-Says Old Man Mawolo; As Liberians Celebrate Country’s Cultural Heritage
By Mark N. Mengonfia
Liberians are today gathering at the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex Gymnasium in Paynesville to celebrate the country’s rich cultural heritage.
As early as 8:00 a.m., culture enthusiasts from several of Liberia’s 15 counties were seen making their way to the SKD Sports Complex. They formed long queues while parading with mask dancers, titled men and women, and displaying various cultural artifacts.
For many attendees, it is their first time witnessing such a spectacle, while others said the gathering has revived cherished childhood memories.
“I live in Duazo, but my parents told me we are from Maryland County,” little Tarous Tettah said in an interview with The Local Daily.
Tarous knows very little about her county’s culture but attended the festival in hopes of learning more about its traditions and cultural practices.
She even attempted a greeting in her local language, demonstrating her eagerness to learn her parents’ native tongue.
Old Man Dorbor Mawolo of Gbarpolu County, dressed in traditional African attire, believes Liberia possesses a rich cultural heritage that should be preserved and taught to future generations.
“We have come to witness the culture of Liberia. We have a rich culture, mask dancers, and many locally made items that we have brought to showcase,” he told journalists at the ELWA Junction.
The 2026 National Cultural Festival is organized by ActionAid Liberia in collaboration with DOMAFEIGN, LIWEN, WOCDAL, NATPAH, and SAIL, with support from the Embassy of Sweden.
This year’s festival is being held under the theme, “Our Culture, Our Pride: Empowering Women and Girls.” It seeks to bring together traditional leaders, cultural practitioners, government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, youth groups, women, artisans, and communities from across Liberia to celebrate the country’s rich cultural heritage while promoting positive cultural values that advance the rights, dignity, and empowerment of women and girls.
Now in its third year, the National Cultural Festival is being organized under ActionAid Liberia’s Just and Equal Communities (JEC) Project.
The festival celebrates Liberia’s cultural diversity while encouraging communities to move beyond harmful traditional practices. It showcases inspiring stories of women who have transitioned to sustainable livelihoods and are now promoting positive change within their communities, empowering other women, and leading advocacy efforts for gender equality and social inclusion.
