The Problem With Social Change in Liberia
The truth is Liberians have been slapped in the face, with something so terribly tragic, obscene, nauseating, and dangerous in ...
I am a Mother
So as I send a prayer up to God, I get on one knee and look her in the eyes ...
Yet I'm Blamed for it
My skirt was lifted against my will
Without considering my feelings,
He entered a teenager
Now I'm ashamed of myself Continue Reading → ...
Different Shades of Fear
Walking the streets of Monrovia, I’m petrified! “Am I going to be stabbed, robbed, raped, or even killed today?” “Will ...
Peer Pressure
Peer Pressure sometimes brings out the best version of ourselves, shows us that we can be phenomenal in many ways, ...
Happiness
We the peasants
Trolled on paths ancient
The prints of the wind ran
Could our elder could comprehend
The plans of the Most Ancient ...
TOUCHED BUT NOT EARNED
Who are you to come and go as you please? I am not a fulfillment of your 2 AM fantasies, ...
She Glows With The Lonestar
Oh, wave proudly the flag of motherland,
Sparkle as Karishma flames,
Unleash the Lonestar from your den,
Wave it before all men
That above ...
Environmental Pollution
As an emerging leader, I have realized that my country is really being plagued by environmental pollution. There are several ...
Rainy Thoughts On A Sunny Day
I don’t fear the dark - I’ve had some dark days and I’ve learned to simply enjoy the ride.
Windows and ...
Rape! A National Threat That Needs To Be Solved Now!
Firstly, I believe that there is no excuse for doing wrong. Therefore, everyone should definitely be blamed for their own ...
You Don't Know Me
I’m built from broken pieces on scaffolds
I’ve thrived in the abyss of unkind uncertainties
I’ve walked upon shining floors of planted ...
April: A Country's Timeline
There are many things history has not told us about April,
& I guess it is hidden somewhere between the fingers ...
Like the Many Times
My skin clothed itself in goosebumps,
to extinguish this burning fear
Leading my body through the realm
of insecurity Continue Reading → ...
Chronicles Of An African Child: The Brutal Hands Of Parenting
Studies show that children who are abused (or “physically disciplined”) at home are more likely to experience other forms of ...
To The Man Who Taught Me to Knot My Tie
With sobbing eyes,
We watched a golden heart stop beating,
hard working hands stopped moving,
strong legs stopped shaking
and a powerful mind at ...
Tears of Albinos
Please, I need some answers!
Maybe, just a clue
Is it because my skin is pale?
But I'm still human!
It's the same oxygen ...
Integration of a Database - A Solution to Liberia’s Health Sector Problem
Due to a poor data management system, forgetting a hospital card can sometimes be an economic burden for some patients ...
My Mother is Nature
In her eyes, I see winging butterflies being chased by blue jays
And tigers happily racing with antelopes
As the branches of ...
A Giant That Fell
We were shocked at the break of dawn,
Knowing that early in the morning
You, a giant, plummeted to the ground.
And there ...
The Slum
We don't have everything
so the little we have we maintain
in the midst of difficulties,
we muster up the courage
knowing and believing ...
Never Whistle At Night
As he shouted in anguish and determination, Fayiah's face became covered in blood. He fought and succeeded in removing the ...
Dear Politicians
Guess what? In the end, I failed them! thinking that the “Amanda Awetu,” I sang behind you was to amend ...
A Piece of My Heart
People say that the mirror reflects your bodily features, but my mirror reflects nothing but afflictions and how long I ...
The Beauty of Africa
From fine arts of mask,
decorated boxes and ceremonial
objects, to music rich in rhythm
Interwoven with the fabric of
everyday African life, Continue ...
My Mathematical Love Letter
You make me feel relaxed on the X axis,
Where Y is equal to zero when I come across you
I feel ...
SGBV in Liberia: Ending the Nightmare
In our aspiration to address issues of SGBV in Liberia, special attention must be given to existing inefficiencies that prevent ...
Beauty with Excellence
Here being the birthplace of competition, your endowments stand out
With the helmet of virtue and conviction, victory was no doubt
In ...
Women, Stand Up!
Isn't it time you step out and take credit,
That the man who takes up your position won't have it, but ...
Tambah, the Village Boy
Tambah was just a seventeen-year-old boy, but he had to do everything on his own. This was because his mother ...
My Name
In Liberia, it is expected that a woman carries her husband’s last name and if you do not, you are ...
For Those Who Lost Their Ink to Depression
so,
i never stop plastering my thoughts & emotions on a sheet;
i write to set myself loose from drowning,
for the sheet ...
Surgical Room Experience
We love to pretend that we stood tall like Goliath was in fights, forgetting to allow the world to understand ...
Welcome To My Generation
A fun fact: my generation has the worst definition of truth but that's okay.
We are learning how to turn “I ...
1990 War (The Liberian Civil War)
Rescue was gone,
Vision became blurry,
Waited for dawn,
Yet, the cloud was always gloomy. Continue Reading → ...
Love is Easy, People are Difficult
Love is easy and people are difficult. The complexity of human nature will sabotage our own happiness and restrict the ...
Rape, A Real National Emergency?
Since rape was declared a national emergency, it has been given even less attention by the president and officials of ...
Where does Accountability Start?
Most of us prefer to follow the crowd because there is little or no accountability. After all, it must be ...
Blackness in White Spaces
My intention here is not to defend “Whiteness” or cast aspersions against people engaging in commentary about Whiteness or Blackness. ...
Boys will be boys
Girls will be perfect, for girls can't afford to be anything less, girls might give up her dreams in exchange ...
F*ck Cancer! (A tribute for my Auntie Joyce)
I honestly had a personal therapist in her - she listened, offered advice, and made no judgments.
Still hard to believe ...
HER GHOST
But mama, WHEN will this end?
After you’ve been strangled by the concoction of alcohol and cigarettes?
After your legs tremble and ...
It’s Ok Not to be Ok!
Everything is a struggle: we struggle to eat, to sleep, to love or be loved, to communicate, to trust, to ...
To The Girl I Was, Am, and Will Become
You don’t run.
If your sometimes brave feet shake in your boots, you shake in place, but cowering is now beneath ...
How to Meditate on God's Word
This is a beneficial practice to incorporate into our daily time with God as it provides mental and emotional ...
The End Time Is Now
An eye for an eye
Nations raging war against Nations
As wickedness healthily lives
Now peace is on life-support Continue Reading → ...
Breast Cancer
As the numbers continue to increase worldwide, it is therefore very important that we continue to carry out awareness ...
ME
I’m like an observer, anxiously in suspense to know what will become of me.
Who am I? Do I really know? Continue ...
Corruption, Liberia’s "Cancer"
Corruption is a cancer in Liberia that has been accepted as a status quo and Liberians usually attempt to justify ...
Friendship - A Forgotten Source
When I was younger, I was told by a few people that I wouldn’t be able to keep a man. ...
My Name, My Pride
"Lay small stupid one come gimme cheek just na oh.
Soon lay children start doing Man business, they think they and ...
Raging Waves
What would the ocean say if she could speak?
Would we hear her peaceful side?...
The sizzle of the sun as it ...
Happiness
Evidently, the state of happiness depends largely on what a person wants from life. It depends on one's desires and ...
An Honest Prolusion
Family was us, she and I, picking up the broken pieces of our hearts,
Stitching them together with renewed hope, hope ...
My Liberian Loving
Love in the heart
Its beating like the peaceful cultural drums of Lofa.
Two ethnicities joined by a pure bond of true ...
La How It Eh Ooo
Awareness means SPEAKING UP when you know things are not the way it should be.
When we say “LA HOW IT ...
Nightmare
"If you tell your mom, she won't believe you and even if she did, there's nothing she would do about ...
What If
What IF?
I pour out a bucketful of tears
cry out my insecurities
bleed out my distrust and mistrust
let out the skeletons ...
This Is Where I'm Left Empty
But how much more than deceit can you expect from the son of a serpent? I’ll translate that into money ...
Camera Roll
She woke up, head still pounding to the beat of an awfully unpleasant girl’s night out...she decided to scroll through ...
Unsolicited Opinions
Keep your opinion to yourself! I don’t freaking need it!
If it can’t help you out with your problems, why the ...
The Tragedy of a Goddess 3
Your death was unprecedented. It came at a time when you already recovered. You cannot be blamed for leaving ...
The Tragedy of a Goddess 2
Your condition worsened with time. They took you from one point to another and did medical checks. Nothing was discovered. ...
The Tragedy of a Goddess - Part 1
It has been over two decades since you lost your life to poisoned food. Looking back today, I realize a ...
The Misery of COVID-19
People, schools, and organizations throughout the world have had to adjust to changing work and lifestyles. In the midst of ...
TLTG – The Love They Give
They are the best Liberians I’ve ever met. One could find in them a mother, a child, a sister, a ...
Liberian Loving
You are carefully crafted because you are art—
Look at your artistic stretch marks that form its own patterns through seasons ...
Liberian Loving
Youjay did not gift me flowers;
A native boy from Neekren knew none of these.
Although I never experienced LEC;
Youjay's presence was ...
Liberian Government’s Irresponsibility = Recent Death Spike
We have a full-blown health crisis at a moment when leadership is sorely lacking. The Ministry has yet to issue ...
Against the Odds (Liberian loving)
For five years I’ve shared
Immeasurable bond and shatter-proof love
With my guy
My best buddy,
The buttered popcorn at my movie night
The dudu ...
When God Visits Monrovia And Decides To Speak
At night,
When the need to speak sits heavy in his throat like a log,
He will have to be louder than ...
Broken Hearts
As there is a thin line between love and hate, I must admit, loving a person has never felt this ...
LIBERIAN LOVING
The next day, we reached my father’s village. Like any Liberian would do after not laying eyes on your relative ...
Mosquitoes Attack
Humming mercilessly in our ears
Giving us sickness that makes us cold
Burning with fever,
A heavy load Continue Reading → ...
Roundtable 2.0 - LGBTQ+ Equality & Acceptance in Liberian Communities
On June 20, 2020, Sleepless in Monrovia (SiM) held its second Roundtable Event. This was SiM’s first virtual event and ...
The Media’s Perspective
I personally think that this era of media lends itself to controlling people much more completely and that our whole ...
Gaza Today
Global Majority (Hisses teeth and rolls eyes): Not a good idea. We stand with Israel. Most of the victims in ...
"Let’s School the School"
i hold school like the holy trinity, father/son/& the holy spirit. but here in my country,our schools are running short ...
Loving in Liberia
As I have lived through my traumas and in this quest of love with a village of other people, ...
Love on the Cavalla
let it remain sung in hymns
and pipes
how we fused on a day of
strife
our desires, our dreams, our
goals
how we mold them ...
DECONTEE (Everything Has Time)
In no time Kla was at Lassana’s house. Okay, go ahead ‘Scrapper in love’ tell me exactly what happened today. ...
MY VOW
Love is a word that is much too soft and used far too often to ever describe the fierce, infinite ...
Takoring Belleh La Na Sin!
Unsafe abortions lead to the death of so many of our young women. The medical procedures and access aside, just ...
Liberia Future Story
Angel decided to speak against the wrongs in the country, some government officers paid some men to beat Angel to ...
The Problem with Women’s Access to Abortion in Liberia II
Statistics would show that 1 out of every 3 persons you know has had an abortion or has a close/best ...
The Problem with Women’s Access to Abortion in Liberia- Part 1
Man, it’s crazy how many women lose their lives on a daily basis from unsafe abortions done by untrained and ...
Auto Draft
What if I had listened to that one person I needed to know? Would I have been in a better ...
Liberian Loving
Months passed again. We were all doing our own thing. Then October came. There was a tarry at church so ...
ONE OF MY LOVING EXPERIENCES IN LIBERIA
Some time later, I started seeing her again. Despite the fact that she had her boyfriend now, we did our ...
Deepu: a Definition of Divinity
Somewhere on the Grain Coast,
The tenderness of affection in a mother’s name–Deepu–
Sinks deeper than the ‘pu’ (as in pool) it ...
It is too much
Their bones are decaying now. The soil has swallowed up their chests And all that is left are their skeletons ...
For Tanneh
I met Tanneh at the airport in Ghana. I was checking in for my flight back to Monrovia when this ...
The Motor Called Love
Love has always been the hydro that has been keeping our relationship alive. To say we fight is an understatement ...
Broken Hearts
We blame people when we are broken not knowing that it's part of life and it should happen. We want ...
Doing Something while We Still Can
A few days ago, we woke up to some troubling news from our neighbouring counterpart Guinea about a second outbreak ...
Remembering Love
Remembering Love by Soakapeh A. Weh-Dorliae wins third place in Seek Lib * Sleepless in Monrovia's Writing Competition. Continue Reading ...
Liberian Loving
Liberian Loving by Janetta Konah won 2nd place in Seek Lib * Sleepless in Monrovia’s Writing Competition. I often ...
By Your Side
Last night I had a dream
In that dream I died, I woke up as an eagle
I flew across the ...
Letters to African Leaders
However, when I think about it, this insane culture of rape and violence is really reinforced by y’all. Your despicable, ...
BRAND(ED): The Little Survival Guide of a Liberian Black Woman in Paris
Therefore, similar to how weapons were placed in people’s hands for defense, we need to put tips, knowledge, and words ...
Freed
Deep within myself I know I’m a warrior, a strong woman worth saving.
In my heart, I’ve believed like a religious ...
Liberian Politicians
They dress generation Z in the clothes of 'Future Leaders,'
But teach them to be perpetual followers.
Their ways are one and ...
Referendum 102
I would have loved to watch and listen to educational conversations around the Referendum options, but all the discussions have ...
Referendum 101
I think the conversations to be held now should be the ones explaining why we should vote for or against ...
Transcending
Now that I am at Heaven’s gate
I realized why I ended up at purgatory in the first place
All my life ...
Recycling The Damages
Every time I got hurt, in an effort to up my self esteem or move on, I got involved with ...
Under the Cotton Tree
In mama's absence, you held my hands
As we tiptoed outside the den.
With grinded teeth
sat we, under the cotton tree
That shaded ...
The Rise of Police Brutality in Liberia
While trying to engage the police peacefully and make them understand that we had left the initial gathering point based ...
Reminisce
Months before my mouth was confident enough to call your attention,
Watching you be you was a constant addiction.
I was not ...
If I Can: Questions
As a creative, I see your vision and also very clearly your imagination as a heterosexual (I’m intuiting from your ...
The Obituary of Hope
Monrovia is covered in black, Men moving, women moving—— Children are fed up—— they join the troop too. Boots ...
Thoughts About You
For most people, beauty starts by what they see, after all, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. So ...
If I Can, You Can
This is a story of a kid out there who became free from the prison of porn addiction. Many teenagers ...
TAXATION, ADDITIONAL SURCHARGES, AND THE FUTURE OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN LIBERIA
Our government failed to recognize the long-term risks of job losses in the thousands and partnerships that will undergo ...
Haven
My life has been a haven for dark clouds Marred by unfinished adventures and an affinity for lost causes Never ...
Saying I love You
I don’t think love has lost its meaning, but saying it has
Now the expression has little substance cuz of how ...
Complex Living
In 2014, when I was 8 years old, my father died from Ebola. My mother could not afford my education, so ...
We Are the Problem: Liberians Response to Anti-Rape Protests
As we have seen over the last few days, people are reducing the anti-rape protests in the country to individuals ...
Absentee-In-Chief
Our president was never fit to be president. He reminds us every day, but during moments of national crises—moments that ...
Mr. President, Fix Your Rape Flyer
Where has your “Feminist in Chief” cape been when Liberian women dressed in Black every Thursday for the last few ...
How can Men become Allies and Champions against Sexual Assault?
‘’If grabbing a lady’s buttocks or trying to steal a kiss without her consent has always been our ways of ...
Dreams
I foresee a beautiful city that lies in a brighter tomorrow,
With more happiness and achievements,
A land with no discrimination and ...
A Poem in Pictures III
This work of poetry is a social experiment on how people interpret different forms of art (in this case images ...
The Issue with “Case Study” in Research Paper.
One major discussion we somehow have neglected to have or perhaps have not recognized as a problem, especially for senior ...
STILL WATERS
As the sun greeted my shelf,
I turned to the waving white sheets that lay on the table,
To draw what I ...
A NEED FOR HELP
Now here’s the PERSPECTIVE that I am trying to proffer
People provide opinions you don’t ask them to offer
You can’t allow ...
Prospect of Cooperation and Integration between African States
Regional economic integration has a fairly long history in virtually all parts of the world. It has been regarded as ...
A Poem in Pictures (II)
Since I held on, I’ve never let go
Gripping you, peace I thought I’d find.
You, my completion, right?
Or was I wrong? ...
A Poem in Pictures (I)
The thing about strong women that people tend to forget
Is that strong doesn’t equate to superhuman Continue Reading → ...
A Tomorrow Not Promised – Is Life Overrated?
It’s funny how we plan in our minds to show love to people at some point like we have somehow ...
Poetry Pulls Through My Vain
My eyes were closed in sleep
Until this feeling got revealed.
It opened and I felt poetry so deep,
Dangling at the hidden ...
IN SEARCH OF LIBERIA’S NEW IDENTITY INFORMED BY ITS PAST
The original pan African state on the continent. A legacy that we bear as Liberians to actualize. By faith, I ...
Imposters of Patriotism
Dear Liberia, This letter serves to remind you that your birthday is right around the corner and to share some ...
Expectations
You betrayed yourself. You never loved yourself. Wait, babe. I am not saying you’re stupid, but I'm asking you why ...
Is Liberia Ready for the Rule of Law?
During the peak of the coronavirus in Liberia, it was alleged that the Liberian police aggravatedly assaulted Liberian citizens. The ...
A GUIDE TO AVOID BEING UNLIBERIAN
You should never address your political ruler by just his name. you have to sing his titles and good deeds ...
Dear Liberian Men, No Means No
I am angry that my sisters, nieces, cousins, aunts and every other woman out there are walking targets because some ...
Rape Culture, Explained
There is no denying the existence of the inhumane culture, that is the Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) culture, within ...
MeTooLiberia- Rape and Abuse in Liberia II
These are stories of brave Liberian women who have been victims of sexual assault and are now publicly calling out ...
MeTooLiberia- Rape & Abuse in Liberia
Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault.
These are stories of brave Liberian women who have been victims of sexual assault and are now ...
I'm Telling My Story
Mohammed Osman and I dated and separated in 2016. During our time together, he coerced me on many occasions to ...
Dear Mom, I am Gay!
I wish things were easier, but it is worse that we are Muslims, and Fulanis at that. Sometimes I daydream ...
Examining the Congau/Congoe - Indigeneous/Country Divide
Nepotism and familial favors can be found in many parts of Liberia, classism seems to be the bigger divide than ...
Let’s Talk About Liberia’s History of Classism & Elitism
It has been refreshing to see Liberians participating in current political conversations about racism, sexism and other systems of oppression, ...
Excerpts from the War Survivors
I leave the house even though there were shots fired less than 10 minutes ago
I have my sister’s gold
I trade ...
Changing the Narratives of Africa
A few days ago, the world and Africa celebrated Africa (Liberation) Day. It was just another day to recognize the ...
NOBODY GETS TO CHOOSE THEIR PARENTS!
It is not easy seeing your friends’ parents progress in life while yours are stocked back by obstacles: illness, poverty, ...
Where is the Line?
Our plight as women and Black people is a treacherous one and we have to stay vigilant and awake. We ...
99% + 1% = 100%
Do you think it's easy to stand up against the Bible? Oh, that's how our religious communities make us feel ...
I Did Not Choose my Fate
I didn’t choose my fate, I was born into it. I don’t have the switch to alter how I feel, ...
Assessing Your True Friends
People’s definition of true friendship varies with their social values, beliefs, cultures, or sometimes needs. Some tend to be more ...
The Realities of Liberian Children During Crises
Livies for thousands of Liberian children and at-risk inhabitants of our cities remain challenging and unsafe, especially during the ongoing ...
Elegy On The City's Edge
Reefs and sheets they laid
On the unseen skins of the deceased,
Commemorating their ways,
In spite of the deaths unperceived.
Decorating - they ...
Mental State of Affairs
A worker at the clinic shakingly informed me that my grandmother’s condition was beyond the clinic’s capabilities. She was in ...
I Know How The Sun Feels
It has been over fourteen days since I last saw you in person. Since I last felt the magical connection ...
Dating Yourself
A friend of mine once asked me, "What do I do when she doesn't have a certain characteristic or feature ...
Hide and Seek (with a twist)
Here’s how the game works, basically, the girls would go out to hide and the boys would stay behind and ...
Pain
It calls, at the most inappropriate and unexpected moments;
When I'm working, when I'm having fun, in the middle of a ...
Essentials for an Effective National COVID-19 Response
The extent to which citizens will adhere to these measures will greatly depend on the extent to which their livelihoods ...
America’s Child: America’s Influence on Liberia (Part II of II)
I am of the notion that times have changed and circumstances are different now than they were before - in ...
America’s Child: America’s Influence on Liberia (Part I of II)
We all are aware of the creation of the Lone Star of Africa . Let’s now establish some key facts ...
Don’t Laugh, Be Ashamed! The CoronaVirus Video from Liberia
Public health practitioners will tell you to minimize the spread of the virus by avoiding contacts, as most infections ...
Staying Safe Amid the Many Coronavirus Theories in Liberia
There is so much to lose, and while your reservations are important, let’s continue to practice the precautionary measures (as ...
How to Stay Healthy: Coronavirus Edition
Empty streets; empty parking lots; fast-moving ambulances; terrified doctors and nurses; sick people being denied treatments; deaths, deaths, and more ...
What Liberia Did Not Learn From Its Ebola Response
My friend was right. If Liberia had a culture where we vehemently confronted our traumas, we would have leveraged the ...
Auto Draft
So you wake up early in the morning or sometimes in the middle of the night, run hurriedly to the ...
Our Camp Days
From different backgrounds, we gather around To make in a week, a better time than year round In the quiet ...
Before Hitting My Stride
Today feels a bit tranquil, a bit surreal; my spirit remains heightened, and emotions serene and unruffled. What was once ...
How to Decide Where to Donate
Growing up as a kid in a third world country, and due to the fourteen years of civil crisis in ...
A Sad World!
This world has never seen a happy man since its creation! I know many people will question my statement; but ...
The Man in the Mirror
Today is the event. Today I will perform my very first spoken word poetry out of Liberia to a global ...
Beautiful, Her Falls
The pillars of West Africa highest St. John falls relieves me of breath Like raindrops to a barren valley They ...
A New Chapter
"I may feel more pain, more heartaches, more frustrations, but I will not be broken again, Because I have been ...
The Power of Intergeneration
When a section of the society refers to the young people as a problem that needs to be solved, it ...
Tragedy of Drug Abuse
She was once a pretty little girl with hopes and dreams- accepted by society; befriended by many. her beauty was ...
Summer Kind of Love
It is one of those cold nights. You know, the ones where not even a blanket could keep you warm. ...
Social Media and Online Activism-SMW Monrovia
Authored by: Talkay Media (Gerald Hodges) & Sleepless in Monrovia (Joshua S. Kulah) We all can agree that the rise ...
We Are A Tribe
“In as much as we criticize and condemn the many wrongs, it is incredibly important that we highlight the things ...
Adequate Healthcare Still a Far Cry
However, there is no such luxury available for the operating room and as such, if a patient requires surgical intervention, ...
Pretty Black Girl
Dear black girl, Your melanin glows. You are flawless. Your skin is full of chocolate and sometimes as light as ...
What's Your Ism
Being a twenty-something year old is one of the most beautiful and yet saddest things. It is the stage where ...
Bow Not
Blood drips no more, As hidden knives are silent, Guns sound no more, As starving faces are weary. Peace! As ...
The Friend Zone (A Guy & Girl's Perspective)
As I sit by myself and think about all the times that girls that I had fallen for; whom, in ...
We All Matter
I don’t feel that men are better than women, or vise versa My granny is my family matriarch, She’s way ...
Visionaries or Vision Blurry: Issues with Medical Education and Healthcare in Liberia and Some Solutions
What is wrong with medical education and healthcare in Liberia? Is it not straightforward to realize that the two are ...
Beach Miners
Under heaven’s heavenly lamps Youths of our time Digging for silver in gold mines Destroying ancient borderlines Forever changing nature’s ...
A Quest To Teach & Learn With Integrity (4)
Click here to read the first three entries in this series I, II, III As the struggle against academic malpractice ...
A Quest To Teach & Learn With Integrity (3)
Read the first two parts here I II Nowadays, of the many students who graduate from high schools and universities, ...
The Foreign Exchange Rate Saga
We elect someone that we believed “has a heart for Liberia,” and we are still subjugated to the same repetitive ...
Till Death Do Us Part
From flowers bloom, to blooms decayed Like narcissus and his reflection We fell in love beside the river From rosy ...
Culture Shock- facing the unexpected ordeal
It all started when the flight I boarded from Morocco landed at JFK International Airport in New York. I was ...
I am a Failure
I am a FAILURE! I’ve failed more times than I can remember Yet, I’ve never stopped trying. Even when crying, ...
Who Thought This Was A Great Idea?
I practiced humility on the concrete sidewalks of Monrovia before I learned the formal definition on the well-moved lawns at ...
Youths Must Unite to Effect Change
Dear Youths, Often times, we have been overlooked, marginalized, ignored, and forgotten about by the very people who we celebrate ...
These Signs Are Not Good
Something as fundamental as paying teachers’ and civil servants’ salaries is being neglected. The possibility that a government succeeds if ...
Educating Girls, My Inspiration- Leymah Gbowee
Fast forward to 2011, when I was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. My team sat me down and asked me, ...
List of Things Google Say About Liberia
They heard about the massacres & had our blood flowing in their teacups. They heard about the massacres & had ...
African Methodist Episcopal University
We rise for the better Your hammer mold us Your flames refined us Like a chick under your wings We ...
FEMINISM FROM THE OTHER SIDE (MERE RESPECT TO WOMEN ISN’T PROMOTING THEIR RIGHTS)
A new semester had just begun and on this very wet first Monday morning of school, I started making my ...
Behind the Ray Ban
“Behind every dark ‘shades’ is a red eye”, they say Behind her sunglasses is a red eye, but hey Anxiety ...
The Emergence of a Cyber Dictatorship
We all remember the second half of 2017, us young people felt the strong need to remind our parents and ...
My Experience
Dear Liberia, I’ve heard so much about you over the years, seen pictures of what it was like “back in ...
Missed Visa Appointment, a Lesson on Discipline and Humility
I am departing Liberia for the U.S. today after an extended four-week stay. Initially, I planned for and purchased a ...
Strong Black Woman
How unique is a strong black woman? Full of grace and beauty. She’s not to be played with. She believes ...
I Promise, I am an Adult
Another Saturday night rolled around, and by the wee hours, there I was, once again, head down the toilet bowl, ...
We Are Not Protected
We now live in a society (Liberia, precisely) where justice is being compromised, and because of this we have become ...
A Common Citizen Perspective
Amidst all the political controversy going on in Liberia and the world today, I’ve been working on ignoring the noise ...
IDENTITY
What if I told you I’m the seed of your existence? Would you rape me then? Overlook me then? I ...
The First Mark of a True Friend
June 16 was Aunt Madiana’s birthday and my birthday’s eve. I decided to worship at Star Baptist Church, after more ...
A Chase for Mud Cookies
I’m going to start this off by saying my truth: the performance of our government in the last few years ...
A Quest To Teach & Learn With Integrity (2)
Read part 1 of this series here They say education is the key to success, but why aren’t they educating ...
A Quest To Teach With Integrity: (1)
A few months ago, I had a conversation with a friend in which she told me how a teacher was ...
Mind Versus Me
HerI have been here before; on different days, but definitely at this same spot. Everything is familiar; the whispers are ...
Revolution & Peacevolution (Let’s Give Peace A Chance)
Several years ago, an idea of total instant change arose in the West, and Revolutions started in many areas. Every ...
Mama Liberia
Why do you weep mama Liberia? Is it because your dream of having a bright future is thrown in the ...
Liberia and Quality Education
Some of the most important forms of investment needed for a country’s economic growth are human capital and innovation capability... ...
Scum
Scum is “it’s not you, it’s me,” when you were leaving after you cheated. Scum is me begging you to ...
Her Story
Curves of perfection, with room kind enough to birth nations.
Words of compassion, speaking light into darkness.
When God said let there ...
I Cheat, In the Shower
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.” – ...
I’m Not BOSSY, I’m the BOSS
It would not cross his mind to point out to another man that he was “hard” or “bossy” because a ...
I am a Failure
I accept that I don't have to be perfect to be the best.
I know being my best is always better ...
Religion and Women
One might argue that these Holy Books being written by all men was a deliberate attempt to diminish the roles ...
Virtual
We are told what to do, by everything trending.
Confined in a box, our insecurities have grown stronger.
For all our eyes ...
The Electorates
The electorates with undeniably the most powerful tool, the voting power, see themselves as the least important. Their secret and ...
Here We Are Again
Here we are again On the highway of injustice At the crossroads of racial discrimination At the boulevard of segregation ...
My Journey to Milk & Honey
I wish I could tell you all about how I got here and how I made it this far. I ...
Take Over
(Inspired by George O. Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia) Take a moment, Take a picture, Take a ...
Homophobic Christians
It’s 2019 and I would like to say I’m surprised to still be having this conversation, but I’m not. This ...
Protest, a Form of Expression
Protest is a form of expression, protected by the constitution. Let those who can, express in all necessary manners. Let ...
I sin, You sin, We all sin
I was raised in a home where we considered ourselves Christians. I say ‘considered’ because that’s how surface it was. ...
Uncle Musa
I was 10 He was oldera lot older I didn’t know his age, but I know he was older How ...
Sex or Love?
I recently got rejected, to my dismay and utter disbelief . I couldn’t, still can’t, fathom why I was. Perhaps ...
Women's Bodies & The Patriarchy II
Do I regret helping a 14 year old girl, who was not prepared and did not want her pregnancy? No. ...
Women's Bodies & The Patriarchy
"The Patriarchy, the societal structure marked by the supremacy of 'man'. This system has become a trope, a bogeyman, and ...
Secret Love
"Fast forward, Love worked its wonders
and our hearts drew together like magnets." --Darcess Dossen, Secret Love Continue Reading → ...
Breaking Free from the Unromantic and Inexpressive Culture
Kings, over the course of our lives, we all have, at some point or another, heard concerns from our Queens ...
THIS IS WHY IT SUCKS TO BE ME!!
It sucks to be me because I trust too hard, I allow people in my life too easily and then ...
Shells for Justice
With its small and relatively new security agencies, and the fact that strong figures during the war like former warlord, ...
AFRICA, My Fallen Comforter
Mama Africa, From your sweet breast of rich milk, Your children have been healthily nourished. Nourished to walk on this ...
Water and the City Monroe: An Unsolved Problem
I remember during the dark days right after the 2003 War, which led former President Charles G. Taylor to exile, ...
Dear Lover
Dear Lover, I am not as happy as the 18 year old boy who just had his first kiss in ...
A Letter to My Leaders
Dear Leaders, I extend to you greetings from the founding fathers of this great continent, Africa, and bring to you ...
Our Fallen Queen
All hail the mother that flourishes in the midst of thorns and torment. The queen stripped of her throne and ...
Sex Education in Liberia, II
Shari Raji When I was about 5 years old, I went into the bathroom to shower with an older girl ...
Sex Education in Liberia
Let’s Talk about sex, baby! You are either having it, talking about it, fussing about it or not having it ...
Children Falsely Branded by Witch and Murder
Disclaimer: As an awareness for children who have been falsely branded and beaten for witch and murder within our country, ...
A Male’s Perspective of Feminism
"If we will have a balance of gender and a reduction in the continuous occurrence of violence against women and ...
The Battle Within
You call it foolishness I call it my truth. The way I choose to walk In the world will no ...
How Do You Feel About Abortion?
I have an hour commute to work every day, two hours if we consider my return. I enjoy this. I ...
RING OF LEMONS
I stopped screaming for him to stop after the first 5 minutes and became completely numb when I felt liquid ...
Love Na Wan Tin Tin
Dear Friends in Online Land, Valentines Day arrived. Along with it came all the lovebirds out their woodworks chirping away ...
Holy Trinity
Today is supposed to be the first birthday of our child At the first checkup, the doctor said the child ...
Sex, Love and Romance in Popular Culture
In my opinion, the idea that vaginal discharges mean a woman has orgasmed is as ridiculous as assuming that a ...
Maybe
Maybe if I was a little lighter Maybe if my curls were just a little looser Maybe if I had ...
We Are Not Our Mothers
The new generation of Liberian women must aspire to have healthy marriages that nurture children to go on to respect ...
Let’s Keep It Professiona?l?
Navigating the professional world as a young, “attractive”, female-identifying individual means walking a straight line of politeness and amiability without ...
Justice in the Liberian Society
Monrovia was not worth the hype. Upon my arrival, I had to face the irony of the environment and decide ...
Migration and the Role of Governance and Internet Actors
By March, 2019, thousands of Liberians who immigrated to the U.S due to the civil war, Ebola crisis, and other ...
Migration and the Role of Governance and Internet Actors
Most Liberians know of folks who have migrated, especially as a result of the 14-year Civil War. Others migrated in ...
Public Enemy #1
We have been sentenced to life imprisonment, sentenced without facing a judge or sitting a fair trial. Confined to the ...
How To Write About Liberia
When you write about Liberia, always use modifiers like “war-torn”, “recovering”, ‘‘corrupt’’, “illiterate”, and “dirty”. Do not forget to speak ...
Does Liberia Have a Rape Culture?
Following Sweetz’ recounts of said event, a friend of mine had a conversation with a guy that exemplifies the ‘excuse’ ...
Fact Check: President Weah’s Second Annual State of the Nation Address
From the data given, majority of our roads and infrastructure is being built by foreign funds, which has cause some ...
The True Meaning and Intent of Feminism
Let’s start by making this abundantly clear: Feminism is more Pro-men than Anti-men as most men, and even some women, ...
Islam the Perfect-being
My name is Islam Sent as a guide from Allah to mankind My followers are called Muslims I am perfect ...
Life at Firestone Rubber Company II
Read the first part of this story here. Life in Firestone was highly polarized- the tappers lived in the ‘camps’ ...
Life at Firestone Rubber Company
As a kid, I did not bother much with the peculiar nature of the Liberia-Firestone relationship. I was mostly concerned ...
Patriarchy and Society’s Misconception on the Function of the Female Vagina
“Most men would no longer enjoy conversing with most women if they stopped bringing their vaginas along.” ? Mokokoma Mokhonoana ...
I am King
I am kingdom First name king I hail from divine melanin ancestry My heritage is rich and unparalleled The sufferings ...
What Do You Do with Your Internet Data?
I know what you do with your internet data is none of my business. Trust me, my browser history is ...
On Women and The Development of Patriarchy!
Read the first part of this series here In African societies, women stayed home in periods of war because of ...
On Women and The Development of Patriarchy!
Our time is poised with a myriad of reasons as the most engrossing time to talk about gender equality and ...
African
Artwork by Matina Jaimah ( @Jaimahmedia on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr ) Artist’s website: https://www.jaimahmedia.com ...
THE IDEOLOGY OF MARRIAGE
I grew up in a semi-perfect home, as I like to put it. Both of my parents were involved in ...
More than a Victim
Even though he stands in her shadow staring at me, ...
Too Much Skin
I constantly criticized everyone who dared to show some skin; it was not decent, it was not modest; it ...
A Chronicle of Womanhood
"Journeyed through the valley of the shadow of doubts, I am here!" --Beulah Nimene
Continue Reading → ...
16 Days of Activism: We are Unprotected
My earliest understanding of the vulnerability, the myriad of abuse and insecurity, women and girls face was the murder of ...
Puzzles of Women Coming Out After Being Abused
In the wake of the recent testifying of Professor Blasey Ford against supreme court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, as well as ...
RAINBOWS IN THE DARK
My grandfather always said, “to understand the journey of life, you need to know oneself,” but who am I? Can ...
Liberia’s Drive to Macroeconomic Stability
When you hear the word “stability,” what comes to mind? I bet you start to think about synonyms like security, ...
Mental Care-Liberia
Mental Care-Liberia Background Mental illnesses are silent, yet dangerous problems that have penetrated society and are slowly ruining lives, like ...
Darkness, My Old Friend
I am the epitome of a morning person. I don’t wake up particularly ecstatic neither do I wake up grumpy, ...
Sullen Truth
Abused and misused, Violated and desecrated, Disregarded and ignored, Misunderstood and prejudged; Are her efforts and abilities. Despite all she ...
Sex for Grades
I wanted to do something to this teacher, something to make him pay and show the world the horrible shit ...
Free Her
As he walks the streets of Monrovia, He frequently sees young girls trapped in poverty He sees many promising futures ...
More than Placards: The Truths about Sexual Violence in Liberia
It’s good, I mean perfect, that we wear all black and march through the streets, lifting up our placards to ...
SOUR ORANGES
This is for the girl who sells sour oranges on my street. I want to tell you so many things; ...
Of Kindness and the Streets of Monrovia
Recently, I visited a popular nightclub in Monrovia and witnessed a form of kindness that I will never forget. Ever. ...
Aches of Monrovia
“I am trying to call 911, but it’s not going through. Apparently, I have to befriend the police before justice ...
All the Skinny Ladies
We are going to start this off by saying, we get it. Society is fucked up and even more pathetic ...
Not More Than Us
More than me. More than you. More than him. More than her. Is this more than us? More than ...
Your Life Is Not Only Yours
As the driver apologized and tried to free the way, two guys walked over to our driver’s side of the ...
Typical Liberian Girl
He walked up to me and said, “You don’t look like a typical Liberian girl, Your diction is better and ...
More Than Serious
Over the past few days, Liberians on social media have been reacting to the documentary, Unprotected, by ProPublica in collaboration ...
Allowed
The following message was approved by you for you and to you: You are allowed to be YOU. You ...
Africa Needs to Deviate from Depending? on International Aid
We might all still be familiar with the phrase “Make America Great Again” that was popularized about a year ago. ...
The Power of Choice
Whether it is the decision you make between what is right and what is wrong, the discernment between good and ...
The Unjustifiable Fear of the Liberian ‘Elite’
On May 11, 2018, I was fortunate to join almost a hundred young individuals in a protest against racism, sexism, ...
Give & Take
We’ve been in a relationship for as long as I can remember.She sleeps at the head of my bed, dragging ...
Big Boy
I saw Aunty today, she was the same. I hadn’t seen her in ages. A while back, my third year ...
Liberian Girl Magic
Dear LiberianGirl, Do you see us freeing ourselves, from the narratives written by “people abroad?” Read a blog post yesterday, with ...
Not Your Object
Living in a male-dominated society can be challenging for women, at least it is for me. This is especially true ...
Black Imagery
I wonder why….. I wonder why I was born black… I wonder why my race has to be critically discussed ...
When the Heart Decides
She was broken. Her dreams and hopes in life were scattered, and all she ever aspired to was to be ...
Mister Anxiety
Dear Anxiety Pain lives inside of me, Like a raging fire hugs a lost soul. Reaching out to quench my ...
Obtaining a Police Clearance in Liberia
Some of us are lucky enough to afford this extra cash, but not everybody can. I pity those who have ...
Dating In Monrovia; Power & Sex
But NO! Sex is not only about procreation. God made humanity in His image to have dominion over the earth ...
Dating in Monrovia, Two Ladies’ Perspective
Now, Liberian men oh, we have a quick question for y’all, who told y’all that when you say “I love ...
Dating in Monrovia, a Guy’s Perspective
Once you understand that every individual attaches labels to people then you are already ahead of the curve. The only ...
The Influence of Art on a Society and How Liberia Can Learn from It
Traditional masks, murals, painted storefronts, and paintings of beautifully shaped African women in village settings; these are a few reminders ...
Justice is Guilty
Humbled, I stand before this grand court To argue our case… against ‘Justice’ On behalf of humanity, Humanity is sick! ...
An Open Letter to Africa Voters
Dear Fellow Africans, It is my prayer that this letter meets you in peace. Lately, our beautiful continent has been ...
Femininity II
Femininity: the idea that womanhood is being the fragile, quiet woman who submits to the man and respects his decisions ...
Catcalling
“When is it okay to Catcall a woman?” The answer is “NEVER” --Fanoraine Continue Reading → ...
First Impression
I’m a girl with dreams. I don’t wear it on my sleeves or so it seems. I’m not (just) a ...
Even the Little Things Matter
“Whoever said small things don’t matter has never seen a match start a wildfire.” – Beau Taplin “Little things do ...
Sleepless In Monrovia, Our Story
We launched Liberia’s first social justice blog, Sleepless in Monrovia (SiM) on March 12, 2018. With SiM, Liberians would no ...
Portrayal Matters
I, Shari, was standing outside a kebab kiosk (a type of sandwich stand) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with some friends ...
Message by the Ink
Over 170 years ago, some of our forefathers were here and others came and they set eyes on the most ...
My Encounter with A Pedophile
“According to Plan International, 1 out of 3 women in the world gets beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused ...
Who Yor Really Lovin?
Anybody really lovin’ these days? The “can I get my answer” and “give me a few more days” type of ...
LGIC: The Liberian Godpa Industrial Complex
It’s Fathers’ appreciation season, and everywhere around the world, people are finding ways to make special moments for their respective ...
The Noxious Medical Situation at the Monrovia Central Prison
Dear Liberian Government, ...
A Complex Concept of Reality
If energy were just sounds (they kinda are), you can picture all these different musical notes projecting out of you ...
People be Gay, Get Over It
“What you eat doesn’t make me shit” – Unknown This has been my mantra for most of my life and ...
The Middle Passage III
Part 3 of The Middle Passage continues: The entire meeting was a blur. The elder’s told her that her mother ...
The Middle Passage II
Don’t worry I’m not only here to mock your lack of talent. The elders are calling a meeting. Even though ...
The Middle Passage I
In an alternate historical and technological timeline, a young West African royal, Kou, struggles as she prepares to fit into ...
I am A Queen
Breaking waves and buildings tides Powers beyond compare Wisdom flowing like water from the falls of Kpatawe Bringing life to ...
Kinks, Curls, and Coils
I began writing this piece by stating that I first got my hair permed when I was eight years old. ...
Not My JOHN!
"It started with a punch then kicks and screams... With every single teardrop that falls from my eyes,
I couldn't help ...
Preservation of Liberian Traditions
How can one preserve a traditional practice like this when it has no health benefits for women and girls? Continue ...
Addiction
Addiction: Fresh followers You’re always welcome, Kill emotions Like you never felt them. Addiction: Any religions and creeds, Any shade ...
Hazardous Waste, Fundamental Cause of Diseases In Liberia
Simply defined, Hazardous waste is any undesired material having properties that make it dangerous or capable of having a harmful ...
YOUTH IN REVOLT
We cannot move forward if we are devoid of the generation that preceded us; their successes, as well as their ...
My First Kiss
For many their first kiss is like their favorite movie Playing back and forth in their heads with stolen smiles ...
Through the Lens of an African Youth
After more than 60 years of independence, the story of the continent remains a sad one to tell. Though entrepreneurship ...
We Shall Overcome
To quote Maya Angelou “Life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, ...
Societal Judgement Against Females in Liberia
Liberia has been the only place I have lived all my life; my family and I never fled the country ...
Masculinity
Masculinity: the idea that manhood is the summation of athletic abilities, senseless violence, sexual conquest and lack of emotional capacity. ...
Racism & Sexism at Sajj House
So, in Liberia, a country in Sub-Saharan Africa, there is a place that allows WHITE WOMEN to walk into Sajj ...
?April 12
April 12, 1980, will forever be remembered in Liberian history. Thirty-eight years ago, on this day, Liberians woke up to ...
April Blues
The overwhelming illiteracy coupled with the grinding poverty prevented the majority of the population from comprehending that such vandalism and ...
Domestic Violence, the New Cool?
But deep-rooted in all of these sad events, is the fact Bucky Raw deserves absolutely no sympathy for abusing his ...
Yes, This Too is Harassment
Suddenly, put a girl in the equation and my vagina is up for grabs? Am I nothing more than a ...
A Sister Unheard
He took away fragments of her soul with every plunge.
She spoke up, but no one ever tried to listen.
Moment after ...
Tourism: An Alternative Solution to Unemployment in Liberia
Unfortunately, Liberia is not counted among those African countries that have benefited from the growth in tourism on the continent. ...
Karma
She moves with fearlessness yet gracefully. Her actions are swift and remorseless, Her strides are full of gallantry but mysterious. ...
The Dangling Economy: Tax Payment
Liberia has one of the poorest economies in the world with a Gross Domestic Product of 2.101 billion USD and ...
Good Friday’s Reflection
I was asked by my Pastor to share for the Good Friday Service last week. After sharing and being a ...
Rooting for Blackness; Rooting for Women
A few nights ago, I was flipping through channels on my TV and I stumbled upon an episode of Chopped ...
My Mistake?
Drowning in the toxicity of different emotions,
Overshadowed by what was perceived to be love,
I screamed for help, but no one ...
Femininity
Shaved off my hair,
and suddenly I’m hotter;
but you know, I’m daft.
The thought of your attraction being homoerotic
never crosses my mind ...
Sex For Job: My Liberia
Sadly, sexual harassment is so prevalent in Liberia that victims, who are mostly women, do not even bother to report ...
Effects of “Taboo” topics III
The first two parts of the taboo-series explored the lack of puberty and sex education in early child development in ...
Effects of “Taboo” topics II
Taboo topics are a dominant part of the very fabric of this country. This series seeks to break down the ...
?Effects of “Taboo” topics
Liberia, Sweet Land of Liberty! Well, liberty, until it comes to discussions of “controversial” issues such as sex, sexual assault, ...
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