Monrovia – Liberia’s premier entertainment group, La Queen Entertainment and its partners have announced all is set for the nation’s first ever cultural carnival scheduled this Saturday, December 19, 2020.
At a joint news conference recently, the CEO of LA Queen, reigning Miss Liberia 2017, Wokie Dolo and the President of the Liberia National Cultural Union, Kekura Kamara revealed that the event, which has been months in the making, will be about showcasing Liberia’s culture including its arts and crafts.
According to Miss Dolo, the Liberian Carnival begins at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town with a grand street parade to the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex with performers and participants exhibiting Liberia’s unique culture through songs, dances and customs, among others.
“December 19 is going to be the first ever Liberian Carnival and we are asking all of you to come out and see the exhibition of Liberia’s cultural extravaganza” Miss. Dolo called on Liberians.
She said while the carnival is about showcasing Liberia’s culture, its underlying goal is to promote peace and unity.
“The essence of the Liberian Carnival- the overall goal is unity. Promoting unity is the overall goals and objective because without unity, there will be no development. So, the first mindset is unity.”
Speaking earlier, Mr. Kamara underscored the importance of the event, saying the carnival is taking place at the time Liberians are just returning from a special senatorial elections which has fueled some level of division among the citizens.
“It is important at this time because we are just coming from the elections. It is time to come together and celebrate Liberia through our culture, healing the wounds of the elections, bringing peace and national reconciliation. Because at the end of the day, we got only one country, Liberia,” Mr. Karmara said.
Kamara, who became a household name following his popular Malawala Balawala television series in the 1980s, said the Liberian Carnival will invoke the spirit of oneness and appreciate the nation’s rich cultural heritage that was once cherished and celebrated in the past. He said the festival will also inspire the young generation to embrace the country’s unique cultural values.
He noted that the upcoming event will be the first of its kind in Liberia and thanked the lead organizer, LA Queen Entertainment and its CEO for the effort and sacrifice in the planning of the event.
“It is the first of its kind in Liberia. For many years, I have not seen something like this. It used to happen way back in the ’60s and ’70s during July 26 Independence Day celebration,” he added.
“I think we need to bring it back. In this post war era, we must continue to bring our people together. We must preserve and develop our culture. That’s our identity. There is a big saying that a country without culture is like a big tree without root.”
He made a passionate appeal to sponsors and contributors for the success of the carnival.
The event is expected to bring together people from all works of life including Government officials, Liberian artists- musicians and movie stars.