{"id":14203,"date":"2024-12-12T08:16:27","date_gmt":"2024-12-12T08:16:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/zh-hant\/?p=14203"},"modified":"2025-11-06T08:32:47","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T08:32:47","slug":"min-on-music-journey-no-94-liberia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/zh-hant\/14203\/min-on-music-journey-no-94-liberia\/","title":{"rendered":"Min-On Music Journey No. 94: Liberia"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Updated Music information as of October 29,2025<br \/>\n<\/span><br \/>\nWelcome to Min-On\u2019s Music Journey! Today, the Min-On Concert Association and the Embassy of the Republic of Liberia<!--more--> in Japan welcome you to the Republic of Liberia, located on the Atlantic Coast in West Africa.<\/p>\n<p><em>*All photos in this article were provided by the Embassy of the Republic of Liberia in Japan.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-17008\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1-copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1240\" height=\"940\" \/><em>Marshall Wetlands &#8211; \u00a9MICAT<\/em><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"566\"><strong>Travel guide for Liberia<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Experience the history and culture of Liberia in Monrovia<br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">\u2022 Try Liberian cuisine at the Waterside Market<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\">\u2022 Meet the cute little pygmy hippos in Sapo National Park<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Republic of Liberia was founded in 1822 as a project of the American Colonization Society (ACS) when African Americans settled on Liberian land, where they eventually declared independence in 1847. The name of the country is derived from the Latin word \u201cLiber,\u201d meaning freedom.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"566\"><strong>Min-On recommended artist:<\/strong> <strong>Kapingbdi, legendary African jazz band<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Kapingbdi was formed in Liberia in the late 1970s and became an internationally recognized band in the 1970s and 80s with successful tours in Europe and the United States, thanks to its unique sound that blends jazz, funk, rock and soul with powerful African rhythms. The band disbanded in the mid-1980s, but later released remastered albums in 2019 and 2020. To kick off this journey, please enjoy listening to &#8220;Don&#8217;t Escape,&#8221; the first track from the album &#8220;Born in the Night&#8221; released in 2019.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Don&#039;t Escape\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/roi057uaPjU?list=OLAK5uy_m9e_H5pHCS7VTjMdlVm-IpRJ7Kil5oFZU\"  allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>The vibrant capital of Monrovia<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Liberia&#8217;s capital Monrovia was named after James Monroe, the U.S. president at the time and prominent supporter of the American Colonization Society. The city is the country&#8217;s political and economic hub, and a center of culture where visitors can learn about the history of Liberia.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Providence Island<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When visiting Monrovia, a great first destination is Providence Island. The island is believed to be the first place that African Americans emigrated to in 1822, and it&#8217;s no exaggeration to say the history of Liberia started here.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-16999\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"812\" height=\"541\" \/><br \/>\n<em>Providence Island, Monrovia City &#8211; \u00a9United Nations Photo<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The island&#8217;s beautiful greenery and many monuments symbolizing independence and peace make it a popular spot for visitors to Liberia.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>National Museum of Liberia<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The National Museum of Liberia is a historic building built in 1843. This structure is home to a number of valuable documents that illustrate the history, culture and art of Liberia, making it one of Monrovia&#8217;s most prominent cultural facilities.<\/p>\n<p>The building was heavily damaged due to years of civil conflict, but was reopened in November 2017 after being restored and reconstructed<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17009\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/3-copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1240\" height=\"939\" \/><em>Liberian National Museum &#8211; \u00a9Liberia\u2019s Official Tourism Website<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Centennial Pavilion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Centennial Pavilion was built in 1947 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Liberia&#8217;s independence. This is also the site of inaugurations of past presidents, and the basement is home to many monuments and statues. William V.S. Tubman is also buried here. He served as president of Liberia for 27 years, the longest-tenured president in the country&#8217;s history.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17010\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/4-copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" \/><em>Centennial Pavilion &#8211; \u00a9Liberia\u2019s Official Tourism Website<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Lifestyle and food culture of Liberia<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Waterside Market, located in downtown Monrovia, is a vibrant location deeply rooted in the lives of the local community. Many unique street stalls line the alleyways, where everything from fresh produce, clothing, household goods and traditional handicrafts are on offer.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/5-copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1903\" height=\"1080\" \/><em>Waterside Market at Monrovia &#8211; \u00a9enjoy_liberia_travel\u00a0 (left) Darrell at his fish stall, Monrovia \u2013 \u00a9Nick Fraser 2010 (right)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Some of the traditional crafts found in Liberia include wood carving, basket weaving, pottery, mask making and cloth dyeing. These items are often decorated with intricate designs and decorations that symbolize cultural stories, beliefs and social values.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17001\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/7-copy-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1420\" height=\"531\" \/><em>TRADITIONAL HANDICRAFTS MADE BY LOCAL PEOPLE &#8211; \u00a9Official Tourism Website<\/em><\/p>\n<p>When visiting a market like this, visitors should never miss local cuisine unique to the area. At the food stalls, visitors can enjoy local dishes such as fufu, a dumpling-like dish made of potatoes and rice, jollof rice, a mixture of meat and rice cooked in tomato sauce, fried plantains and more.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17002\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/9-copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1307\" height=\"554\" \/><em>Liberian Jollof Rice &#8211; \u00a9African Food Network (left) Fried Plantain \u201cKelewele\u201d &#8211; \u00a9Liberian Dish Recipes (right)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Liberia is also known as a producer of a variety of spice, including grains of paradise and habanero pepper. They&#8217;re often used in Liberian cooking, and are also popular items found at the market.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-17016 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/11-copy-2-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"930\" \/><em>MELEGUETA PEPPER &#8211; \u00a9Official Tourism Website (left) HABANERO PEPPER &#8211; \u00a9Olga\u2019s Liberian Fried Pepper Facebook Page (right)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"566\"><strong>\u201cOut of My Hand,\u201d Los Angeles Film Festival U.S. Fiction Award winner<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cOut of My Hand,\u201d a film set in Liberia, was submitted to the Berlin International Film Festival in 2015. An immigrant story written and directed by Japanese filmmaker Takeshi Fukunaga, with cinematography by Ryo Murakami, the film was produced in association with the Liberia Movie Union established by the Liberian government.<\/p>\n<p>The story follows a rubber plantation worker in Liberia who moves to New York City and faces the daily realities of immigrant life. The Japanese director&#8217;s unflinching portrayal of the protagonist has drawn critical acclaim worldwide. Bishop Blay, who portrays the main character Cisco, has actual prior experience as a rubber plantation worker, and his performance was praised by the Los Angeles Times.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>The vast tropical rainforest of Sapo National Park<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sapo National Park in eastern Liberia is a protected tropical rainforest covering approximately 1,800 square kilometers. This reserve is home to some of the world&#8217;s greatest biodiversity, and many endemic species, including the pygmy hippopotamus \u2013 one of the world&#8217;s three rarest animals \u2013 can be found here.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17004\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/13-copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2505\" height=\"827\" \/><em>PYGMY HIPPOPOTAMUS (Sapo National Park) &#8211; \u00a9Liberia\u2019s Official Tourism Website<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Activities including farming, construction and hunting are strictly prohibited within the boundaries of the park, but camping is permitted with approval of the Liberian Forestry Development Authority. Guided hikes and canoe tours are also offered, allowing visitors to experience the area&#8217;s untouched nature to the fullest.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kpatawee Waterfall<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17011\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/15-copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" \/><em>Kpatawee Waterfall &#8211; \u00a9Liberia\u2019s Official Tourism Website<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Kpatawee Waterfall, located approximately three hours by car from Monrovia, is a popular spot for locals to enjoy swimming and picnicking. The experience of ascending the stream and immersing yourself in the cool, rushing water while exploring the untouched natural surroundings will surely prove to be an unforgettable adventure.<\/p>\n<p>Nearby is Kpatawee Resort, a rustic thatched-roof lodging facility, where visitors can enjoy evening meals prepared with local ingredients. Outdoor camping is also available here. There are lifeguards on duty at Kpatawee Waterfall who can assist with any questions or concerns you may have.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17005\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" \/><em>Bonfire at Kpatawee Resort &#8211; \u00a9Kpatawee_Resort<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Musical culture of Liberia<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Because of the damage done to the theaters, halls and other buildings in Liberia by the war, there aren&#8217;t currently any venues that specialize solely in music. Therefore, large spaces such as Monrovia City Hall, Paynesville Town Hall, the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium and Providence Island are used as venues for musical performances. This fact represents how music remains an integral part of the people of Liberia&#8217;s lives.<\/p>\n<p>As in many African countries, drums are commonplace in traditional Liberian music, but another unique feature of Liberian music is the use of a beaded rattle called a \u201csaasaa\u201d that accompanies the drums.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17006\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/17.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" \/><em>Saasaa &#8211; \u00a9Liberia National Tourism Association<\/em><\/p>\n<p>It may be true that Liberian music is highly influenced by American culture. Yet at the same time, Liberia&#8217;s unique identity is also visibly apparent in the development of a music scene unique to the region.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hipco, a popular musical genre among the youth<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This musical genre originated in Liberia in the 1980s as a style of rap influenced by hip hop culture. Hipco focuses on social themes such as Liberian history, poverty and inequality, and its catchy African rhythms and powerful lyrics have strong appeal with the younger generation.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to producing well-known artists like Queen Endee and Semah, Hipco has developed to have significant social impact, as evidenced by the release of a Hipco song to raise awareness in the fight against infectious diseases, with the support of UNICEF.<\/p>\n<p>In closing, we invite you to enjoy some performances by musicians recommended by the Embassy of the Republic of Liberia in Japan.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><em> &#8220;OBAA&#8221; &#8211; Miatta Fahnbulleh <\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Miatta Fahnbulleh OBAA 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Concert\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/r70iOcV8qfA?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/www.min-on.org\"  allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><em>&#8220;Wakii Remix ft. Pck, L&#8217;Frankie&#8221; &#8211; Queen Juli Endee <\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Queen Juli Endee - Wakii Remix ft. Pck, L&#039;Frankie\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wnl2ROpN5n0?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/www.min-on.org\"  allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><em> &#8220;<\/em> <em>No One Like You&#8221; &#8211; Semah X Flavour <\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Semah X Flavour - No One Like You [Official Video]\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jZf7sXuC7Io?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/www.min-on.org\"  allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>What did you think of your music journey to Liberia? There are still many more places to go! Please look forward to our next destination.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-17007\" src=\"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/18.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"847\" height=\"605\" \/><br \/>\n<em>\u00a9Sarah-Jean<\/em><\/p>\n<p>(Produced in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Liberia in Japan, who also provided photos.)<\/p>\n<p>Min-On Concert Association<br \/>\n-Music Binds Our Hearts-<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Updated Music information as of October 29,2025 Welcome [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14204,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[415],"tags":[],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Chinese Traditional - Min-On Website","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/zh-hant","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/zh-hant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14203"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/zh-hant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/zh-hant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/zh-hant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/zh-hant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14203"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/zh-hant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14203\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14492,"href":"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/zh-hant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14203\/revisions\/14492"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/zh-hant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/zh-hant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/zh-hant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14203"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.min-on.org\/zh-hant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}