Report by J. H. Webster Clayeh, [email protected]
Monrovia – A Liberian historian, Dr. Carl Patrick Burrowes, has revealed the history of Liberia before 1800 in his new book, “Between the Kola Forest and the Salty Sea.”
The first segment of Dr. Burrowes’ lecture and book signing, which was held on recently at the Paynesville City Hall, saw a huge turnout with several prominent individuals among the audience.
Another lecture and book signing event will be at the Bella Casa Hotel on May 25, 2018.
It was an eye-catching event as most of those in the audience hasn’t heard or read about most of what Dr. Borrowes had written about. Some in the hall saw the history of the pre-settlers as ‘bringing back their lost memory’.
Lecturing at the event, Dr. Burrowes said the path to a brighter future starts with knowledge and appreciation of the past.
He continued, “The ability to claim who we are is what we Liberians have lost.”
Speaking to Frontpage Africa after the event, the historian said the 14 years of civil war in Liberia, played a major part of Liberians not fully knowing their history.
He said: “The 14-year war contributed to our history not known. I think the war had lots to do with the fact that we do not know our own history. People will be walking on Tubman Boulevard and they do not know who Tubman was.”
Dr. Burrowes: “We have not been known our history because of the war but now that the war is over it is essential that we start to know our history.”
According to Dr. Burrowes, other countries have fought wars and after the war, those nations were able to put their systems back in place.
The Liberian historian stressed that history should not only be taught in the classroom and that the media has a key role to play in educating the public about their history.
“I have lived in America for sometimes now; the people have never gotten tired of teaching their history.
“Every day on the television, on the radio, in the newspaper, they are putting their history out there teaching it to the new generation,” the Liberian historian said.
“My goal is to make sure that Liberians are educated first and then tourism piece will come. Right now, people are hungry for their history,” Dr. Burrowes added.