SOURCE: Liberian News Agency (LINA)
MONROVIA, Feb. 14 (LINA) – Liberians from all walks of life, foreign dignitaries and well-wishers have gathered at the Samuel K. Doe (SKD) Sports Complex, outside Monrovia to begin the official celebration of the country’s bicentennial.
With thousands brandishing the national colors – the red, white, and blue have illuminated the interior of the SKD Sports complex while a variety of traditional mask dancers, cultural performers and skilled acrobats stationed outside the stadium, have added immense flavor to the festivity which is intended to observe 200 years of Liberia’s existence.
Prior to the official kickoff ceremony on Monday, February 14, more than 95 percent of the interior of the SKD sports complex reached its full capacity before noon, while on the periphery of the stadium the number of Liberians double that of the one inside.
All security and health protocols were observed to be in full activation while members of the Liberia National police, the Liberia National Fire Service among several other security entities were present to ensure that the safety of the guests were in tight.
Among dignitaries gracing the occasion include a cohort of U.S. officials earlier named by President Joseph R. Biden led by the Honorable Linda Thomas-Greenfield, United States Ambassador to the United Nations.
Other members of the U.S. Presidential Delegation, include: The Honorable Michael A. McCarthy, United States Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia, Dana Banks, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Africa, National Security Council as well as Mr. Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian among others.
Earlier, the Presidents of Niger, Gambia, Sierra Leone and Togo as well as the Prime Minister of Gabon were all received at the Roberts International Airport.
Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has joined the ranks of prominent Liberians to form part of the official ceremony.
The Liberian Bicentennial is an important threshold in Liberia’s history. The yearlong event provides a historic opportunity to commemorate the founding of the republic.
It was on January 7, 1822, that a small group of free Black Americans from the United States of America huddled on the Island then known as Dozoa; which was consequently renamed by the settlers to Perseverance Island and subsequently to Providence Island.
Liberia’s history is replete with periods of struggle, years of strives sufficient enough to deter the nation’s founding fathers from daring to find a home now known as “Liberia,” however, as men of great fortitude who proudly wore the marks of slavery carved around their wrists by metal shackles, the nation’s forefathers marched to freedom, amid stormy weathers and rough seas, they rowed their boat to Providence Island.
In July 1847, Liberia became the first African republic to proclaim its independence and is Africa’s first and oldest modern republic. The nation was among the few countries to maintain its sovereignty during the scramble for Africa.
LINA/WSG