The Unwritten History of Liberia

2. The Unwritten History of Liberia

Crafts from Liberia

Liberia is known for the decorative masks and many other crafts.  Some of the crafts would be masks, small sculptures and other wooden carvings.  Many of the sculptures are created to honor past love ones or ancestors of the tribe.  Liberia is also known for the many types of artwork that can still be found in Liberia and many other areas around the world today.[1]

Liberian Ceremonial Spoon

In the Dan tribe carvers would carve  out large ceremonial ladles to honor a highly decorated woman in the tribe.  The woman could be an honoree because of her cooking skills, love, and generosity toward others in the tribe. At special ceremonies, the honoree would dance with this distinguished  symbol of honor." An elderly honoree would pass the ladle and the honor onto the one she saw fit to succeed her in the village".[2]

Masks of Liberia

The Dan Mask

Many villages in Liberia feel that mask are an important part in their life.  One of the groups of people in Liberia that find the mask important is the Gio People. The Gio People live in the Northern part of Liberia.  During special festivities and celebration some of the Gio People will wear these mask.[3]

Flag of Liberia

The Liberian flag is a red, white, and blue flag that looks very close to the flag  of the United States of America. The Liberian flag contains one star and eleven red and white stripes. The Liberian flag is the only flag in that I have found that looks similar to the flag of the United States of America.  Many people may say that the flag is similar to the US flag because former slaves help establish the nation of Liberia.[4]

1.“Crafts” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Liberia#Crafts

2. “Ceremonial Spoon” http://www.africanartssf.com/tribal-art/furniture-utilitarian/ceremonial-spoon-dan-tribe-liberia1/

3. “The Dan Mask” http://worldartswest.org/main/discipline.asp?i=8

4. “Flag of Liberia” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Liberia

1. Liberian Climate


The climate is tropical and humid, with little change in temperature throughout the year. The mean is 27° C (81° F ), with temperatures rarely exceeding 36° C (97° F) or falling below 20° C (68° F ). On the coast the heat is tempered by an almost constant breeze. Yearly rainfall is as high as 510 cm (200 in) on the coast, decreasing to about 200 cm (80 in) in areas farthest inland. There are distinct wet and dry seasons, most of the rainfall occurring between late April and mid-November. Average relative humidity in the coastal area is about 82% during the rainy season and 78% in the dry, but it may drop to 50% or lower between December and March, when the dust-laden harmattan blows from the Sahara. [6]

1. Capital of Liberia

Monrovia

Monrovia is the capital city of the West African country of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado.  Monrovia had a population of 1,010,970  as of the 2008 census.  With 29% of the total population of Liberia.  Monrovia is the country's most populous city.[4]  Monrovia is Liberia's cultural, political, and financial hub.  The body that administers the government of Greater Monrovia District is the Monrovia City Corporation.[5]

Geography of Liberia

Liberia is a Sub-Saharan nation in West Africa located at 6 N, 9 W.   It borders the north Atlantic Ocean to the southwest (580 kilometers of the coastline) and three other African nations on the other three sides.  In total, Liberia comprises 110,000 square kilometers  (43,000 sq mi) of which 96,300 square kilometers (37,190 sq mi) is land and 15,000 square kilometers (5,810 sq mi) is water.[1]  Liberia has the mostly hilly terrain, from rolling plains along the coast to a rolling plateau and low mountains in the north east.[2]  The lowest point of Liberia is at sea level on the Atlantic Ocean.  The highest point on Liberia is 1380 m above sea level at Mount Wuteve.[3]

The Blue Shaded Area Indicate the location of Liberia in Africa.

[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Liberia

[2]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Liberia

[3]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Liberia

[4]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monrovia

[5]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monrovia

[6]http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Liberia-CLIMATE.html