Gbarnga, Bong County – In a passionate and soul-stirring address delivered in the heart of Liberia’s cultural landscape, Liberia’s Art and Cultural Ambassador, Kekura M. Kamara, rallied citizens, artists, and government officials at a one-day festival in Gbarnga, to embrace culture as both a national treasure and a catalyst for transformative change.
Speaking under the theme, “Celebrating Culture, Empowering Change: A Festival for Heritage and Rights,” Ambassador Kamara declared the event not just a celebration, but “an awakening”—a symbolic rebirth of Liberia’s cultural identity.
“Culture is not merely the clothes we wear, the songs we sing, or the drums we beat—it is our identity,” Kamara told a spirited crowd of traditional leaders, artists, elders, and youth from across Bong County.
Held in the historic city of Gbarnga, once known for its wartime role, the festival served as a new chapter in national healing. Ambassador Kamara described culture as “the soul of a nation” and warned that forgetting it would be tantamount to erasing Liberia from the book of nations.
Beyond celebration, Kamara challenged Liberia to use its culture as a tool for economic and social development. He called for bold policy reforms, including:
* Integrating oral history into school curricula,
* Turning traditional crafts into industries,
* Using festivals to drive tourism and job creation,
* Recognizing artists as agents of dignity and national progress.
“To empower change,” he said, “means to give artists dignity, to give youth purpose, and to give elders the honor they deserve as custodians of wisdom.”
Kamara warned that indigenous languages and sacred sites are vanishing at an alarming rate, urging national leaders to view cultural expression as a fundamental human right.
“We must protect our heritage as fiercely as we protect our borders,” he said, calling for more funding, legislative support, and international ratification of conventions safeguarding cultural rights.
Framing Gbarnga as a symbol of national revival, Kamara described the city as “once a stronghold of struggle, now a birthplace of revival.” He implored attendees not to let the festival end with mere celebration, but with a vision—one in which tradition becomes the foundation for innovation and nation-building.
“A nation that respects its culture will never lose its soul,” Kamara declared, drawing thunderous applause.
In closing, Kamara ignited a cultural call-to-action for every Liberian—from the drummers of Palala to the dancers of Salala, from weavers in Harper to griots in Sanniquellie—urging them to become proud stewards of Liberia’s rich and diverse heritage.
“We are not poor in culture,” he said. “We are rich beyond measure. And the world needs to see that.”
The event, attended by county officials, Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism representatives, and traditional leaders, concluded with performances showcasing Liberia’s artistic diversity—underscoring Kamara’s belief that *culture is not entertainment, it is empowerment. As Liberia’s cultural revolution begins anew, the flame lit in Gbarnga now seeks to spread across every county, carrying with it a message of pride, purpose, and unity.
