Liberians are gearing up for a massive celebration of the country’s 200th year anniversary on Monday.
The bicentenary celebration marks the arrival on January 7, 1822, of a group of free black people from the United States.
Ships loaded with men, women and children landed on a place called Providence Island, which would become the city of Monrovia, and in 1847, the Republic of Liberia after gaining independence from the US.
Over the course of the 19th century, roughly 16,000 Black Americans immigrated from the US to Liberia with the support of the American Colonization Society (ACS), joining thousands of other resettled Africans rescued and freed from the slave trade. The ACS remained in charge of the free slaves and the territory they occupied until they declared independence on January 7, 1847.
Liberia therefore became the first independent nation in Africa, and it is the oldest republic on the continent.
The Liberian government officially launched a year-long celebration of the historic event on December 2, 2021.
A presidential appointed Steering Committee, headed by Minister of Information Ledgerhood Julius Rennie, is spearheading the celebration, on the theme: “Liberia: The Land of Return – Commemorating 200 Years of Freedom and Pan-African Leadership”.
The Slogan is “The Lone Star Forever, Stronger Together.”
According to the Committee, the theme seeks to memorialize black freedom and nationhood and the determination for self-governance that began with the arrival of the first batch of freed slaved in 1820. They say it also seeks to deepen US-Liberia historical ties, forge stronger economic and social bonds between Liberian and Americans and most importantly place US-Liberian relations on a more productive foundation.
Commemorative events were set to be held across the world, including the United States, Europe and other countries where Liberians and people of Liberian descend reside.
The commemoration officially started since January 7, and it will continue to December 7, 2022, according to the steering committee.
President George Weah, in a special statement marking the commencement of commemoration in January called on all citizens, irrespective of their social, political, and economic backgrounds to participate in the commemoration of statehood as part of their collective efforts to strengthen national unity and peace.
“In Liberia, National Unity and Reconciliation is the cornerstone to all national development efforts, and is the basis for combating all forms of discrimination and exclusion,” Weah said.
He added: “As a country which has emerged from a divided past and a recent civil war, it is our only option for survival and continuity as a nation.”
Monday’s event was planned to bring everyone at one place to celebrate in grand style. Several international guests, among them Liberians living abroad and other people of Liberian descent, are expected to attend.
President Joe Biden delegated a high-profile team led by the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who served as ambassador of the US to Liberia from 2008 to 2012. The entourage also include current ambassador to Monrovia, Michael A. McCarthy; Dana Banks, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Africa, National Security Council; Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution; and Rev. Dr. Teresa Jefferson-Snorton, Bishop of the Fifth Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Chair of the Governing Board, National Council of Churches in the United States.
The United States Embassy in a statement in January hailed the history relations between Liberia and the US, describing the West African nation as “an important partner” of the United States.
“As two of the oldest continuous republics in the world, the United States and Liberia share a unique history paired with common democratic values,” the statement from the US ambassador in Liberia noted.
The presidency in Monrovia released a promotional video on Sunday in which President George Weah welcomes guests to the country.
