Radriffa slept sideways on the bed beneath barred windows, the morning light filling the room to wake him gently. His father, Peter Toby, sat beside him listening to the crackle of a handheld radio, taking in the day"s headlines. It was quiet that morning in Monrovia, and I stood in the corner of Toby"s one-room household processing that awkward feeling that comes when you peer into someone"s intimate moments. As a twenty-five year old grad student from the U.S. I felt more than out of … [Read more...]
TakunJ The Struggle to Make it
He thought he was a quiet and unpopular guy — until one day he attended the same show as the president. When Madame President entered the hall the crowd went wild and started screaming. But when he entered, there was even more noise. Click to view galleryHe is Takun-J, Liberia's leading hip-co artist. Hip-co ("co" as in colloquial), is a style of music that is unique to Liberia, because it is the way that people freely speak and relate to one another. It sounds like a mix of rap … [Read more...]
On Music Soundbooth
For more information on on best online casino Rabbie and TakunJ please visit TakunJ.com and Nasseman.com. … [Read more...]
Laughing In Liberia – Quincy T
Quincy Terence Juleh, is a Liberian median widely known as Quincy ‘T’ who believes that his art is in his nature. According to Mr. Juleh, his joke telling gained the attention of the Liberian people through the nation first privately own radio station Radio Monrovia during the crisis in the country. At the time of the war in Liberia, Quincy ‘T’ believed that his comedy show was a method that he used casino to keep people in-door and relieve them of stress. Chuckie Taylor, the fearful son of … [Read more...]
Politics… Sometimes It’s a Kickball Game
Beyond the tension (see the "Being the other" blog post), Saturday was about community. FrontPage Africa reporter and photographer, Nat Bayjay, and I spent the day touring his neighborhood, Clara Town, which he referred to as a "slum" on the outskirts of Monrovia. We were met with so much kindness and warmth as we wandered the dirt streets, avoiding soggy puddles from this impotent rainy season. We made our way to the new soccer field donated to the community by the current president's, Ellen … [Read more...]
Being the Other
Everyone should feel what it"s like to be "the other" – to look around and find yourself in a sea of unknown, to be the one without power, at the mercy of human kind and kindness. During a soccer pitch dedication, a gift to Clara Town from the ruling Unity Party, a small group of young men were racing to the best online casino field, megaphone in hand, yelling words I couldn"t make it out through the distorting device. I saw their energy. I ran in close; I began shooting. "FUCK YOU!" Over … [Read more...]
First frame in Clara Town
Shooting the first frame is always the hardest. I find every time, no matter where in the world I am, I have to drum up the courage and, fearing rejection, walk up and say "hi." Usually that leads to pictures; rarely do people say no. But there is something about human nature, best online casino or maybe just something about me, that wants to avoid that rejection at all cost. After it has all played out and I"m looking through the images at the end of a hard day, I can"t imagine having not … [Read more...]
Forging peace
[swfobj src="http://togetherliberia.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/manfred-zbrzezny-by-peter-toby-together-liberia/soundslider.swf" width="960" height="670"]Manfred Zbrzenzy's work landed in the office of the vice president after one of Manfred's American customers bought about 20 candle stands and shared some with Boakai. The 50-year-old blacksmith was overwhelmed with joy when he heard the news. The VP has handed the candle stands out to visitors as a souvenir. Story, images and audio by Peter … [Read more...]
In Monrovia, you must "be the traffic"
Being a passenger in Monrovia traffic is a special experience. It’s a white-knuckle carnival ride — without the carnival glitz but with all the thrills. Our drivers — most often David Kweku and his father, Joseph — surely could meet and beat the challenge of any street in any big U.S. city. They are unflappable and oblivious, oddly good-natured about it. I had a friend some years ago who seemed immune to the cold weather, while my wife and I were freezing. “What’s your secret?” we asked. He … [Read more...]
