DATI Kukatonon Peace Project Donors Update: What Your Donations Are Doing for Liberian Genocide Survivors
DATI kukatonon Peace Project was launched in Liberia in November 2019. It is a grassroot effort engineered by Liberian playwright Rabbi Prince Joseph Tomoonh-Garlodeyh Gbaba, Sr. and strongly supported by Liberian college youths from various ethnic backgrounds and political subdivisions in Liberia. The project is also supported by African Americans in the United States, the Kappa Alpha Psi Burlington, North Carolina Chapter, Liberians from different ethnic backgrounds (Grand Kru, Grand Gedeh, Sinoe, Grand Bassa, Nimba, Bong, Bomi, Montserrado, and Lofa), and a citizen from the Republic of Sierra Leone. These humanitarians support the genuine reinstatement of rule of law in Liberia and DATI owes them and all those who donate to our worthy cause of peacebuilding in Liberia a debt of gratitude for providing the funds to undertake the activities that are outlined in this donors update.
DATI Kukatonon Peace Project Fundraiser, and Cohort I Virtual Training Process
DATI Montserrado Chapter Cohort I Graduation in November 2019
Dehkontee Artists Theatre, Inc. launched its first fundraiser for Cohort I and virtual training beginning February 2019 through December of 2020. The organization raised Four Thousand Three Hundred and Fifty United States Dollars ($4,350). The funds generated were used to conduct virtual peace education and conflict resolution, cultural studies and Afrocentric literacy classes to train Sixty-five recruits of the combined DATI Cohort I classes and to formally launch in November 2019 both DATI chapters in Harper, Maryland County and in Monrovia, Montserrado County, respectively. At the end of both Cohort I virtual trainings, forty-five students from Tubman University, The University of Liberia, A.M.E. Zion University, United Methodist University, and Stella Maris University completed DATI's two and a half month training, received certificates and took oath to serve as DATI Peace Advocates in Liberia.
DATI Maryland Gbenelue Chapter
DATI Maryland Chapter with tribal elders in Gbenelue
DATI Montserrado Chapter launched its formal opening and graduation program in Monrovia at the Providence Baptist Church Shrine in Monrovia, the birthplace of the Liberian nation. DATI Maryland Chapter launched its program and graduation ceremonies at the Harper City Hall. Both chapters engaged the local elders of Gbenelue in Maryland and Barnersville-Kebbah, Montserrado, respectively. The purpose for arranging a rendez-vou for the youths to meet traditional elders was to help them establish rapport with tribal elders and thereby learn the traditions of our ancestors. Both chapters also received the blessings of the traditional elders they paid visits.
DATI Montserrado Chapter with elders of Barnersville-Kabbah
Traditional sacrifice of an unblemished sheep was performed during the formal launch of each DATI chapter in keeping with the traditions of our African ancestors.
Two unblemished sheep were slaughtered to make the traditional sacrifice of peacebuilding and both chapters performed dramas that were centered on conflict resolution and rehabilitation in the Liberian society. The Maryland Chapter staged "Bah Noon Deh Doh" written and directed by a DATI playwright in training, Statesman Alfred Nugba. It is a drama that focuses on land dispute and the Montserrado Chapter addressed the issue of child abuse and ill-treatment of young Liberian girls by child molesters. The title of the play was: "Our Girls Are Not Your Chickoos", written and directed by DATI playwright in training, Statesman Albert Tito Ninneh. An array of distinguished guests, students, community leaders attended both launching ceremonies.
DATI Gbenelue Chapter displaying traditional Grebo culture
Some of the expenditures included but were not limited to: booking of halls in both locales to host the launching programs, purchase of internet data to facilitate virtual training classes of sixty DATI Peace Advocate trainees for two and a half months, transportation and per diems for trainees, counselor fees to revive DATI's article of incorporation in Liberia so that it may be compliant with Liberia's nonprofit organizational laws, printing of DATI t-shirts for both chapters, purchase of prepaid phone cards to enhance communications between DATI members in Liberia and the leadership in the United States, food and decoration of halls, etc.
DATI Kukatonon Peace Advocates and Staff: Shining Examples of Liberian Youth Resiliency
Statesman Hillaryson Soe, Jr., B.A., DATI's Regional Director for Southcentral, Northern & Western Liberia
DATI Kukatonon Peace project is youth-focused and research-based. It is blessed with an array of talented and resilient Liberian youths that run the day-to-day affairs of the project in Liberia. The youths were chosen and vetted from the cream of the Liberian intellectual crop. They are very reliable, efficient and dedicated in the execution of their peacebuilding duties. Further, they are Liberian youths who did not fall by the way side or use being victimized by the Liberian genocide as an excuse to neglect seeking education to prepare themselves for a brighter future. Instead, they struggled and achieved and/or for those still in college, they are still struggling to achieve their goals irrespective of being orphans (some) or survivors of the Liberian genocide.
DATI's "Strong Boy" Statesman Henry Garjay Brumskine, B.Sc., County Director for Montserrado & Grand Bassa Counties
There are two DATI chapters in Liberia: (1) the Montserrado Dougbor Chapter, headed by Henry Brumskine, and (2) the DATI Maryland Gbenelue Chapter headed by Meshach Sieh Elliott. The Montserrado Chapter covers all peacebuilding activities in Southcentral, Northern, and Western Liberia, while the Maryland Chapter covers the Southeastern Region of Liberia. Both of the county directors report to their regional directors. Presently, there is only one Regional Director, Hillaryson Soe, Jr. There will be an announcement put out soon for a Regional Director for Southeastern Liberia.
Statesman Meshach Sieh "PreparedLeader" Elliott, B.A., DATI's County Director for Maryland County.
How to Become a DATI Peace Advocate
Stateswoman Precious A.S. Sampson, B.Sc., Assistant Director for Administration, Dougbor Chapter. DATI promotes Gender Equity and Women Empowerment.
To become a DATI Peace Advocate one must either be a graduate of a community college or/and a four-year-degree-granting college or university and/or hold a bachelor's degree. The only exceptions are for traditional Liberian/African artists who are well versed in traditional Liberian/African music, dance, design, art and craft. In addition, applicants in the program must undergo two-and-a-half-months of intensive training in peace education and conflict resolution, cultural studies and literacy, to attain a certificate and to take oath to promote peace in one's community, neighborhood, and in Liberia.
Below are the lists and names of credentialed DATI Peace Advocates in both DATI Liberia Chapters. A "credentialed" DATI Peace Advocate is one whose academic credentials and professional references were verified and that met all of the training requirements to be certificated and allowed to take oath to serve as a Credentialed DATI Peace Advocate.
Stateswoman Hawa Promise Guwor, B.B.A., National Assistant Secretary General
DATI Montserrado Chapter Officers
Henry Garjay Brumskine, B.Sc. (Director, Montserrado Dougbor Chapter)
Albert T. Ninneh, B.A. (National Secretary General)
Hawa Guwor, B.B.A. (Assistant National Secretary General)
Henry F. Tamba (Assistant Director for Operations)
Precious A.S. Sampson, B.Sc. (Assistant Director, Administration)
Fawen Vumbah, B.Sc. ( Farm Manager)
Roland Yowah, B.Sc. (Manager of Health Services)
Mrs. Grace Kiazolu (Treasurer)
Jeanelle Paye (Chaplain)
Cohort I Dougbor Chapter General Membership
Mapoe Wogbeh (Not credentialed)
Moore Kollie Haba
Edwin Dormie, B.Sc.
Abraham F. J. Fokoe, B.Sc.
Faith Dokpah
Lamine T. J. Munyah
Jerry Kandaika, B.Sc.
Matina Walley
Cyrus Gblinwon (Cohort II)
DATI Maryland Chapter Officers
Meshach Sieh Elliott, B.A. (County Director)
Antonio Leroy Nimely (General Secretary)
Johanna Sackey (Assistant Director, Administration)
Jeremiah M. Clayea (Acting Assistant Director, Operations)
Philomena M. Arkue (Treasurer)
Jasper Sheriff Biohtweh Tweh, B.Sc. (Farm Manager)
Gbenelue Chapter Cohort I General Membership
Stateswoman Philomena Arkue, Treasurer, DATI Gbenelue Chapter
Siafa Joseph Phillips, B.Sc.
Anthony C. Kwarbo, B.Sc.
Edith Komo Neufville, B.Sc.
Aaron K. Cabbage Massaquoi, B.Sc.
Alfred J.K. Nugba
Melvin S. Nugba, B.S.
Jeanet G. Toe, B.S.
Alphonso Nah
Morris Bannie Blanyon
Daniel Seatine
Emmanuel Dio Elliott
Jonathan Moses (Not credentialed)
Alice Kidio
Rufus Tokpah Myers
Wah Woart, Jr.
Emmanuel G. Howe (Not Credentialed)
Jackson Wleh Williams, Jr., B.Sc.
Oliver Garlo
Christina G. Quaye (Cohort II)
Amos T. Daye, II (Cohort II)
David T. Hinneh (Cohort II)
Shadrach Davis (Cohort II)
Nelly Sieh (Cohort II)
Cohort II Recruitment and Training
Photo shows new college recruits in Harper, Maryland County prior to the outbreak of Covid-19 Pandemic. This is proof Liberian youths are yearning for peace and would like to volunteer to spread peace messages through dance, music, drama, and literacy throughout the length and breadth of Liberia.
Cohort II recruits at The University of Liberia. DATI Kukatonon Peace Project is very popular among the youths. The organization needs logistical support to carry out a full scale peace education campaign in Liberia.
In February 2020 DATI undertook its second recruitment process in Montserrado and Maryland Counties. Over a hundred college students submitted their applications! This speaks to the fact that many Liberian youths are fed up with the stalemate in the Liberian peace process. Most of them have expressed their frustrations over the poor administration of the country and the endangerment of their livelihoods due to lawlessness, lack of incentives and job opportunities for Liberian youths and the hopelessness they are experiencing daily.
Unfortunately, the virtual training came to an abrupt end because the nation was on lockdown due to Covid-19 Pandemic and also because most of the students could not afford to purchase data to log on to the virtual training sessions. DATI management provided some funds for data and emergency stimulus packages for DATI Peace Advocates during the lockdown in Liberia but DATI could not do more than it could afford financially due to lack of adequate funding to implement the project in Liberia.
However, despite the scarcity of funds, scores of youths applied, but only one candidate (Statesmand Cyrus Gblinwon) successfully completed his training this year from the Montserrado Chapter, while six peace advocates from the Maryland Chapter (statesmen Amos Archie Daye, II, George Grear, Jr., David T. Hinneh, Shadrach Davis, and Stateswomen Nelly Sieh and Christina G. Quaye) are eligible to be certificated and to take oath during our second graduation program to be held in July this year.
DATI Peace Advocates as Ambassadors of Peace & Liberian Culture
DATI's Chief Sponsor Honorable Herbie McCauley and German Ambassador Jager receive traditional blessings from DATI Peace Advocate Stateswoman Hawa Guwor during induction ceremony of Ambassador Jager and Herbie McCauley at German Embassy in Congo Town, Montserrado County, Liberia.
DATI Dougbor Chapter paid a courtesy call on German Ambassador Jager at the German Embassy in Congo Town, Montserrado County through the auspices of its Chief Sponsor, Honorable Herbie McCauley. During that occasion DATI admitted Ambassador Jager and McCauley into its patron hall and informed the German Ambassador of its peacebuilding program in the country. The German Ambassador lauded the organization for its efforts to promote peace and national unity through the performing and visual arts.
Ambassador Jager shared his experience about how the Germans used their culture to reunite the two Germanys that were divided due to ideological differences. DATI presented a proposal to the German Ambassador seeking technical assistance to carry out its peacebuilding activities in Liberia. He warmly received the proposal and promised to get back to the group. DATI had planned to begin its first national peace tour during the 2020 dry season last year when the Covid-19 Pandemic broke out. Subsequently all activities were postponed.
DATI's Contribution to Relief Distribution during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Liberia
DATI Peace Advocates actively engaged in food distribution under the guidance of its Chief Sponsor Herbie McCauley during the Covid-19 Pandemic in one of the slum communities in the nation's capital, Monrovia.
DATI Peace Advocates are trained to be relief workers during times of crises, and the administration looks out for its volunteers in time of need. For example, DATI administration provided stimulus packages for both chapters during the Covid-19 Pandemic shutdown in Liberia. Funds were remitted to provide emergency food rations for members of the Gbenelue Chapter and cash assistance was offered to nineteen members of the Montserrado Chapter to ensure the safety of Liberian youths who volunteer to promote peace and national unity in Liberia. During the period under review, DATI also distributed food items to covid-19 victims in at-risk and underserved communities in Liberia's capital city, Monrovia. Thanks once again to Honorable Herbie McCauley who sponsored this venture.
DATI Peace Advocate hands out food items to members of a slum community in Monrovia.
DATI Actively Engaged in Peacebuilding and Human Rights Advocacy in Liberia
Recently, Mordecial Nyema was gruesomely murdered in Pleebo, Maryland County by twenty-eight-year-old suspect named Roland Appleton and three other individuals identified as Moses Malmah, Francis Clarke, and Daniel Wesseh—all youths. According to the April 9, 2021 edition of “The Bush Chicken” online magazine, Mordecial Nyemah was murdered along the Maryland-Grand Kru Highway in Gbolobo-Bessiken, Pleebo Sodoken Statutory District. As a result, concerned citizens, including mothers, youths, and students organized a peaceful protest and marched from Pleebo to Harper City to seek timely justice and redress from County authorities regarding the death of their slain son and colleague.
Peaceful protesters got angry when their plea for speedy justice and trial was ignored, thus leading to burning the Harper Prison and the destruction of public and private properties, the arrest and incarceration of thirty-four Maryland youths.
DATI Peace Advocates consoling the mother and relatives of the slain Pleebo High School youth named Mordecial Nyemah
DATI Gbenelue Peace Advocates visited the family of Mordecial Nyemah on Monday, April 19th, 2021 in Pleebo City, Maryland County. The high-powered DATI delegation was led by its Maryland County Director Meshach Sieh Elliott. During the solemn ceremony, the youths of Dehkontee Artists Theatre’s Maryland Chapter expressed their deepest condolences to Ms. Mary Nyemah, the surrogate mother of slain youth and commercial motor cyclist Mordecial Neyma and his family, for their irreparable loss. Mordecial Nyemah was a twelfth-grade student of Pleebo High School. He was also a commercial motorcyclist through which he earned his daily bread to put food on the table for his mother and siblings.
DATI also presented a humble consolation package to Ms. Nyema and her family to help defray some of the funeral expenses for their son. During the ceremony libation was poured to acknowledge the presence of the spirits of our forefathers so they would bless the gathering. Mr. Thomas Kuwait Nyemah expressed gratitude on behalf of the family. He stated that what DATI did to reach out to his family was heartwarming. He thanked Dr. Gbaba and the DATI team for a job well done. Ms. Mary Nemah, aunt of the deceased also thanked DATI for their general support.
DATI Engaged in Human Rights Advocacy: The Dire Need for Vehicles and Logistical Support to Carry Out Peacebuilding Missions Liberia
Photo of the National Palace of Corrections in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County where thirty-four Maryland youths are incarcerated without due process. DATI dispatched a delegation to see the inmates and to take some much needed toiletries (tooth brushes, toothpaste, bath soaps, shaving cream, etc.)
A major responsibility of DATI Peace Advocates is to advocate for the human rights of all persons irrespective of their race, creed, or religious and political persuasions. Jesus said to the multitude: "Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called the children of God." He also instructs those who believe in him to "go and set the captives free and to preach the acceptable year of the Lord... to visit the downtrodden and shut-in..."
The DATI Maryland Chapter Peace Advocates received this mandate from their Executive Director, Rabbi Prince Joseph Tomoonh-Garlodeyh Gbaba, Sr., when it was reported thirty-four youths, including Maryland youth leader, Thomas Kuma, were accused, arrested, and imprisoned without due process. The incident occurred following the gruesome murder of Mordecial Nyemah in Pleebo, Maryland County, in Southeastern Liberia.
Mordecial was a twelfth-grade student at Pleebo High School. He was also the bread winner for his family. Therefore, his brutal death was a big blow to the Nyemah family. Mordecial was buried Saturday, May 15th, 2021. His solemn homegoing was attended by thousands of aggrieved mourners. May his soul rest in peace.
Regarding the mayhem that took place in Pleebo and Harper following the murder of Mordecial, Rabbi Gbaba condemned the wanton destruction of public and private properties by rioters in Maryland County when he spoke on “Focus on Liberia” podcast show Thursday, May 13th, 2021. Instead, he suggests in the future aggrieved citizens must pursue justice through rule of law but not via jungle justice. Gbaba also regrets Liberian students and youths are being held in detention beyond the constitutional time frame without legal representation or due process. Apart, Gbaba has concerns about why the focus of the investigation by Liberia National Police and other security apparatuses has switched from investigating the perpetrators of the murder to incarcerating and suppressing those who were aggrieved due to the murder of their colleague and son.
Members of DATI Peace delegation in Route to National Palace of Corrections in Zwedru to Visit Accused Thirty-four Maryland Youths and Rioters
To say DATI Peace Advocates are devoted to peacebuilding in Liberia is an understatement. In this photo, DATI Peace delegation prepares to travel on a two-hundred-mile-journey on a very risky and unpliable highway on motorcycles. The trip is estimated at five hours and they are going to investigate the status of their colleagues who were imprisoned without due process at the National Palace of Corrections in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County in Eastern Liberia. If they can risk their lives traveling on motorcycles to promote peace and justice, imagine what they will do when they have vehicles and vans to travel more securely around Liberia to promote peace and national unity!
In pursuit of justice for the Maryland youths, DATI administration dispatched a team of four Peace Advocates on Friday, May 14, 2021, to visit accused Maryland rioters that were subsequently transferred to the National Palace of Corrections in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, after the Harper prison was burned down by angry rioters due to the ritualistic murder of a senior high school student in Pleebo. The DATI peace delegation included Maryland Chapter Director Meshach Sieh Elliott, Jasper Sheriff Biohtweh Tweh, Jeremiah Clayea, and George Grear, Jr.
The team arrived in Zwedru by 3pm on Friday, May 14th. They paid a visit to the Zwedru Palace of Corrections to see the prisoners on Saturday morning at 10:30 AM. The DATI delegation reported that the prison administrators were very courteous. They granted them the opportunity to meet in person all thirty-four prisoners who were accused and are awaiting trial. The prison staff advised them to observe all security protocols while within the prison facility. No photo taking was allowed but the peace delegates were given the opportunity to chat with individual prisoners and to take note of their personal and collective requests and concerns. Later, DATI delegation presented some toiletries, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and basic items for the prisoners as a small way of letting them know DATI cares for their well-being and will be in their corner during their period of trial and tribulation.
Establishment of DATI Peace and Youth Study Centers in Harper, Maryland and Paynesville, Montserrado Counties
Dehkontee Artists Theatre, Inc. (DATI) is raising funds to lease two buildings to establish its national headquarters in Monrovia, Montserrado County, and its Southeastern Regional Headquarters in Harper City, Maryland County, respectively. The DATI Peace and Youth Study Centers will serve multiple purposes:
1. The DATI Montserrado office will serve as DATI's national administrative headquarters in Liberia, and as the Southcentral, Northern, and Western Regional Headquarters where the nonprofit organization will operate its national and regional day to day affairs.
2. As a peace and youth study center, the building will also be used to provide tutorials and after school programs for school kids in the academic areas of Math, Literature, Liberian History and Culture; to teach traditional Liberian history and culture, music, dance; provide Liberian children the opportunity to acquire skills in culinary arts, drawing, painting, under the direction of DATI credentialed Peace Advocates and competent traditional Liberian musicians and scholars;
3. The building facilities will be used for rehearsals to prepare and stage DATI public performances, hold public banquets, conduct literacy and peace education and conflict resolution workshops, to empower the youths to acquire peacebuilding and socio-cultural skills and techniques. It is further hoped they can transfer what they learned from their basic trainings and social interactions with their college mentors in the classroom, to the greater communities and neighborhoods in which the youths live.
4. The yard of the building may also be used to hold outdoor theatrical performances and cultural extravaganzas during the dry season months.
Incentive for Highest Bidder
The DATI Youth Study Center will be named in honor of the donor who contributes the highest amount of dollars towards the construction of the Dehkontee Artists Theatre Center for the Performing Arts in Liberia. The total estimated cost for the construction of the theatre building is Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000). However, to secure a two-year lease and furnish and repair two buildings is estimated at Fifteen Thousand Dollars (US 15,000). This amount includes payment of two-year lease and $4,000 to cover office furniture, stationery, office supplies, etc.
DATI Is in Dire Need of Logistical Support: Vans, Pickups, Office Supplies
At most, DATI needs two vans, one for the Maryland Chapter and one for the Montserrado Chapter, two-four-wheel-drive pickups for our agriculture project and some motorcycles for DATI Peace Advocates to travel to remote areas inaccessible to motor roads. We are also in dire need of office equipment, computers, desks, chairs, conference tables, xerox photocopy machines, communications sets, video and photographic cameras to conduct research and printers, stationery and other office supplies. We also need first aid kits and equipment for our services programs.
How to Donate to DATI Kukatonon Peace Project in Liberia
You can donate by:
- Cashapp: $JosephGbaba
- DATI's website: www.dehkonteeartiststheatre.com
- By U.S. Postal Service: P. O. Box 143, Clifton Heights, PA 19018
Published by DATI Public Relations Section
May 27, 2021