allAfrica.com: Liberia: LAW Remembers Icons of Writing (Page 1 of 1)

The Liberia Association of Writers (LAW) on Saturday, March 15, remembered fallen icons of Liberian writing through a group tour that culminated in the laying of wreathes and plaque on the tombs of Bai Tamia Moore and Joseph Jeffery Walters.

The two writers are buried in Bomi and Cape Mount Counties, respectively, though however the latter's grave has not been discovered.

Recognizing the historically pioneering roles played by the two writers, the Association in separate statements praised Bai T. Moore for reflecting Liberian culture in his work and for having served as its embodiment during his lifetime. For author Walters, he is credited for having produced Africa's first novel in English since 1870.

At the first stopover during the group tour of the Association in Demeh, Bomi County, the LAW President, T. Michael Weah and members drilled with the vocal and sassa musical accompaniment of the townswomen to the colossal tomb of Bai Tamia Moore, where speeches extolling the creative writing and his life's work were delivered and quickly followed by the laying of a well carved wreathe upon his tomb.

The town Chief of Demeh and the eldest surviving nephew of the deceased Moore expressed appreciation on behalf of the townspeople and the family.

They thanked LAW for starting an initiative that rightly highlights the works contribution of their late senior citizen, who lived a selfless life in promoting the culture of the country.

On the high hills of Robertsport, along the St. John's Memorial Episcopal Church, LAW members' frantic efforts to locate the unmarked grave of Africa's first novelist, Joseph Jeffrey Walters ended in futility. The disconsolate writers finally congregated in the old church that was built during the bishopric of Ferguson in 1892.

in the commemorative program for Walters, the writers including two female amateurs from the J.J.Riberts United Methodist and St. Theresa Convent schools conducted recitals of portions of their various works. The moment was also seized to launch the literary publication, The Voice, which greatly highlights the works of another great Liberian, Edward Wilmot Blyden.

Launching the publication, former Chief Justice Henry Reed Cooper, a doyen of creative writing, reminded his audience to emulate the sterling qualities of Blyden, who he said struggled to demonstrate the intrinsic worth of the Negro and African to shoulder national self determination.

The old jurist told writers to write conscientious literature reflective of the issues of the times in tandem with their African personality as Blyden espoused in his lifetime.

In their equally paced reflections on the life and creative writing of the First African Novelist, the former President of LAW, James Dwelu and the current President, T. Michael Weah, respectively said that Joseph Jeffery Walters, a Vai was transferred to America, where he attended various schools and higher institutions of learning to the point of garnering his bachelor's degree.

They said that Walters contracted tuberculosis in the USA and could therefore didn't finish his earmarked master's program, at which time he returned to Liberia to undertake church and humanitarian work.

During that time, the practice of forced marriage was prevalent, wherein young girls would be forced to marry to a man against their choice. It was this theme that appealed to Walters.

He wrote the novella: Guanya Pau - the Story of An African Princess, in which Guanya Pau, the princess of an African king rejects the suitor and escapes but only meets up with fate by drowning in Lake Piso. Receiving the literary guest to Cape Mount in mournful tone, Superintendent Khasu related that she had been musing over the tragedy of Liberian culture.

She recounted how she had visited the meticulously preserved homes of Daniel Webster and William Shakespeare in America and Britain but that such cannot be said of Liberia. She said that even the pioneers or founders of Robertsport do not have a decent cemetery, which has been a burden on her mind, since assuming office.

She then consoled LAW for the grief over the difficulty in locating Walters' unmarked grave. She said that she would forward the name of a social researcher by the name of Svend Holsoe, who according to her will be helpful to the association in various ways in the literary sense.

She helped the widow of the late pastor of St. John's Memorial Episcopal Church to unveil the marble plaque that LAW members intended to plant on the tombstone of the late Joseph Walters.

Sumptuous meal transported to Robertsport by the writers were served with the distribution of copies of literary materials to the various schools to indirectly produce further writers in the area.

Returning to Monrovia, the coaster bus occupiers chanted the national anthem in demonstration of their mental retention of the verses of Daniel Bashiel Warner, Liberia's foremost poet President, while also reflecting on such patriotic songs like the Lone Star for Ever penned by another great soul, Edwin J. Barclay. But the memorialization of the latter two must of necessity be done.

LAW has started the revival of recognition of the greats - a trend that will continue in a fashion to consolidate the much longed for peace in Liberia.

The Liberia Association of Writers (LAW) was founded in June 1982 with the goal of creating a literary atmosphere in Liberia by assisting to polish the creative expression of writers and help them publish their works.

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