Liberian Youths Gear Up to Attend The Rabbi Joe Gbaba Peace and Cultural Festival: First of Its Kind for Most Liberian Youths in More Than 40 Yrs!
This year marks Rabbi Dr. Joe Gbaba's 48th Anniversary as a Liberian playwright and custodian of Liberian culture and it is also the 45th Celebration of the founding of his theatre company Dehkontee Artists Theatre, Inc. (DATI).
Members of DATI Maryland Gbenelue Chapter who are hosting the first The Rabbi Joe Gbaba Peace and Cultural Festival
DATI is a 501 (c)(3) African-centered nonprofit theatre and educational organization in the United States, and it is also a duly registered nonprofit in Liberia. The organization promotes African history, culture, and art through the performing and visual art, and it has been in existence for forty-five unbroken years. Some of DATI's performance credits include presidential performances at the Executive Mansion of Liberia and the State House in Freetown, Sierra, under the aegis of African Heads of States, performances for world class diplomats under the auspices of the Foreign Minister of Liberia at the Monrovia City Hall Auditorium, performances at the Smithsonian, Ibrahim Theatre at the International House and African Cultural Center in Philadelphia, Bowie Center for the Performing Arts, etc.
The festivities of both anniversaries will be highlighted by The Rabbi Joe Gbaba Peace and Cultural Festival. It will take place from April 15-17, 2022, in Harper City, Maryland County in Southeastern Liberia. Already, many Liberian youths on social media are very excited and they are making plans to travel to Maryland County for the three-day festivities. The obstacle most youths who want to attend the festival are faced with is means of transportation. It roughly costs US$100 dollars per person, to and from, particularly for those traveling from Monrovia.
Despite the odds, many Liberian youths are still determined to adventure and travel in their homeland so that they may also see other parts of Liberia they have not traveled before. Further, the festival may also attract tourists and foreigners that are interested in sightseeing and exploring African art and culture. Below are statements from some youths on social media regarding their desire to be a part of The Rabbi Joe Gbaba Peace and Cultural Festival April 15th-17th in Harper, Maryland County, Southeastern Liberia: KWA LAND!
DATI Montserrado Dougbor Chapter
Liberian Youths Are Excited about the First Peace and Cultural Festival Since Birth!
Stateswoman Hawa Promise Guwor, Assistant Director for Operations, DATI Montserrado Dougbor Chapter
Ms. Hawa Guwor, is Assistant Director for Operations at DATI Montserrado Dougbor Chapter. She holds a B.S. degree in Accounting from the University of Liberia, and she is When asked who's going to The Rabbi Joe Gbaba Peace and Cultural Festival, she said, "You can count me in!"
Tekun Dickson, one of Rabbi Gbaba's students from Zwedru Multilateral High School shouted out: "I will be there!"
James Bloface Wahblo
James Bloface Wahblo said, "Dr. I am willing but I am in Monrovia.."
Statesman Henry Garjay Brumskine, DATI Dougbor Chapter Director Emeritus and Member of DATI-Liberia Board of Directors
DATI Dougbor Chapter's Director Emeritus and DATI-Liberia Board of Directors member, Henry Garjay Brumskine, wrote a very sentimental note about Rabbi Gbaba.
"I am ready…..Peace is the way and the youth must stand up to the call. We will celebrate our amazing culture and history. Over the last 40 years and more, you have led the line with courage, steadfastness, leadership and unflinching intellectual qualities. Liberia is blessed having an ICON in African Arts as you are.?Congratulations?Dr.?Joseph Gbaba!"
领英推荐
Alphanso Quaidy Bai: "If I hustle and get transportation I will go in Jesus's name!"
Interestingly, this will be the very first time many modern-day Liberian youths will have an opportunity to watch and/or actively participate in a traditional Liberian and African culture and peace parade and learn the values and mores of their ancestors. For this purpose, The Rabbi Joe Gbaba Peace and Cultural Festival is divided into three major components that will fascinate Liberians at home and abroad and each of the activities is tied into the theme of The Rabbi Joe Gbaba Peace and cultural festival, "Bah Noh Deh Doh", a Grebo expression that means, "Let us unite."
Yes, national unity and peace are the central theme of the three-day The Rabbi Joe Gbaba Peace and Cultural Festival. Below are the calendar of events.
Friday, April 15, 2022
3. 6-10 PM: The Rabbi Dr. Joe Gbaba Performing Arts Concert at Harper City Hall
Attendees and guests will be entertained by various local artists with African dance troupes, musicians, dance artists, and a ball. The artists will be vying for The Rabbi Joe Gbaba Performing Arts Trophy
Saturday, April 16, 2022: The DATI Peace and Cultural Parade & Pageantry
7:30 AM-12 Noon: Participants of the DATI Peace and Cultural Parade & Pageantry assemble at the Merry-Go-Round opposite Mt. Scott United Methodist Church to begin the peace and cultural parade and march through the principal streets of Harper to the Harper City Hall. All participants must be dressed in African traditional regalia.
12 Noon-2 PM: Refreshments
2-4 PM: DATI 45th Anniversary Program
Induction of new DATI Peace Advocates: Statesman Prof. Jerry Mwagbe
Valedictorian Speech: Shadrach Davis, DATI Gbenelue Chapter Cohort II
Greetings from Dougbor Chapter: Statesman Henry Fayiah Tamba, Acting Director, DATI Montserrado Dougbor Chapter
45th Anniversary Speech delivered by Stateswoman D. Sheba Brown, Chair, Board of Directors DATI-Liberia
Drama production of "Bah Noh Deh Doh" written & directed by Statesman Alfred J.K. Nugba, Assistant Director for Operations & Chair, The Rabbi Joe Gbaba Peace and Cultural Festival Planning Committee 2022
Closing Remarks
Chief Zanzan Karwor
City Mayor Blessing Howe-Toweh
Honorable George Prowd, Superintentend of Maryland County
Vote of Thanks: Meshach Sieh Elliott, Director, DATI Maryland Gbenelue Chapter