Liberia Kicks off Bicentennial Celebrating Arrival of Black Americans

Liberia President George Weah speaks during the 75th anniversary celebrations of UNESCO at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, November 12, 2021. Julien de Rosa/ Pool via REUTERS

President George Weah on Monday (February 14th) called on Liberians to embrace unity and reconciliation as

By Reuters

he launched year-long celebrations of the

bicentennial of the arrival of the fi rst free Black

Americans in 1822.

The former slaves arrived in Providence Island, now the capital Monrovia, in 1822, as part of a mission by the American Colonization Society, which aimed to reduce the number of free Blacks in the U.S. by settling them in Africa.

The Republic of Liberia was founded in 1847, the second Black republic in the world at the time, after Haiti.

Addressing a crowd at Monrovia’s main soccer

stadium that included heads of state from Togo, Niger, Gambia and Sierra Leone, Weah celebrated Liberia’s progress despite periods of civil unrest, including a 1989-2003 civil war in which up to a quarter million people died.

“I believe that our forefathers can look down on today’s Liberia with pride and satisfaction, seeing that their dreams have not only been realized, but that their vision has also been sustained,” he said.

“Whatever our diff erences, we are Liberians fi rst! As Liberia is the only country that we have, we must do all in our powers to keep it safe.”

Dana Banks, special assistant to President Joe Biden, led a U.S. delegation to Monday’s ceremony.

“When I think about what it must have felt like for those fi rst free people arriving to establish Monrovia ... I can’t help but refl ect on the deep, strong, historical ties between the United States and Liberia,” she said in a statement.

Liberia will also host an investment summit as part of the bicentennial celebrations.

The country has enjoyed political stability since the end of the civil war, but economic advances have been slower to follow and an Ebola outbreak from 2014 to 2016 killed more than 4,800 people (read more on page 60). www.reuters.com/world/africa/liberia-kicksoff -bicentennial-celebrating-arrival-blackamericans-2022-02-14

RLJ Kendeja Resort & Villas is a 78-room, four-star-plus resort set on 13 acres of West African Atlantic coast near Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia. The resort forms part of building the new Liberia and is the brainchild of Robert L. Johnson, founder of BET (Black Entertainment Television) and the RLJ Companies in the United States of America.

The resort features an “à-la-carte” Restaurant adjacent to a sunny terrace on the pool deck with a lavish Sunday Brunch Buff et, as well as an in-doors main, fully AC Bar. It also has a Beach Bar & Grill, 24 Hours Room Service, a well appointed Spa, a Gym, a Pool, Laundry Services and a Gift and Souvenir Shop. Other features are 24-hour-power / fully AC / wireless internet / high security and international service standards.The Resort also has 2 luxurious banqueting rooms for up to 30/40 persons, which are suitable for conferences and other events. www.tripadvisor.com Image credit: tripadvisor, Black Enterprise