Liberia: Traditional gowning events for outstanding U.S. scholar & top Europe-based African actor
By Our Staff Writer
Photographs by our Intern Ruth G. Gaye
Liberian traditional gowning ceremonies were for people who had done something extraordinary for their village or town, in olden days, in which case, the chiefs and elders would assemble, honor and gown such individuals, a special ceremony considered by far-at the time-as the highest honor in the Land.
Unfortunately, about half a century later, Liberian traditional gowning took on a totally different meaning, particularly, during the erstwhile regimes of ex-presidents George M. Weah and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: under both regimes, if one had money and ready to throw some around, he was sought out and gowned, never mind whether he may be corrupt or morally inept.
But a new era has emerged with Pres. Joseph Boakai at the head, a man well respected for honoring the traditions of his forefathers, while also bestowing honors upon whom they belong. And it’s in furtherance of such ideas and policy that his newly appointed Cultural Ambassador, Amb. Kekura Mohammed Kamara, honored two distinguished visiting personalities, Dr. Tim Nevin of Chicago, USA, and famous Liberian European based actor, Richard Bright. Bright’s wife and children were also gowned. Event took place at Congo Town Heritage Cultural Village.
Amb. Kamara conferred the honors upon the visiting guests on behalf of President Jospeh Nyuma Boakai, whom he praised repeatedly, for his deep interest in promoting Liberia’s cultural heritage as well as marketing it abroad. Pres. Boakai was unable to attend the ceremony. Amb. Kamara was assisted by deputy, Mr. Abdullah Kamara. It was attended only by special invitees, complemented by a mouthwatering dinner.
He urged Prof Nevin to continue promoting Liberian music, arts and culture through writing so as to give the country to international exposure that would open doors for opportunities for foreign travels and festivals to showcase our rich cultures.
Dr. Tim Nevin is an outstanding U.S scholar-an author, historian and researcher and previously taught for five years at two of Liberia’s leading universities, the William V.S. Tubman University in Harper, Maryland, Liberia, and Cuttington University, a Christian University, situated in Bong County, the heart of Liberia.
He has written and published extensively on Liberian History, including the nation’s musical and cultural lifestyles. These include the National Cultural Troupe of Liberia, Pre-war Liberian music, the Belle Yella notorious prison, the Liberian Fortier Force (National Army), Madam Suakoko and the Devil’s Rock of Harper, Maryland.
According to his Bio, Nevin first developed interest in studying Liberian History while he worked with the Liberian Refugees Resettlement program in Ghana, immediately after he graduated with a MA degree in history from the University of Illinois, Chicago, in 2000.
His literary works have been published in leading Peer Reviews in the USA. He’s currently working on a new book on Liberian popular music before the civil wars, he disclosed as he expressed deep gratitude for this national honor. He was accompanied to the program by his Liberian Family including his daughter, Betty, as well as friends.
Mr. Bright, for his part, served as lead-actor in the pre-war Liberian movie known as “Johnny Just Come” (JJC), a movie, he now says, propelled him further, making him pursue a career in acting. It was a production of Flomo Theater, owned by late Peter “Flomo” Ballah, an acting genius.
The movie’s main cast, “JJC,” returns from America but neglects his own culture and language left behind and now speaks like an “American” ironically.
Mr. Bright’s European wife was also gowned alongside him by Amb. Kamara: so were their two young children, a boy and a girl, who weren’t available.
A day after the ceremony, Bright received yet another distinguished honor, this time from Liberia’s Minister of Internal Affairs Hon. Francis Sakila Nyumalin. Mr. Bright was gowned and given a fine Lofa-Lorma name, “Tarnue” which means town’s leader, or owner.
Soon, after the Heritage Village ceremony, Amb. Kamara acknowledged the presence of Global Ekklesia’s publisher/editor, James Kokulo Fasuekoi, and extoled him for promoting Liberian cultural heritage through writing, filming, dance and acting.
Journalist Fasuekoi was a national ballet dancer and actor with the Liberian Cultural Ambassadors for decades, prior to the war, often playing Pres. Wlliam R. Tolbert in Redemption of the Liberian People, plus Village, Town chief-roles. He now serves as Communications Director for JNB Foundation in Liberia. See a special pictorial from the ceremony.
