South Africa's Violent History

A man is burned alive while a baby is left bleeding by violence

It’s the photo that has shocked a nation: the stark image of a helpless Mozambican migrant pleading for his life as a gang of men brutally murdered him in a Johannesburg street in front of a silent audience of onlookers.

11 Questions Vamba Sherif: Writer, Novelist

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 guide asylum seekers by sharing his stories of life in Liberia and in Kuwait where he lived, and how he made it in Holland.

Liberia: Baptizing Liberia Into A “Christian Nation!”

By Josephus Moses Gray

This article deals with one of the most important issues that arose from the recent gathering in Gbarnga, Bong County – the proposition to amend the 1984 Constitution of the Republic, declaring Liberia, a nation with diverse religious beliefs and cultural practices, as a “Christian State”. The intent of this account is not to pass a verdict, instead to provide an in-depth analysis of the potential clashes of constitutional and fundamental rights under the 1984 Liberian constitution and the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Besides, this article deals with the ongoing debate concerning the “Christian nation” concept. First, I will look at the historical background of this case. I will then examine the Christian nation” project itself, with a particular emphasis on the recent Bong County gathering for the amendment of certain provisions and articles in the 1984 Constitution.

What Happened to Red Rooster When a Visitor Came

B O O K R E V I E W

What Happened to Red Rooster
When a Visitor Came: A Delicious
Tale about the Importance of Self-
Awareness By Robtel Neajai Pailey

What Happened to Red Rooster When a Visitor Came is a parody about the dangers of inflated self-importance. While this moralizing tale may appear somewhat heavy, Stephanie Horton’s lyrical prose makes it a timeless classic.

Red Rooster begins with the sing song-like cadence of fables and fairy tales, drawing the reader in with each punctuated first line:

Liberia 2017: Is Kwame Clement Ready?

By Hawa Wesseh [analysis]

hwesseh@gmail.com

Talk about the upcoming 2017 Liberia’s presidential and legislative elections and names will start popping up! It is the perfect opportunity: Johnson Sirleaf will be leaving office after what has been a long twelve years of two consecutive presidential terms! Those who watched Liberian developments will tell you that two established political parties stand to gain the most, the Congress for Democratic Change [CDC], Liberia’s largest political opposition and the ruling Unity Party [UP]. The CDC and the UP will be looking to consolidate their ranks and gains by absorbing smaller parties to bolster their chances in an effort to bag the Executive Mansion—Liberia’s presidential palace! Liberia is never short of political candidates and especially the presidency, when general elections rolled around, but it remains to be seen if Kwame Clement whose name has been heard repeatedly, has what it takes to win this coveted seat. His name is mentioned almost instantaneously whenever 2017 comes up in public debates and discussions!