During our sojourn to the seaside town of Cestos, capital of Rivercess County, we launched the Soundbooth, an audio documentary project modeled on NPR"s StoryCorps. The idea is to have two people very familiar with each other - a mother and a daughter, a teacher and a student, a pair of friends - interview each other on a story or topic relevant to their lives. StoryCorps has been doing this for a while, and has a great archive of American stories, told in conversational, intimate style. We"re … [Read more...]
After Echo
Situated next to a monument of Liberia’s first President, Joseph J. Roberts, the ruins of the Ducor Hotel is one of Monrovia’s haunting relics of civil war. Like many of the city’s buildings its skeleton stands charred and gutted, looking over the water. Along the periphery the afternoon continues with a sense of normalcy. “Sad when you see a hotel like that, when you know once upon a time man…” … [Read more...]
On the road to Rivercess …
We were told the drive to Cestos, in Rivercess County, should only take about three hours. It's roughly 180 miles. But I should have know better. Always double times and add some more. In the end, it took close to seven hours to travel to Cestos. The road was paved for half the distance. The other half was like being locked inside a pinball machine, bouncing around in the back of the van, trying to keep my head from slamming into the door. But the sights were good along the way. Here are a few … [Read more...]
Hungry to vote
“Mark,” my cab driver around town Saturday, didn’t hesitate when I asked him who would get his vote for president in October or November. “Ellen,” he said, as President Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson is called. Mark then produced a shiny card from his ash try — his voter registration card. He said he was going out of his way to keep it clean, because the sooner he used it, the better. Indeed, when the vote will be held is in some doubt. A referendum will determine if the vote should be pushed from … [Read more...]
