Interviews

HBF: It was my way of delineating social classes and their reactions to the questions of patriotism and nationalism in a situation of political crisis. Again, the attempt was to draw our attention to that facet of our history which some ethnicists were trying to deny after the coup: that there ever were progressive and enlightened members of that social group called Americo-Liberians. This perception was ahistorical and downright reactionary. There have always been enlightened and progressive members of that group as one could see from the works of Blyden, Barclay, Bracewell, etc. Joe Benson was a symbol of that progressive tendency within this group which had maintained power after Barclay, would have altered the history of our country in a very positive direction.

When I came across Dr. Fahnbulleh’s novel, “Behind God’s Back” at a local library in Monrovia in 2010, I was fascinated to know that he’s not only a militant agitator for social political change in Liberia, but a very good creative writer. I had read so much of his militant polemics of vexing Liberian social issues. But I could not imagine he had written a brilliant novel such as “Behind God’s Back.” Perhaps what fascinated me more than anything about this novel is the fact that as much as Dr. Fahnbulleh is well…

Interview by Professor Patricia Wesley, Penn State University

Interviews

Interview: Dr. Patricia Wesley & Comrade Cherbo Geeplay

August 14, 2019October 31, 2019 admin2Cherbo Geeplay, Interview, Patricia Jabbeh Wesley0 comment

Comrade Cherbo Geeplay was born in Pleebo, Southeastern Liberia, Western Africa, and is a Liberian and African poet whose work has appeared in many journals and publications, and was interviewed by Dr. Patricia Jabbeh Wesley. Can you talk a little bit about how you came to poetry? What has poetry offered to you? And what do you add to the dialogue of Liberian poetry? I think it was in high school, I got my spark from high school. High school was instrumental, and then during the Liberian civil war too,…

Editor's Desk Interviews

11 Questions Zubin Cooper, Actor

June 25, 2016June 30, 2016 adminCannes France, featured, Liberian Actor, The Last Face, Zubin Cooper

Zubin Cooper is a Liberian documentary maker, actor and producer. He just finished his first Cannes Film Festival appearance, starring in ‘The Last Face’, a movie that covers Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and South Africa. He joined the project as a consultant, but given his immense talent, Zubin ended up making his acting debut in the role of ‘Dr. Mousa.’ 1. Liberians have been excited and more so since you appeared on the red carpet in Cannes, France. What has the reception for you been in Liberia and from…

Interviews

11 Questions: Ophelia S. Lewis, Writer, publisher, Humanitarian

January 31, 2016January 31, 2016 adminfeatured, Liberia, News, Ophelia Lewis

Born Nov.7, 1961 Ophelia S. Lewis is a Liberian writer and publisher. Her first book, “My Dear Liberia” [2004] was published in memory of pre- civil war Liberia. She is referred to in some quarters as a feminist-nationalist, and is the founder of Village Tale Publishing. She is also the author of novels, and children’s books, poetry, short stories and essays. Ophelia is active in helping other authors getting their writing published using a self-publishing platform. When she is not writing she can be found fundraising for worthy causes such…

Interviews

11 Questions: Althea Romeo Mark, Writer, Poet, Educator

January 21, 2016January 24, 2016 adminAlthea Romeo-Mark, Black Writers, featured, News

Althea Romeo Mark is an educator and poet who grew up in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She earned a B.A. in English and Secondary Education from the University of the Virgin Islands and a M.A. in Modern American Literature from Kent State University in the U.S.A. She considers herself a citizen of the world having lived and taught in the Virgin Islands, U.S.A, Liberia, England and now currently Switzerland. She has published 5 collections of poems as well as various short stories and poems in a variety of literary magazines.…

Interviews

11 Questions Wleh Bedell: Football Analyst, Consultant and Journalist

April 27, 2015June 19, 2015 adminfeatured, Liberia, Liberian Football, Wleh Bedell

Wleh Bedell is the founder of the Liberia Football Players Association (LIFOPA), an analyst, pundit, writer who is currently writing his first book on Liberian football. Mr. Bedell is described by some as a critic, the walking encyclopedia of Liberian football for his in-depth knowledge of the country’s football. Bedell worked as a reporter and editor of www.liberiansoccer.com, also, as Assistant Secretary General of the Sports Writers association of Liberia (SWAL), and Public Relations Officer at the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC). As a commentator, over the years he has…

Interviews

11 Questions Vamba Sherif: Writer, Novelist

April 18, 2015April 18, 2015 adminfeatured, Interviews, Liberian Writer, Vamba Sheriff

Vamba Sherif was born in Kolahun, Lofa County. His upcoming Novel Bound to Secrecy will be published by HopeRoad this month. A novelist principally, Sherif has written stories for The New York Times, The French magazine Long Cours, which is a subsidiary of L’Express, the German magazine Kultur Aaustauch, and for various Dutch newspapers and magazines like Trouw, De Volkskrant, One World, and many others. Vamba Sherif has had stints in acting and likes reviewing films. He’s currently an ambassador for the Dutch Refugees Council. In this capacity, he helps…

Interviews

11 Questions: Wayétu Moore, Writer, Thinker and Publisher

February 8, 2015March 28, 2015 adminfeatured, Liberia, One Moore Book, Wayétu Moore

Wayétu Moore is the Publisher of One Moore Book. She produces and publishes children’s books specifically focusing on kids in countries with low literacy rates. Moore graduated with a BA, Journalism from Howard University, subsequently receiving a Masters of Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Southern California. As the former editor of “The Coup Magazine”, her objective was “UNIFYING WOMEN OF COLOR” through social and political consciousness. Her work can be found in Guernica Magazine, The Atlantic Magazine, Gawker, The Huffington Post and Waxwing Literary Journal, among others.…

Interviews

11 Questions: Takun J, Hipco Artist

June 19, 2013July 26, 2014 adminHipco, Liberia, Takun J

Takun J was recently named as Liberia’s Anti-Rape Ambassador for his tireless efforts advocating for an end to violence against women and children. He is also a pioneer in the genre of hip co, Liberia’s unique music that blends hip hop and west African sounds with Liberian English. 1. “Pot Boiling Remix”, a “collabo”, featuring Xpolay, Romeo Lee, JD Donzo, you, Bentman Tha Don and Luckay Buckay and produced by Yor-EL Francis was such a “club banger,” if I must quote Mae Azango of Frontpage Africa. It saw huge success…

Interviews

11 Questions: Aletha Jones-Campbell, Movie Producer

June 4, 2013June 19, 2013 adminLiberian Movie, News Ticker

Campbell is a Liberian film maker currently residing in the United States of America. Her passion for movies and filmmaking led her to the recent debut production of “Somewhere In Baltimore.” The movie has been an instant sensation with critics and premiere viewers, having seen successful premiers in Philadelphia, Minnesota, and other cities in the US. It is set to tour Western Africa soon: June and July of this year. Campbell’s “Somewhere In Baltimore” is also the recipient of the 2013 best movie of the year, presented by the…