11 Questions: Yor-EL Francis, Writer, Director, Producer

                                      

Francis hails from a prominent Liberian family; the Martins of Grand Bassa County and the Francis from Marshall. He is well traveled and holds a Master of Arts in Film Directing from the City University of New York.  His career began as an intern at MTV Networks, then a stint at the Black Entertainment Television [BET], before landing a job at FOX. 2003 saw the Liberian born filmmaker accepted into the esteemed two-year Directors Guild of America’s Producer Training Plan in Los Angeles. In 2005, Yor-El won the African Film Commission’s top prize for screen-writing for his screenplay, “Fire of the Sun,” a story based on the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh, Piankhi, who is an unwilling hero compelled to bring together his country’s fractured lower and upper kingdoms. As a source of national pride, Francis beat out a Ghanaian and a Nigerian, [who were numbers 2 and 3, respectively] to win the Grand prize that year. Back home in Liberia, he has been busy directing and producing Liberian films and short videos, it was his innovation that brought to life Bai T. Moore’s “Murder In the Cassava Patch,” the adaption was also the late Peter Ballah’s final on-screen appearance.  Francis last worked on the POT NOT BOILING REMIX video with Liberian all stars Xpolay, Romeo Lee, Takun J, JD Donzo, Bentman tha Don and Luckay Buckay.

The True Meaning of Independence: Reflection of Our Yesterdays and Vision for Our Tomorrow

Syrulwa Somah [Ph.D]

It is a unique privilege and honor for me to speak before this august gathering at this moment. Today, all over this land of our parentage, from its hilltops to its valleys and plains; from its villages to towns, to districts and cities there is a celebration going on with our famous request for gift, “My 26th is on you-o, ba.” I, too, want to say “My 26th is on you-o, ba.”

11 Questions: George Kieh, politician

                                      

Kieh was a presidential candidate in the 2005 presidential election; he is also a long-time Liberian political activist. He is currently professor of political science at the University of West Georgia, USA. Prior to that, he held several teaching and administrative positions in Liberia and the United States, including lecturer of political science, at the University of Liberia, chair of the Political Science Department at Morehouse College, Atlanta Georgia, Dean of International Affairs at Grand Valley State University, Michigan, USA, and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia.

Debate: Henry Boima Fahnbulleh jr. Vs. Samuel D. Tweah jr.

H. B. Fahnbulleh[PhD]

                                                 

Introduction: Although these articles are dated from 2005, they nonetheless make for great reading about the larger questions and contexts of recent Liberian History, between two intellectuals who passionately discussed the issues in their country, and Liberia's descend into chaos, the last decades of the 20th century which preceded Tubman despotic 27 years rule and the rise of Doe and Taylor in the 21st century.

A reply to one Samuel D. Tweah, Jr. : A Critique of the Bluster of a Charlatan
By H. Boima Fahnbulleh, Jr.

Will The Loyal Opposition Take a Stand in Liberia?

                               



If the current level of discontent amongst Liberians is anything to judge by, then there is a strong likelihood Liberia may experience severe turbulence in the months ahead. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s second term may not be as quiet as the first. The signs are everywhere.

11 Questions: Patricia Jabbeh Wesley, Poet

                                          

Wesley [PhD] is Associate Professor of English at the Pennsylvania State University and a Liberian writer with four books of poetry under her belt.  Jabbeh Wesley’s fifth book “In Monrovia, the River Visits the Sea,” is now in print. It is a children’s book recently published by One Moore Book Publishers, Jan. 2013.

Kona Khasu calls on Liberian Govt. to support arts

                                                   

11 Questions: Kona Khasu, Cultural Aficionado

Khasu is a long time Liberian culture promoter and currently heads the Liberian Arts and Culture Council in Liberia as post war Liberia moves to position the arts at the center of national development. To simply called Kona Khasu a cultural enthusiast would be unfair, he has been at the center of education and social policies in his native Liberia for close a decade and half, and if anyone knows anything about Liberian theatre also, they would know Kona Khasu.