Reviews/Comments

In 1946, the author was born in Liberia, a West African country founded by formerly enslaved Black people from the United States. Liberia, which declared its independence in 1847, was lamentably divided between the minority settler community that constituted itself as a ruling class and the majority indigenous African people.

Dagbayonoh Kiah Nyanfore ll, the author, was born of indigenous stock, which was excluded from governance and was noted for its poverty and limited access to the few available elements of modernity.

But Nyanfore managed to escape these horrible conditions. Thanks to his faith in God, dogged determination, and the help of his uncle Bishop Pekro Gray of the United States, Nyanfore traveled to America. He obtained his education first at a prep boarding school (Fryeburg Academy, Maine, USA) and later at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. It was at Georgetown that I first met Nyanfore. And as he explains in the book, I became his "fraternal brother and progressive comrade."

In my final year at the university, I completed my studies in three years. Nyanfore was already an aspiring writer and a good athlete. I left him at Georgetown and went to the University of California, Los Angeles, for graduate studies. Upon completion, I returned to Liberia and plunged into the budding struggle for greater freedom in our country, led, at the time, by that paragon of virtue, Dr. Togba Nah Tipoteh. Under the Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA) banner and in collaboration with the Progressive Alliance of Liberia (PAL), led by the late comrade Bacchus Matthews, we mobilized our people against the backward ruling True Whig Party. This struggle and advocacy helped sensitize the military to overthrow the regime in 1980.

Although Nyanfore resided in the United States, he was an essential ally in our struggle at home. He was active with the Liberian progressive organizations in the US, which mounted frequent demonstrations against the ruling regime's policies and rendered valuable support to our work on the ground.

Unlike many of his colleagues, Nyanfore did not rush home to "grab" available positions when the military toppled the government. While supporting the "New Order," Nyanfore nevertheless remained in the US and kept a critical stance, particularly concerning the excesses of the new Military regime.

Nyanfore has returned to Liberia and written a frank, sometimes humorous, and inspiring account of his life. In his story, we are introduced to the people, events, and influences that helped to shape his interesting life. Also, he treats us with intimate accounts of his family life, estranged daughter, and health issues.

By interweaving the story of his life with the unfolding events, particularly in Liberia, Nyanfore has given us an extraordinary compendium of Liberian history. The reader will find unpublished anecdotes about various icons of Liberian history in the book—Didhwo Welleh Twe, Plenyono Gbe Wolo, Thorgues Sie, and Dr. Togba-Nah Tipoteh, to name a few. His interactions with former President Ellen Sirleaf, the Progressives, former President Samuel Doe, his wife Nancy Doe, and other personalities have historical significance. Although the book is an autobiography and not a traditional historical work, Nyanfore's interpretations of recorded historical events and the inferences and deductions he draws from them have historical significance.

I am going to conclude. I have been asked to write the Foreword of this book, not the book itself, which Nyanfore has done so admirably and with great skill. As a professional student of world affairs, an author on African political economy and Liberia in particular, and a retired (and somewhat tired) diplomat, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to our youth and the broader reading public in Liberia, Africa, and the world.

Ambassador (Prof) Dew Tuan-Wleh Mayson

Acca Spear

Great!! What a touching reality story!

Andrew Mossima

Great! Heart touching!!

Hamilton Quayeson

Great piece of history. I'm impressed with your narratives.

Fitzgerald Nyewan Kennedy

Great read! Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

James Zebedee Korh

I enjoyed this story well

Yungshine Sheriff

Wow amazing this write ups has so many messages,as I read I see myself in some scene it is actually a must read thank very much for bringing those memories to me ,💟

Emmanuel Chea

Great

Juliet Cuffey Nenneh

Thank you very much I am very proud karbor woman.

Ernest Kesi

Long journey, very motivational of been strong .

Zack Tito Tweh

Great Piece!

Interesting and worth reading!

tephen P Cordor

Very interesting piece of history.

Madia A. Payne

Ayy mehn...you really took my mind way back oo. Our parents really missed those days. This is actually worth reading and can't wait for the book itself. Thanks for this very rich narrative. God bless you sir🙏🙏🙏

Bald Freddie

Nice one

Daniel DanLama

Nice and interesting...

Sylvester Tevez Nah

Waoooooo, I am thrilled by reading said piece! It gives me a little understanding about my tribe, "Kru"! Thanks a million.

Korto K Reeves

Amazing!

Emmanuel K Barnes-i

The narrative is worth reading. I took two hours to slowly read on.

Dennis B'Toe

Wow! This is quite interesting! As someone who spent his early years in New Kru Town, I am gone nostalgic. Waiting for the book to relive NKT.