Farming Never Left My Blood

A golden field of swamp rice in Duport Road, Monrovia 

I was born on a family farm in Grand Gedeh County, southeastern Liberia. Our farm was situated within a timber plantation—Prime Timber Product (PTP)—near Zwedru city. This is where my dad, Amadou Fofana, spent most of his days; cultivating a mixed farm consisting of up and lowland rice, veggies, corn, and cassava, and fishing in nearby narrow rivers---all done by hand. And as a baby, this is where I spent my first few days, following my arrival into this world. Though I didn’t live there along with my dad, whenever I had the chance to visit the farm along with my mom, I took it. Dad came home at the end of each month for at least a week or two. But mom visited him at least every weekend.

More Funding for School Feeding; To Include Refugee Kids

Passionate about the right of every child to education and having observed that a line of demarcation has been drawn between children of Liberian descent and their Ivorian counterparts, who fled their country, neighboring Cote d’Ivoire [with or without] their parents to escape soaring post-electoral violence in their homeland, Lord Paddy Ashdown has pledged his unwavering resolve to lobby with the British Government to ensure more and effective funding to UNICEF-Liberia for the education of these refugee kids.

Liberia: Law Protects the Rich & Powerful

Mada had been glued to her king-size bed for the last 24 hours; painfully rolling from end-to-end, after being knocked down by a terrible headache, accompanied by intense ear, eye and tooth aches, the previous day. Visibly paralyzed by this condition, the 29-year-old remained in bed until 7 a.m. the next morning when she was rudely awakened by brutal hits on her door. A gang of scruffy-bearded men had assembled there; ready to mercilessly kick her out of her flat.

Liberia: A Story of Women Told through Fashion

Korto Momolu

She is firmly grounded in her African roots, yet effortlessly designing to suit an international taste. She is a young, versatile and dynamic fashion, accessories and eco-friendly jewelry designer. Her designs have a diverse appeal to her wide range of clientele between ages 16 - 80.

International fashion stylist Korto Momolu visited Liberia in May 2011, after 23 years of being away from home. She was home to showcase a 27-piece of her breathtaking handmade collection, specifically designed for the Sankofa Fashion Show organized and hosted by Amani-Liberia. Amani-Liberia is a nonprofit organization that teaches Liberian women how to create, market and manage businesses through textile and sewing. An enterprising fashion designer and stylist, Korto was set to rock fashion enthusiasts from all walks of life with her thrilling and carefully selected designs at the Monrovia City Hall on May 7, 2011. Among outfits displayed were those made of Liberia’s signature fabric: the Country Cloth.

‘No Return to Men’s Club’; Says President Sirleaf of African Presidency

President Sirleaf: "For me, I earned it. In those days, earning it was a challenge"

What’s the next step for African women, looking beyond the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf presidency? This was the question I posed to many shakers and movers of the women’s world during the 4th African Gender Award ceremony held in Dakar, Senegal, in June 2011.