses Swaray, 2007 West African Idol contestant Jerilyn Mulbah, to name a few. Liberia's favorite comedian, Georgio Brutini, will be there to keep fans laughing off their seats. The international line-up includes Nollywood's (Nigeria) movie star Stephanie Okereke, Sierra Leone's Linda Samai (a.k.a. Star Zero) with her hit single “Lighter”; and Ghanaian musician Sidney, all of whom will arrive in Liberia today.
Liberians and their Music
Published: 20 June, 2008
The life of Liberian music has for decades been smothered by what may otherwise be considered as the natural consequences of war… or so it seems. For most of the past two decades, Liberians have seemed to take more interest in music produced by their West African neighbors than their own. Some attribute this trend to sub-standard production of Liberian music; others to lack of exposure of artists. Some others maintain that Liberia just needs to get her act together, then all this 'extra stuff' will fall right into place. But with the mass importation of culture and ideals of other countries in the region and the world at large through art, style and entertainment media, perhaps the music industry in Liberia may be just too bombarded with the competition to hear its own voice. Can someone get me the soundproof earphones?
Kanvee Gains Adams, one of Liberia's hottest selling gospel musical artists
Almost everyone in Liberia today is dancing and singing the song. In homes, along street corners, and in most, if not every gathering, not to speak of Christian functions, the song of the day is, “You Will Carry My Load."
“After a hard day's work it is time to take the stress off my mind. Maybe a bottle of Energy drink could count since I don't take in alcoholic beverages these days.”
JAMAICALVIN Versus RASTAFARIAN
Published: 06 June, 2008
We take cognizance against Rastafarianism being a politically oriented religion rooted in Jamaica, which has rapidly spread throughout the Caribbean nations and amongst Black communities of Britain and African-American communities of the United States. It began in the Depression, during which period an approximate figure of some twenty (20,000) thousand Jamaicans returned to their island from contract work in countries such as Cuba and Panama, in search of employment and a new sense of identity.
Emeka Obiamiwe directing an editing session with sound engineers at Nu Era, Inc. Studio
Getting all the Right Stuff
Published: 30 May, 2008
Every successful musician knows that the key to a successful album is a creative mix of the right artist, the right production, the right engineering and the right management. Omit any of these and you'll have a situation comparable to why George Weah couldn't win the 2005 presidential election. He didn't have all of the right stuff. The music industry in Liberia has grappled with this particular problem for the better part of the past 2 decades.
An elegantly dressed table of food at the Taste of Liberia in Atlanta, 2006 and Women of fire consists of young Liberian women reaching out to other women
Women of Fire Host 6th Annual Taste of Liberia Festival
Published: 16 May, 2008
The Women of Fire are hosting a series of events this week to officially celebrate the launching of the Monrovia branch of the organization, climaxing with the 6th annual Taste of Liberia festival on Saturday, May 17, at the White House in Congo Town. Based in Atlanta, Georgia USA, Women of Fire have since 2002 raised funds through The Taste of Liberia festival and other creative, tasteful events for the benefit and development of women and children in Liberia. On Tuesday Fire conducted a Career Day Panel discussion at the College of West Africa (CWA) where professional Liberian women shared their experiences in their chosen fields. On Thursday, the Women of Fire visited the Obaa's Girls in Monrovia.
New Musical Band Hits Nimba
Published: 02 May, 2008
A new musical band known as “Nimba Jazz” has been established in Nimba County to buttress the recruitment process of several youths to engage in promoting peace and reconciliation among the citizens and people of the county and the country at large.
LIB-HIPCO to Another Level…
Published: 25 April, 2008
Tom Holder in his LNS studio
Nowadays about 45% of the music coming out of the night clubs and on local radio stations are lyrically made of local Liberian slangs popularly known as LIB Hip-co unlike a few years back, Liberian hip-co songs are topping the local music chat, with children as young as 3 years old well able to sing along with the lyrics while dancing to the beat at the same time.
Akon speaking immediately after the Government of Liberia gowned him and Kekura Kamara
Kamara Speaks on Akon's Reception to the Chicken, Kola Nut offer
Published: 18 April, 2008
The head of the famed Balawala culture group Mr. Kekura Kamara has revealed that it was a great honor for him and the Liberia people for Mega Star Akon to truly identify with the Liberia cultural heritage.
Liberian Musicians to Get Awards
Published: 14 April, 2008
Mr. Steve Tequah
It may be a who's who in Liberian music or perhaps Liberia's style of 'Grammy' award, as on Saturday April 19, 2008, the ballroom of Monrovia City Hall will play host to a musical award for leading musical groups that the organizers said 'have inspired or touched the lives of people through their musical career'.
Princess Pittman: A Blooming Onion at Center Stage
Published: 04 April, 2008
It wasn't my first time hearing her sing and, though I don't attend close to half of the gospel music concerts and recitals in Monrovia, I can speak for most music lovers who have heard her that Princess Pittman isn't just an incredible songstress. Yes, she's been singing since she was 9 years old and her vocal maturity has lately come of age. In the same regard, she has probably had more than the doctor's dose of guest appearances as a blooming onion at other gospel musical programs.
Ambassador Endee at one of the sites in Paynesville yesterday
Cultural Amb. Endee Launches HIV/AIDS, Small Arms Awareness Campaign
Published: 04 April, 2008
The best of Liberia's cultural and musical artistes will converge at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS) on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 for a day-long awareness jamboree on the dangers associated with HIV/AIDS and Small Arms.
For Akon's Pending Visit
Published: 04 April, 2008
LIB Queen
Liberia's rising musician, Nancy Kumba Gbollie alias 'LIB Queen', has heaped praises on CellCom for the pending visit of one of the world's premier musical icons, Aliaune Thiam affectionately known as 'Akon
Gospel Musicians Thrill City Hall Audience
Published: 02 April, 2008
The theatre of the Monrovia City Hall was last Sunday the scene of a dynamic and spectacular Gospel music fest featuring the young and beautiful Liberian star, Miss Fatu Teta Davis, and her Nigerian co-star, Pecular Emegwana.
Akon’s Coming to Liberia Is in Everybody's Interest
Published: 28 March, 2008
Alieu Thiam aka Akon
Earlier reports that the Ministry of Information was not officially aware of the coming into Liberia of Senegalese-born American artist, Alieu Thiam aka Akon, has been clarified. The Liberian government has officially signed a letter approving the upcoming performance of the artist in the country. Making the disclosure at a press briefing in Monrovia yesterday, Information Minister Lawrence Konmla Bropleh said a letter was officially sent to his office by Cellcom GSM concerning the Akon show but had not addressed himself to it because of his busy schedule out of the city recently. Min. Bropleh, who said he finally signed the letter yesterday, intimated that the coming of Akon to Liberia is in the interest of everybody, even though he did not elucidate further.
Princess Pitman Launches Debut Album
Published: 28 March, 2008
Yolanda Adams has touched audiences worldwide, including Liberia's young Princess Pitman, who is set to launch her debut album called 'Princess Passion'.
Akon to Hit Record Attendance
Published: 18 March, 2008
Aliaune Thiam, a.k.a. Akon and Miss Barkue Tubman
MONROVIA, One of the world’s premier musical icons, Aliaune Thiam, popularly known as 'Akon' is reportedly set for his debut visit to war-ravaged Liberia on April 15, 2008.
Two young and energetic Liberian queens Miss Liberia 2008, Bendu Parker and Miss Liberia in Georgia, the United States graced the Bomi County's preliminaries spelling bee competition held at the C.H. Dewey High School in Tubmanburg, the provisional capital of the county.
Bendu Parker (center) and Faciah Harris (far right), along with students of Cathedral Catholic School and Deputy Education Minister for administration Hawa Goll-Kotchi
Parker Speaks on Children's Plight
Published: 07 March, 2008
Liberia's 2008 beauty queen, Bendu Parker, has intoned that the children of Liberia have been forgotten.
MONROVIA, Senegalese-born American musical star Aliaune Thiam, popularly known as Akon, is due to visit Liberia for the first time in mid-April this year.
New Liberian Movie Hits the Rivoli Cinema…
Published: 29 February, 2008
The Liberian movie industry (Liberwood) will today Friday light up the Rivoli Cinema on Broad Street with one of the grandest movies ever to hit the silver screen in post war Liberia. The movie with its central theme focusing on reconciliation is the debut effort of the Dayo-Collins Production. “Line of Bitterness” portrays the deep rooted bitterness occasioned by the more than a decade and half of “near-fratricidal genocide” in Liberia, especially between the Gio and Mandingo tribes.
Culture Ambassador Honors Black American Billionaire
Published: 22 February, 2008
Juli Endee in live performance
Liberia's Culture Ambassador for Peace, Juli Endee, on Wednesday launched a musical CD in honor of black American billionaire Bob Johnson. The CD is entitled 'Liberia Says Thank You,' done in appreciation of the billionaire's many contributions not only to Liberia but to the entire African continent.
Broadway boss, Mr. Gary Allsopp and The date for the Shalfest Contest in the UK is from July 4 - 5, 2008.
17 Artistes in 'Broadway Battle Of the Bands' Contest
Published: 08 February, 2008
Seventeen local musical artistes who made it to the 'Broadway Battle of the Bands' musical contest would this weekend be involved in a hectic stage performances in a bid for a place in to the contest's final showdown that comes up next month.
Freesound lead vocalist, Keith Bartlin, and friends at Mamba Point Photo by I. Nagbe
Hope for Liberian Musicians
Published: 01 February, 2008
Freesound lead vocalist/guitarist, Keith Bartlin, a renowned musician from Honolulu, Hawaii in the USA recently paid a one-week visit to Liberia. The Rastafarian musician, who was in the country for the first time, expressed joy to be in a country he had heard about for a long time.
ABOVE l-r: Amb Juli Endee making remarks at the launching and LCP culture dancers at the program and Partial view of some female traditional leaders; below L-R: Information Minister Bropleh(left) was among dignitaries at the launching and Partial view of some traditional leaders at the program
Crusaders for Peace Launches Media Campaign
Published: 25 January, 2008
The Executive Director of the Liberia Crusaders for Peace, Culture Ambassador Juli Endee has expressed the important role her group and the local media need to play to sensitize the citizenry on the forthcoming National Population & Housing Census.
Amid energetic celebration on Wednesday at the party's headquarters, with President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and supporters of the Unity Party-led Government dancing to the tune of their political jingles, a few yards away at the Open Air Sports Commission on Broad Street, hundreds of people from virtually every political sphere in the country were entertained by Liberia's famed comedy group Balawala Malawala International in commemoration of Africa's first female President's second inaugural anniversary.
Vai Town Representative Alpha Barry and Jamaica Road Representative Momo Thomas Vaii Jr.
Eight Communities Vie for District #10 Top Social Accolades
Published: 28 December, 2007
Sixteen teenagers, majority between the ages of 16 and 17 will tomorrow have a hectic night as they vigorously go all-out in the kickoff of this year's District #10 highest social contest.
Summertime along with some of the kids photo by A. M. Johnson
WATEVER Record Fetes Kids at X-Mas
Published: 28 December, 2007
Children from various communities in and around Monrovia were featured in a Christmas Day musical show in the auditorium of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) headquarters on Crown Hill, Broad Street.
LIB Queen (left) with Balawala International Executive Director Kekura Kamara
All-Liberia Culture Festival Set for New Year's Day
Published: 14 December, 2007
The head of the famed Balawala culture group, Mr. Kekura Kamara, has disclosed that every mechanism was being put in place for the pending all-Liberia culture festival on New Year's Day.
Two international gospel musical artistes have encouraged Christians in Liberia to keep worshiping God whom they regard as their Savior. They made the statement on Sunday, December 2, 2007 when they spoke with our reporter in an exclusive interview.
Dr. Tshidi Ndamse, holding Masekela’s daughter, Motlalepula Masekela with his nephew
Mabusha looking on at the Masekelas’ Congo Town Beach home in Monrovia, Liberia, circa 1978
Did Hugh Masekela Betray Liberia?
Published: 07 December, 2007
When Hugh Masekela needed a home owing to racial oppression in South Africa during the Apartheid era, the government and people of Liberia gave him safe haven. He had an amazing home in Liberia , on the beach of Conga Town. When he needed money to record an album and host a festival to commemorate the championship boxing fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman (the famous 'Rumble in the Jungle' - a historic boxing event that took place on October 30, 1974, in the May 20 Stadium in Kinshasa, Zaire - now Democratic Republic of the Congo) Mr. Masekela turned to his friends in the Republic of Liberia. In Mr. Masekela's book, The Musical Journey of Hugh Masekala, he gives an account of his deal with Stephen Tolbert. He said Stephen Tolbert personally gave him US$2,000,000, yes two million United States Dollars at the time! Mr. Masekela never repaid the amount owing to the untimely death of Stephen Tolbert.
A local women group, Paramount Women Initiative, (PWI) based on the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU) yesterday hosted a Liberian celebrity Van Vicker alias RAJ.
Bendu Parker, Miss Liberia 2007/08 Photo by F. M. Dorley
Bendu Parker Wins Miss Liberia
Published: 26 November, 2007
MONROVIA, Barely twenty-four hours after earning a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Sociology from the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU), Bendu was crowned Saturday night at a glamorous and well-attended pageant held at the Unity Conference Center in Virginia as Miss Liberia 2007/2008.
Who Wears the Crown Tomorrow?
Published: 23 November, 2007
MONROVIA, The statistics are clear when it comes to the post-war Miss Liberia pageant; the winners in the post war years have been mostly hand-picked. Worse still is the untoward attitude exhibited by many big shots, who sexually harass the young girls who participate in the contest.
Top (l-r): Jerry Taylor, son of the famous Chief Tamba Taylor, and Lucky Dube, now deceased. Bottom (l-r): Liberian performer Julie Endee, and a Liberian group dancing the "Dube Dance."
Several Liberian artistes from various groupings in the country held an open solidarity concert yesterday in Monrovia in honor of slain reggae legend Lucky Tamba Lamin Dube.
The reigning Miss Liberia, Ms. Patrice Juah, who is soon to turn over the crown to a successor come November 2007, on Saturday, 13 October, told Arts, Culture and Entertainment that she had done much without support from Government and that she was leaving a legacy for her successors to follow.
State-of-the-Art Movies in Liberia
Published: 12 October, 2007
President of LMPA, Ms. Selassie Derrick
Growing up in Liberia, prior to the civil war, you learnt the joy of your country called Africa's first independent state; you also might have enjoyed fascinating Liberian films that showed the country's diverse cultural heritage. Liberia had an abundance of all this.
Miss Tubman introduces another member of the organizing committee while Elma Shaw ruptures in laughter
Miss Liberia 2007/2008 Contest Gains Impetus
Published: 28 September, 2007
The Miss Liberia 2007/2008 contest has gained momentum with several charming and beautiful ladies exhibiting spectacular performances at the various selection programs.
WHATEVER RECORDS ‘Community Connection’ Hits Ganta
Published: 28 September, 2007
A group of about 20 young musicians, under the nomenclature 'Community Connection', last weekend stormed the northern border city of Ganta in Nimba County. The musical jamboree was staged under the theme, 'Peace, Peace and Peace Forever'.
Is Justine W. King A Mentor?
Published: 21 September, 2007
Gospel and movie artist Justine W. King Photos by F. M. Dorley
In a country plagued with several adverse social problems, the Government is expected to do everything possible to address the situation. More importantly, all citizens should contribute their quota to address the problem.
Prior to the inception of the Liberian civil war, Liberian children enjoyed the country's rich culture and tradition. Before the war, children used to go to the village square to display their cultural talents and listen to traditional songs and folk stories, among others, under the moon light. This used to keep the children together through socializing with each other. This practice continued until the outbreak of the brutal civil war that spanned a period of 14 years and caused the destruction of lives and property. The war itself destroyed the fabric of the Liberian society, thus causing many people to travel to different lands. This did not only deprive the Liberian child the opportunity to learn and appreciate our long-cherished cultural values, it also left them without any option, but to adopt the culture and traditions of the countries where they sought refuge.
We Can Never Be Intimidated
Published: 14 September, 2007
The Writer
A reply to the publisher, cum Editor/ Consultant A.K.A. Tunde Olateji / Cyrenius Cephas on his Editorial titled “We'll not be intimidated” in his pamphlet of Wednesday, Aug 22nd 2007, Vol 4 22 ThePlain Truth newspaper.
Zack didn't know whether he was pissed off (angry) with himself, his drinking buddies in Millsburg who were taunting him or with Uncle Charlie for leaving him behind.
