Liberian studies journal

172 Pages·1990·3.668 MB·English

by  coll.

NUMBER
2
1990
XV
VOLUME
JOURNAL
STUDIES
LIBERIAN
,
1
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University
1
INC.
ASSOCIATION,
STUDIES
LIBERIAN
THE
by
Published
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map:
Cover
compiled
by
cartography
William
work
Kory,
by
Jodie
Molnar;
Geography Department,
Pittsburgh
University
of
Johnstown.
at
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NUMBER
VOLUME
XV 1990
2
LIBERIAN
JOURNAL
STUDIES
ISSUE
SPECIAL
In
Memory
of
Tamia Moore
Bai
-1988)
(1920
Editor
Guest
Monts
Lester
P.
Barbara
University
California, Santa
of
Editor
Dunn
Elwood
D.
The
University
the South
of
Editor
Associate
Cordor
Similih
M.
Kennesaw
College
Review
Editor
Book
Konuwa
Alfred
B.
Butte
College
EDITORIAL ADVISORY
BOARD
Bertha Azango Lawrence Breitborde
B.
B.
University
Liberia
Beloit
College
of
Christopher Clapham Warren d'Azevedo
L.
Nevada
Lancaster
University University
Reno
of
Hayden
Henrique
Tokpa Thomas
E.
F.
Network
Cuttington
and
Africa Faith
University
College Justice
Liebenow
Holsoe
Gus
Svend
E.
J.
Indiana
University
Delaware
University
of
Corann Okorodudu
Glassboro
State College
Edited Department
University
at the the South
Political
of
The
Science,
of
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CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
1
-1988
TAMIA MOORE
..............................................................
BAI
1920
4
IN OWN
OF
TERMS OF EXPERIENCE
VAI IDENTITY
PROBLEMS
MY
10
by
Tamia
Moore
Bai
LANDSMAN: THE CONVERSATIONS
OF
MOORE
BAI T.
13
............
by Diane Oyler Arnold
and Odio
AND
MOORE'S
LIBERIAN IDENTITY
POETRY
26
BAI T.
...................
by Dorith
Ofri-
Scheps
ZOLU DUMA, THE SOUTHERN
RULER OF
VAI,
PROBLEM
17??-1828:
A
IN
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
.........................................
91
by
Svend Holsoe
E.
AND AMONG
TO
SOCIAL THE VAI
MUSICAL RESPONSES
ISLAM
TWENTIETH
DURING THE
CENTURY
EARLY .....................
108
by
Lester Monts
P.
THE DAY
AND GUANYA PAU
WILL COME: WALTERS
125
.......
J.
J.
by John
Victor Singler
IN
INGENIOUS
SCRIPT
INDIGENOUS
KPELLE
INVENTION: THE
THE
TWENTIETH CENTURY
LATE
...............................
139
..........
by Ruth
Stone
M.
AND
ON
OF RELIGION MEDICINE
REFLECTIONS
CONCEPTS
SOME
IN
LIBERIAN
SOCIETY ................................. ...............................
145
Al-
by Conteh
Hassan
CONTRIBUTORS TO
.........................
THIS
ISSUE 158
...............................
INDEX
...............................
159
that
humanities, the
emphasizes the
and
referee journal
social sciences
LIBERIAN
A
publication
studies
semiannual devoted oldest
JOURNAL
to of Africa's
STUDIES
is
a
students
annual
republic. rate
and
subscription
The
for
for
$25.00, $12.00
$40.00
is
institutions, includes membership
the Studies
and
Liberian Association,
in
Inc. All
manuscripts related
and
should
addressed
matters Editor, Liberian Studies
to The
be
Department
University of the South, Sewanee,
Journal,
TN
The
of Political
Science,
Subscriptions other business matters should directed
and
be
The Executive
to
37375.
Secretary,
Liberian Studies Association,
Bloomington, Illinois
-0671.
61702
P.O.
Box
671
views expressed herein
individual contributors
those do
the
and
The
not necessar-
are
of
those
the editor
ily
reflect of
or the Liberian Studies Association,
Inc.
Copyright
by the
Liberian Studies
Association,
1990
Inc.
00241989
ISSN
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Introduction
held in
meeting Liberian Association Akron,
the annual the Studies
At
of
in April,
made
proposal was that the
devote
Association
Ohio
special
a
a
1988,
issue
the memory away
journal
who passed
Tamia Moore,
the
to of
of
LSA
Bai
known
and
in
by
his friends
January,
was affectionately
he
as
Bai T.,
1988.
studies.
development
figure in
cultural
Liberian
central
colleagues, was
of
the
a
"stranger
the quintessential
and was
Liberian foreign he
scholars
For
alike,
culture was sought.
father,"
whom
Liberian the
from
advice on
the person
Since
numerous
interacted
had with whose
until his
scholars
death,
early
1950s
Bai
T.
many relied his
interests areas who
cultural studies.
span on
For
Liberian
of
all
nature
knowledge research
comprehended
their
Liberian
culture,
the
of
of
Bai
T.
input
many
and
interests
provide
problems
and was willing
into
complex
the
to
thanks and that
in
dedicated
they encountered. gratitude
the spirit
we
this
It is
of
memory
issue
great
man.
the
to of
a
customary
editor and other dedicatory volumes
the
for
It
festschrifts
is
of
of
lengthy introduction, pulling
present together the contributions
in
this sort
to
a
and
However, issue
coherent length
fashion.
the
fact
due
this
some the
to
to
of
and provide
that
brief
that
theme emerges, only
no
task
central
forego
will
I
reader
derive
whatever
the
descriptions
the papers.
allow
This
to
will
of
order that
emerges.
semblance
of
and presented
in
at
the
was written
by
The first article, Moore,
1972
Bai
T.
diversity
held his
University Using the
London.
Manding
Conference of
at the
of
light
the
own
brings
model, Moore
often confusing
background
ethnic
to
as a
northwest
multiple
identity
dual and
among the peoples
problem
ethnic
of of
and southern
Liberia
Leone.
Sierra
from
Arnold Odio's
and contribution
Diane
excerpts conversa-
Oyler's
is
-for-
during
are word
held
with summer
the
The
Moore
tions
texts
of
Bai
1987.
T.
word
mussings language,
by
poetry, the
such topics as
his
the
on
Vai
Bai
T.
his remembrances
walking tours
the extended
family, his
concept
Liberia,
of
of
and other
and
Angelou,
about people
United topics
places, the
States, Maya of
interest have
much
authors preserve
T.'s
tried
him. The
possible
as as
to to
Bai
humor
manner
and
-ranging and
inimitable
the
his
free
conversing,
wit,
of
and
man
whom
oratory
language in
in
was
itself
the
for
cadences
of
sense
of
a
a
and wonderment.
discovery
of
paper
literary
-Ofri's
meticulous T.'s
Dorith
analysis
Scheps
of
style.
is
a
Bai
identity,
builder
contemporary
Liberian
Moore's
Capitalizing
role
on as
of
a
a
modern
heralds
triumphant birth
writing
Liberian
creative the
his
as of
Ofri
paper
writing
illustrates how
literature.
touches
Moore's
More significantly, the
and
and death,
and present,
love
past tradition and change,
on town
country,
Journal,
Liberian XV, 2, (1990)
Studies
1
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MONTS
P.
LESTER
2
and
Liberian
fusion
and beyond, poetry,
creative
and
Africa
of
tales,
Gola
a
Vai,
literary
arts
in his
style.
Through use
Holsoe
and written
historical Svend
the oral sources,
of
ruler
documents the
Zolu
warrior and southern
areas
Duma,
the
life
of
Vai
of
a
during
late Holsoe's
the eighteenth and nineteenth account
early
centuries.
Duma's
lends
Zolu
degree
historical figure,
position as an while
of clarity to
a
near
status
preserving his
and despot
culture
mythical hero in
lore.
as
a
Vai
paper
during
responses
musical
discusses the and
Islam
My
the
social
to
During
twentieth
Islam moved from its marginal,
century. this era
early
attempt
status and
localized
hold in
began segments
take
of society.
all
to Vai
I
and
period was by toleration
show that the beginning
this characterized
to
of
end
toward
between traditional and
the
this
Islamic But
coexistence
practices.
of
infusion
people witnessed abandonment traditional
practices,
era, the
of
of
movement
and toward orthodoxy.
elements
elements,
Islamic
Musical
fol-
a
lowed
music maintained
traditional was
similar
performance
a
courses.
At
first,
important
but
an entertainment major
element at
as
the aniconic
celebrations,
Islam relegated masked
drumming, and singing
views of soon
dancing,
less
to
roles.
central
Walters'
Singler's
Joseph novel
discussion
Victor
Jeffery
John
of
1891
interesting male
an discussion
Pau:
of
is
African Princess,
an
Guanya
A
Story
of
young
during
nineteenth
perceptions
century.
late
the
female roles
of
A
Vai
man, Walters
short
wrote
plight
novel
as
attention the
this
polemic
a
to
to call
paper draws
in
and
women
material
Singler's
of on archival
existing
Vai society.
and
ethnographic studies
relate his novel
the Walters'
versa.
of
vice
Vai life
to
to
Ruth
illustrates
Stone's paper that the
people,
Kpelle like
the
M.
Vai,
indigenous
documents
study
an
Her meticulous
developed
examples
script.
of
number
appeared
have not
presents
characters that in
the
the
Kpelle
script, of
a
and
literature,
between and
discusses the possible
connections the
Kpelle
Vai
writing
systems.
paper Al-
Hassan
light
Conteh brings
and
The final
new
some
by
to
interesting
concepts and
medical
religion
traditional
among
practices
on
the
many personal
Relying
Mandingo. on he
experiences, discusses
the skills
of
traditional illustrating important
medical practitioners,
their
role
in
society.
Drawing
Horton,
developed by
model
Conteh contrasts
Robin
theoretical
on
a
-a- vis
modern
notion "open"
Mandingo
predicaments
the and
"closed"
of vis
within
Liberian
on
reliance
the confines of
medical
belief systems.
effective care
paper
further
doubt the debate
no
traditional
on the reliability
This
will
of
procedures.
versus
Western
medical
submitted
time
At
publication,
throes
the this volume
for is in
the
Liberia
is
and devastating
Thousands
people have
and
tragic
died,
over
war.
of
of
a
civil
quarter
Liberia's
population
has refuge in
neighboring
a
sought
of
states.
The
and
political,
forever
fabric
torn by
social,
economic Liberia
this
will be
of
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INTRODUCTION
3
the
contributors wish
the
extend
In
compassion,
the spirit
to
of
conflict.
memory have
issue
the those who suffered
dedication
this special
of
of
all
to
have
wanted
during
tumultuous
would
it
period
in Liberian history.
this
Bai
T.
this way.
bring
long this
endured
the wait
wish thank the contributors who
to
to
I
many
that our
regret
in
of
project
fruition. Due the
Liberia, we
to
conflict
to
hope
issue.
unable this
contribute
We
in
were
special
colleagues
to
Liberia
to
future
issues
publication
papers
the Journal.
their
in
of
be considered
for
can
being
issue"
prevented
from of the Journal.
Publication
this "special
costs
a
Dunn
thanks order Cordor
and
in
for
Elwood
Hence,
is
Similih
to
special
M.
D.
a
and
the University
are also
their cooperation
editorial comments.
grateful
We
to
support
generous
for its
California this
of
of
project.
Monts
Lester
P.
California
University
of
Barbara
Santa
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11
Moore
Bai
(above),
T.
and
his
son,
relative
at
a
the Poro
graduation
Society
in
Besao.
(January,
Photo
by Lester
1978)
Monts.
P.
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Tamia Moore
Bai
-1988*
1920
announces with
Republic
Liberia
"The
Government
the
of of
-seventh
profoundest regrets year
death
his
the sixty the
in
of
Deputy
Honorable
Former
Tamia
Moore,
Bai K.C.
B.Sc.,
Planning,
Information,
and Ministry
Research
Minister
for
of
outstanding
Culture and
Tourism,
erudite
statesman, scholar,
author,
folklorist
and educator,
Republic
Liberia.
of
Hospital
mournful
and event occurred at
City
in
sad
the
the
This
of
ELWA
Montserrado
Paynesville,
on Sunday, January
county,
Republic
Liberia,
of
10,
period
following
post meridian,
hour
three
at the brief
of
o'clock
of
a
1988,
illness.
Honourable
erudite statesman,
Tamia
late
scholar,
Moore,
The
Bai
outstanding
unto union
and educator, was the
Zolu
author,
born
folklorist
of
House in Jondu
Zina from
and Goyan Guwo
the
Dablo in
the Clan
Kaizolu
of
Mount
Grand Cape County
Koneh,
October
Gola
12,1920.
on
Industrial
received
Bendu
his
deceased early education at the
Mission
The
was
he
from
attracted
on
Lake Piso
Bendu,
the
While at
-1929.
School
to
1926
leadership
outstanding
demonstrated
he even at that
Missionaries the ability
by
Hunter
Edward have
and taken
Bouey
early
That
encouraged
Mrs.
Rev.
age.
to
Richmond
him
and him Elementary
enrolled
America, in
the United
States of
a
to
Armstrong High
grade.
later Richmond
the entered
Tamia
in Fifth
School
Bai
President
Richmond,
and graduated
was
he
At
his in
as
of class
School
1934.
known
"Johnson Moore."
as
matriculated
learning," Hon.
Not
then
with
Moore
"little
satisfied
to
Bai
T.
graduated
degree
the Virginia Union University and
with
Bachelor
of Science
a
did
in
graduate studies
He
post
in in
also
biology at
Biology
(B.Sc.)
1938.
Howard
later
graduate
University Washington,
in
and completed
in
D.C.
a
1939
program
and New
Diploma Education
His
by
Television in
in Radio
York
State.
unwavering
made
interest
profound country
in his his
people and the
love
of
returned
name
from Johnson
when
him
Moore
change
he
Moore
his
to
Bai T.
home identify
better with
his
in
people.
as
to
so
1941
Honourable
converted
Religiously, late Moore
the
the Christian
to
Bai
T.
baptized, accepted
and and
was and Christ
became
Religion,
Savior
his Lord
as
Industrial
member
Friendship
Grand
Bendu
the
Baptist
Mission,
Church,
of
a
Mount
the church
County.
Hon.
Cape
as well
In
Moore
as school,
in
Bai
T.
continued country
ambassador
himself
good
his
by
exemplify
taking
as
to of
a
Liberian
Journal,
(1990)
Studies
XV,
5
2
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EXTRAORDINARY
THE
OFFICIAL GAZETTE
LIBERIA
6
member
part
found an
whatsoever
He
the
he do. was active
Boy
in
active
of
to
Superintendent
Baptist
-Y
and
Sunday
Moore
Street
also
Hi
Scout,
School
of
named
its
wonder
church and pastor,
No
he
Church
Dr.
after
was
the
in
that
U.S.
his
church that sponsored
Johnson
was Moore
Baptist
because
the
H.
Street
it
R.
America.
trip
the United
first States of
to
President Edwin
began when
in
Hon.
Moore
public career
The
Bai
1942
of
T.
Department
appointed
Agriculture
him Bureau
the
in
the
of
Barclay chief of
J.
return
his
home.
Internal after
Interior (now Ministry
shortly
the
Affairs)
of of
opportunity
him
that afforded
first government
was this assignment with
the
It
study
country and served the
regions
travel
the
the basis
in of the
for
to of
all
richness
were
diversity and our Cultural that
heritage.
there
African
time,
At
of
motor road
done
in much
very
country and,
few
walking was
links
the therefore,
performing
his
first
an agriculture extension supervisor.
duties the
in
as
By 1944,
Agriculture
arrived and the team was assigned with
Mission the
USAID
Bureau. Hon.
worked with that team
very
establish
Moore
closely
the
Bai
to
T.
now known
Experimental
Government
Agriculture in
Station
as Suacoco,
CARI
duty
much
and pioneering spirit contributed
dedication
T's
County.
Bong
to
Bai
Agriculture in
establishment
now
the the Ministry
to of
of
1947.
Hon.
taught
University
Liberia
In
Moore at the
of
Science
1951, Bai
T.
Department
moved
Laboratory High
later
the
in He
Monrovia.
School
of
to
Department
Instruction
Education,
(now Education.)
Public
Ministry
the
At
of
of
Fundamental Education
Director
he
Liberian
served
the Joint UNESCO-
as
of
Fundamental Education Training
and build
Center
he helped
Project
the
in
to
now
County where designed training community
Klay,
for
he
scheme
Bomi
a
workers
He received Fellowship
participate
the village
at
UNESCO
level.
to
a
training
Fundamental Education
group
India
Mysore,
in in
in in
scheme
a
1954,
and
home
Education
way
Center
his
visited the
in Egypt.
on
Arab
UNESCO
Fundamental
Thereafter he
newly Bureau
Director
became
the created
of
the
of
Education
and
Literacy in
1957.
and
Hon.
President Tubman help
Moore later
by create
was
chosen
to
Bai
T.
develop
Liberia Information
and subsequently
the Director
became
Service,
of
Audio-Visual
Information
the the
Bureau in Liberia
Bureau
in The
Service
1960.
Department
new
Folkways
Interior
was then from the
transferred
of
the
of
to
Information
that together
Liberian
was at this
with
time,
Samolu
It
Dr.
Service.
plans motion
Tamba Moore
Mole
completed
Johnson Jangaba,
in
set
Bai
to
a
cultural awareness among
campaign
the
Liberia
people.
In
these two
of
1963,
popular
African radio
organized
and
Folklorists lectures,
television
delivered the
program
and and
promoted. writings
"Songs Legends
Liberia"
cultural
of
of
manifestations and
in Liberia
prime
was the construction
Africa. The
objective
National near
Cultural Center
the
Kendeja, miles
of
which
from Monrovia,
ten
was completed national
picturesque
in
cultural
this
assembled
he
At
village,
1964.
musicians
finest
and
the craftsmen, artists, from
and
dancers
the tribes ethnic
all
groups
He
organized the National Troupe has
Cultural which
Liberia.
of
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