Liberia's History and Emergence as a Nation

The American settlers that arrived in 1822 tremendously affected the national and cultural identity of Liberia.  In fact, the word “Liberia” actually comes from the word “Liberty” and refers to the nation’s origin as a colony of free blacks who were relocated to Africa from the United States in the early nineteenth century.  Even though these Americo-Liberians made up Liberia’s elite ruling class they only constituted about five percent of the population.  The rest of Liberia’s population belonged to sixteen different ethno linguistic groups of the Niger-Congo family.  Due to this, most citizens did not feel “apart” of the new nation-state because most government institutions were concentrated in the coastal cities.  As a result most inhabitants of the interior of Liberia had little sense of “being Liberian” until the second half of the twentieth century.[1] 


Liberia's culture, like their flag, is modeled after that of the United States

 

The land of modern-day Liberia was once made up of sixteen identified ethno linguistic groups.  These groups, or tribes, had their own political entities headed by chiefdoms.  There were no pre-colonial states.  But when Liberia first emerged the administration was led by white administrators appointed by the American Colonization Society.  However, by 1847 the Americo-Liberians declared themselves independent of American colonial.[2] 

This caused even more instability between the Americo-Liberians and the indigenous Liberians.  The Americo-Liberians were “westernized” holding American-styled cultural and social values.  To the indigenous people they were alien.  They were Christian, spoke English, and lived an “Americanized” way of life by building churches and houses that resembled those in America.  In addition, the Americo-Liberians adopted the American system of racial segregation by recreating a cultural and racial caste system in which they were superior to the indigenous Liberians.  It was not until World War II when there was no other choice but for social change.  Despite the small changes then there has been continued instability resulting in civil wars in which the country is still trying to recover from.[3]

Hope for Liberia

---

[1] “Liberia”, Countries and Their Cultures, http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/Liberia.html.

[2] “Liberia”, Countries and Their Cultures, http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/Liberia.html.

[3] “History of Liberia”, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Liberia.

Missions in Liberia

Global Ministries: The United Methodist Church
Liberia was torn apart during the civil wars that began in the 1980s. When the wars finally ended the country was devastated. Returning Liberians (especially the youth) were poor, under-educated, and disillusioned. The Liberian United Methodist Church has taken a major role in addressing many of the postwar issues. They believe that vocational training and education is essential in providing opportunities to the “lost” generation of Liberian youth, whose childhood was destroyed by the atrocities of war. With the access to vocational training in many study areas, economic growth and development has been promoted and encourage in urban and rural communities. These newly skilled citizens have slowly begun to help Liberia’s long-term revitalization. In addition to the vocational training, the Liberian UM also operates nearly 100 elementary and secondary schools, several colleges, and the University of West Africa.[1]



Franciscan Works: A Source of Hope for People Living in Poverty
Franciscan Works is a non-profit organization in Liberia dedicated to the ministry of self-help for children living in poverty through education that is rooted in Catholic values and the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. The Liberia Mission began in 2003 (after the Civil Wars) and consists of a ten-acre campus and an adjoining 15 acre farm property that houses the St. Anthony of Padua School, St. Michael the Archangel Chapel, and separate living quarters for boys and girls. The lack of education is believed to be one of the root causes of many of Liberia’s social and economic problems. The shallow pool of human capital, knowledge, technical skills, and abilities compromises the potential for development. Franciscan Works utilizes their long-term program to help improve the life of Liberia’s children in hope for a better future.[2]

[1] “Liberia”, Global Ministries: The United Methodist Church, accessed February 19, 2015, http://www.umcmission.org/Explore-Our-Work/Africa/Liberia.


[2] “Franciscan Works”, Franciscan Works, accessed February 19, 2015, https://www.franciscanworks.org/about-us.aspx.

First Contacts between Liberia and Outside Cultures

The Indigenous Peoples 

To begin, modern-day anthropologists believe that what is now known as Liberia was first settled around 3000 B.C.  These “first settlers” were from other areas of Africa.  The harsh living conditions from the Sahara Desert, for instance, caused tribes to relocate in search of fertile soil and game. It is safe to say that what we consider the indigenous peoples originally came to the area of Liberia simply for the need to survive.  These survivals intermingled and created several different cultures that are unique on their own.  What is interesting is how most modern-day Liberians can even potentially trace their ancestry back to the settlers that migrated to Liberia between the eleventh and seventeenth centuries.[1]

The Sahara Desert

First “Outsiders” 

The first known outsiders to visit Liberia were a group of Portuguese explorers in 1461.  They were led by Pedro de Sintra and he named the region the Malagueta Coast after a green spicy pepper grown in the area.  After this “first contact”, trade routes developed between Europe and coastal Liberia.[2]  After Pedro de Sintra other Portuguese explorers followed.  The area even became known as the “Grain Coast” for the enormous amounts of Malagueta pepper.  At that time it was just as valuable as gold and became a major trade item.[3]

Pedro de Sintra

Americo-Liberians in the “place for freedom” 

Last, but not least, is when the freed slaves from America resettled into Africa.  The American Colonization Society acquired land from local tribal chiefs in 1821 and the first African American settlers, known as Americo-Liberians arrived in 1822.  It is one of the most important “contacts” Liberia has ever had since the Americo-Liberians became the elite ruling class, modeling their country after that of America.  They even declared their independence in 1847.[4]

The Americo-Liberians were very "westernized".

 

---

[1] Ken R. Wells, “Liberian Americans,”  Countries and Their Cultures, accessed February 12, 2015, http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Le-Pa/Liberian-Americans.html.

[2] Ken R. Wells, “Liberian Americans,”  Countries and Their Cultures, accessed February 12, 2015, http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Le-Pa/Liberian-Americans.html.

[3] “Liberia,” Encyclopedia Britannica,  accessed February 12, 2015, http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/339254/Liberia/214453/History#ref751278.

[4] Ken R. Wells, “Liberian Americans,”  Countries and Their Cultures, accessed February 12, 2015, http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Le-Pa/Liberian-Americans.html.

Liberia's Economic History

Older Times 

The early inhabitants of modern day Liberia are believed to have originated from the western Sudan.  With their culture and traditions they also brought with them a form of small-scale trade.  For instance, the indigenous peoples would trade handmade items (pottery, basket, and masks) or weaponry between the different tribes for other items of value.  Iron rods, in particular, are believed to have been a major item used as a medium of exchange. Later on, after European contact, modern day Liberia was involved in many different trades which consisted of spices, gold, alcohol, horses, weapons, and even slaves.[1]   

The Pepper Coast, as it was so called by European traders, is believed to be inhabited as least as far back to the 12^th century.  Local skills consisted of cotton spinning, cloth weaving, iron smelting, and even rice cultivation.  In fact, from older times to the newer times, iron has played a major role in Liberia’s economic history.[2] 

 

Recent Times 

Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world with an extremely undeveloped economy.  Even though Liberia is rich in water, minerals, forest, and agriculture, it suffers from a ravaged economy primarily due to political upheavals.  The capital city of Monrovia, for instance, has poor human capital and infrastructure.  In addition, the small percentage of local manufacturing is foreign owned, causing even more damage to the Liberian economy.[3] 

The First Liberian Civil War (1989-1996) made a major impact on Liberia’s economy.  Prior to the war, in the 1970s and 1980s, Liberia relied heavily on mining iron ore.  In fact, iron accounted for more than half of export earnings.  However, during the war, many skilled workers fled the country.  In addition, since the coup d’état in 1980, the demand for iron ore significantly declined causing the economy to slow down tremendously.[4]

---

[1] “The Grain Coast, Malaguetta Coast or Pepper Coast before 1822”, http://www.liberiapastandpresent.org/Peppercoastbefore1822.htm.

[2] “Liberia”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberia.

[3] “Economy of Liberia”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Liberia.

[4] “Economy of Liberia”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Liberia.