A youth-focused literary initiative titled “Writing Destiny – A Youth Literary Workshop for Liberia” is set to climax at the end of this month with the launch of a new historical novel that revisits one of Africa’s most formidable resistance figures, Emperor Samori Touré.
By Emmanuel M. Weedee-Conway
The workshop, aimed at nurturing young Liberian writers and deepening their appreciation of literature, history and storytelling, will climax the author’s first-ever book launch in Liberia.
The novel, The Emperor’s Son, explores the life and legacy of Samori Touré, the famed 19th-century African ruler who led sustained resistance against European colonial expansion in West Africa.
Speaking ahead of the event, the author described the opportunity to mentor young Liberians as deeply personal and fulfilling.
“That I’m able to impart to the youth of Liberia my experience and knowledge is one of the greatest highlights of my life,” the author said.
He noted that the workshop is designed not only to teach writing skills but also to inspire a deeper understanding of African identity and heritage.
Unlike conventional historical accounts, The Emperor’s Son seeks to address what the author describes as gaps in the recorded history of Samori Touré.
Drawing inspiration from the idea that “novels arise out of the shortcomings of history,” the book introduces a fictional yet culturally grounded narrative to illuminate untold aspects of the African leader’s origins.
Central to the novel is Zaiwulo, a Kpelle boy from Haindi, deep in the forest of present-day Liberia, who journeys across the river into the savannah in the 19th century.
Through this journey, Zaiwulo encounters and forms a bond with Samori Touré, then Emperor of the Wasulu Empire.
The character serves as a literary bridge between Liberia’s forest region and the broader West African resistance movement, highlighting Liberia’s often-overlooked place in regional history.
“When writing The Emperor’s Son, I intended to weave together the various historical and cultural threads that define us as a people,” asserted the author.
The book launch is expected to attract students, educators, writers, historians, and lovers of African literature, offering a rare opportunity to celebrate shared history through storytelling.
The event will take place on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at the University of Liberia (UL) Main Auditorium, where participants and guests will gather to mark what organizers describe as both a literary milestone and a cultural homecoming.
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