MONROVIA, Liberia — Liberian writers and cultural practitioners have renewed calls for greater support for the country’s arts and cultural sector during the official launch of the National “Dugbor” Arts, Cultural and Peace Festival, held on January 1, 2025, at the Providence Island Palaver Hut in Monrovia.
The event was organized by the Office of the Arts and Culture Ambassador in collaboration with national cultural stakeholders, including the Liberia National Tourism Authority (LNTA), writers, musicians, singers, visual artists, and other creative practitioners.
“It was a privilege and an honor to participate in the conference on Liberian arts and culture organized by the Liberia Cultural Ambassador, Hon. Kekura Balawala Kamara,” said Mr. Nvasekie Konneh, an honored guest speaker. Konneh, a Liberian poet, writer, and cultural activist, delivered a presentation on Liberia’s cultural preservation, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding tangible, intangible, and natural cultural heritage.
He spoke extensively about Liberia’s historical sites, traditions, and indigenous knowledge systems, stressing the need to transmit cultural values to succeeding generations. Konneh also called for renewed national commitment to promoting Liberian arts as a cornerstone of identity and social cohesion.
Also in attendance was prominent Liberian writer and publisher Forte Othniel, who highlighted the critical role Liberian writers have played in peacebuilding by documenting the nation’s stories, struggles, and collective memory. He urged greater appreciation for literary contributions to national healing and historical continuity.
The conference featured a panel discussion on cultural preservation, focusing on strategies to promote and safeguard Liberia’s artistic and cultural heritage. Panelists explored issues of national identity, creative development, and the role of arts and culture in fostering peace and unity.
Organizers described the National Dugbor Cultural Peace Festival as “a unifying national initiative aimed at promoting peace, strengthening cultural identity, enhancing tourism development, and encouraging social cohesion through Liberia’s rich artistic traditions.”
Both the conference and the cultural festival were open to the public.
The event comes amid renewed national interest in Liberian culture, coinciding with the establishment of the Liberia National Tourism Authority. Expected to attend the conference was Ms. Princess Eva Cooper, Director General of the LNTA, recently appointed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to lead the newly constituted authority.
Cultural observers note a resurgence in Liberia’s creative industries. Where foreign music once dominated local radio stations, Liberian music now enjoys heavy nationwide rotation. Similarly, Liberian writers are producing more literary works than ever before, both locally and within the diaspora, contributing to a growing national literary scene.
This renewed momentum across multiple art forms makes the timing of the Dugbor Cultural Preservation Conference particularly significant, organizers say. Writers attending the conference also raised discussions on how Liberian literary works can be systematically introduced into school curricula as part of a broader national cultural education and renewal effort.
Other cultural groups used the occasion to showcase their contributions to preserving and promoting Liberia’s arts and heritage, reinforcing the festival’s broader goal of cultural renewal and national unity.
Written by Cherbo Geeplay: Geeplay is celebrated Liberian poet and the author of Cavalla Fire
