166? That’s How Many Slaps Some of Us Need

Residents of Gurley Street were  at the dawn of July 26 morning,  rudely awakened by a band of neighbors who had turned cooking utensils (spoons, pans, plates, pots, etc) into musical instruments.  Those with the instruments were accompanied by a separate band of singers with an accompanying group of dancers.  They claimed they were demonstrating their patriotism as Liberians by jubilantly celebrating their country’s independence anniversary. They looked very beautiful in their colorful display of red, white and blue.


This was really nothing new to dwellers of that part of central Monrovia---and anywhere else---because Liberians are fond of celebrating their country’s independence in GRAND STYLE. Though the official celebration of this year’s Independence Day took place in western Liberia – Bomi, Gbarpolu and Cape Mount – Gurley Street, like elsewhere across the nation’s main city, Monrovia, came alive on Friday with performances of all kinds, ranging from traditional African rhythms of the sassas and drums, to utensils, turned into band music. Every corner was filled with festive activities.  Dressed in various attires, with a taste of Liberian tradition, residents made merry from 6 a.m. through 8 p.m. The festive atmosphere on Gurley Street that day was not a unique. The entire country was caught up in the July 26 mood.

It all kicked-off weeks ago when ordinary Liberians seized the opportunity to embark upon an early jamboree.  The banks were jam-packed with citizens trying to balance their budgets for the long weekend events. The various business districts were inundated with auction vendors fighting to make some extra cash. The various entertainment centers (including nightclubs) were the hottest places in town. People began hopping from one nightclub to the other from Friday night to Sunday. Ladies were seen in queues and being ticketed at the various beauty salons in Monrovia. Salons were opened as early as 6 a.m., and were not closed before mid-night. Surely, this 26 will be remembered as one of the most enjoyable.

But is that’s all we can do for our country: merry-make the whole day in the name of celebrating Independence Day and do nothing else?  After all this fanfares, what do Liberians have to show? Yes, 166 years of being a ‘sovereign’ state. But, is Liberia really a sovereign state or are we not a little bit too beholden to institutions like the World Bank, the IMF?

What are we – Liberians – doing to reduce our reliance on other countries for food? Look at Cote d’Ivoire. That country is heavily reliant on agriculture and related activities. At least 68% of the Ivorian population is engaged in farming. The majority of Liberia’s active workforce depends on agriculture for survival. But we are only good at growing rice and cassava crops on small family plots to feed small families (subsistence farming). Ivorian farmers grow enough to feed their country plus additional mouths outside of their country’s territory – Liberia, for instance.

It is a shame that even the pepper (dry or fresh), tomatoes, eggplants (only to mention a few) that we eat in this country are grown in the mountainous city of Man, in western Cote d’Ivoire.  We claim to be lovers of rice and always argue that rice is our staple food, but how much of it do we grow at home?

Liberia produces only about 40 percent of the rice it needs to feed its population, relying on expensive imports to cover the rest. FAO (Initiative on Soaring Food Prices). The country is increasing rice imports to meet growing consumption demands. It is precisely this dependence on food imports that has left Liberia exceedingly vulnerable to high food prices and fluctuations in the global market, according to FAO.

So, for how long would Liberia continue to remain this way? What are we willing to do for our country? We are good at sitting and grumbling that nothing is working, but the foreigners  converged here and make every penny they can out of us; they then return to their homeland and contribute to development there. Yet, we remain crabby and do little or nothing to change our situation.

A young Fula boy arrived from Guinea, sat right outside the Daily Observer at the corner of Benson & McDonald Streets for two years, shining and repairing shoes. He defied the raining torrents and scorching sun, doing what he believed would have helped him become self-reliant [financially]. And by the second year, he had earned for himself, LRD$70,000. For him, that was enough to return home with and start a good business.

Go down Waterside and buy a bag of rice, it would be the Fula boys who would wheel your rice to your destination. Take a look at the various street corners and tell me who you see shining and repairing the shoes. It is mainly the Fula boys. And don’t overlook it; they make lots of money for those ventures.

For us (Liberians), we want to be attired in three-piece suits, sit in an air-cooled office and do basically nothing.

Until we begin to change our mindsets and attitudes, we will continue to live pipe-dreams. And Liberia will forever remain the first and oldest independent nation in Africa and the largest village on the face of the continent.