For A Liberian Studies Program

For A Liberian Studies Program

By

Josephus Gray

Many Liberians complain on and often how one of the things that lack most in our culture is true nationalism. This absence of nationalism can be correlated to the level of alienation that has permeated the Liberian psyche for time immemorial. There is no better proof of alienation than young Liberians in school wearing African outfits to celebrate “Africa Day.” The fact that Liberian students were “allowed” one-day to celebrate Africa meant that the rest of the time they were celebrating another culture. And indeed, up until it was destroyed by the war, Liberian educational system was mostly oriented towards studying America . Besides a few courses here and there, very little was really studied about Liberia , its culture and its people. Nationalism is bred through knowledge and the lack of deep knowledge of their own nation and culture by Liberians could be correlated with their lack of strong nationalism. However, if proposals put forward by Dr. Syrulwa Somah were to be implemented, this lacuna could be a thing of the past in the new Liberia .

Dr. Syrulwa Somah, Executive Director of Liberian History, Education and Development, Inc. (LIHEDE), in a set of proposals submitted on March, 29, 2005 in Monrovia to those responsible for the educational system in Liberia, calls for what he calls the creation of disciplines that would give Liberians a deep understanding of their nation state, instill a sense of identity that goes beyond primal identities based on tribal or ethnic belonging and lead to a better understanding amongst the people and future leaders. “It is education that can remove all forms of hatred, racism, tribalism, sectionalism, fear, disease, poverty and self-destruction.”

The violence that accompanied the recent Liberian war could be likened to what Frantz Fanon called the self-hatred victims of servitude – and colonialism – feel towards their kinsmen, because every kinsman reminds the victim of his/her own persona, which he has been trained to despise. The western mode of schooling has encouraged what could be termed as a disdain for Liberian languages and culture and this has created hatred for Liberians. “If we despise the language of a people then by that very token we despise that people. If we are ashamed of our own language then we must certainly lack that minimum of self-respect, which is necessary for the healthy functioning of society.”

To create a new Liberia where patriotism and self-love would be instilled in future generations, there must be in place in new system to educate future generations. For the past 157 years, Liberians have all but reneged on their own cultural heritage and this has led to a serious shortcoming. Says Dr. Somah: “This self-denial is a transgression beyond measurable proposition, depriving oneself of the richness of one's history not only limits the possibilities and solutions to national problems solving but lack of knowledge of one own worth.”

To resolve this, he proposes a program of Liberian studies, which, in his words, “should be made a part of the curriculum at their highest institutions of learning not only for the benefits of Liberians, but also for the education of non-Liberians who may want to know about the country and its people.”

The program put forth by Dr. Somah would allow students to obtain a Bachelor degree in Liberian Studies, Peace Education, and Military Studies. At the graduate level, the programs call for a Masters Degree in Gender and Peace Building and in Environmental Studies and the whole program would culminate into a doctorate degree in Liberian Studies where students could concentrate in any of the various program. All of these programs deal with areas of weaknesses in Liberian culture.

The proposal of Dr. Somah goes far beyond the mere wish for a Liberian Studies program. Every program is detailed with the content of courses, level of classes and the number of credit for each discipline.

“The primary goal of the Liberian Studies curriculum is to provide students with knowledge on Liberian ethnic groups, their histories, cultures, mores, and seriously educate future leaders and other civil servants to solve their problems as the community of nations continues to tell them to solve their own national and political quagmires. In the past, their educational institutions have not adequately addressed national hiatus for the fact that as a people, they know a little about each other, yet they are citizens of one nation,” writes Dr. Somah who headed a delegation to Liberia and looked at many projects.

Before departing Liberia, Dr. Somah met Dr. Evelyn Kandiaka, Minister of Education Ministry of Education; Dr. Al Hasan Conteh, President University of Liberia; Dr. Henrique Tokpa, President Cuttington University College; Dr. James Oliver Duncan, President United Methodist University; Dr. Levi Zangai, President AME University; Rev. Mulbah Gray, AME Zion University, and Sister Mary Laurent Brown, President Don Bosco University, and officially present the proposed Liberian Studies program.

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