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".

 

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[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.