Liberian Studies Journal
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VOLUME XXI 1996 Number 1 LIBERIAN STUDIES JOURNAL 1 IO°W 8°W LIBERIA 8 °N- -8 °N MONSERRADO MA R GIB! 6 °N- -6 °N RIVER MARYLAND Geography Department 10 8 °W 1 University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown 1 Published by THE LIBERIAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION, INC PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor LIBERIAN STUDIES JOURNAL Editorial Policy The Liberian Studies Journal is dedicated to the publication of original research on social, political, economic, scientific, and other issues about Liberia or with implications for Liberia. Opinions of contributors to the Journal do not necessarily reflect the policy of the organizations they represent or the Liberian Studies Association, publishers of the Journal. Manuscript Requirements Manuscripts submitted for publication should not exceed 25 typewritten, double -spaced pages, with margins of one - and-a -half inches. The page limit includes graphs, references, tables and appendices. Authors may, in addition to their manuscripts, submit a computer disk of their work with information about the word processing program used, i.e., WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, etc. Notes and references should be placed at the end of the text with headings (e.g. Notes; References). Notes, if any, should precede the references. The Journal is published in June and December. Deadline for the first issue is February, and for the second, August. Manuscripts should include a title page that provides the title of the text, author's name, address, phone number, and affiliation. All research work will be reviewed by anonymous referees. Manuscripts are accepted in English and French. Manuscripts must conform to the editorial style of the latest edition of A Manual of Style (University of Chicago Press). All manuscripts submitted for consideration should be mailed to C. William Allen, Editor Liberian Studies Journal -Division of Fine Arts, Languages and Literature University of South Carolina Spartanburg, SC 29303 All book reviews should be mailed to: Augustine Konneh, Book Review Editor Liberian Studies Journal History Department Morehouse College 830 Westview Drive, S.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30314 Cover map: compiled by William Kory, cartography work by Jodie Molnar; Geography Department, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor VOLUME XXI 1996 Number 1 LIBERIAN STUDIES JOURNAL Editor C. William Allen University of South Carolina at Spartanburg Associate Editor Similih M. Cordor Florida Community College Book Review Editor Augustine Konneh Morehouse College EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Bertha B. Azango Warren L. d'Azevedo University of Liberia University of Nevada Reno Christopher Clapham Thomas E. Hayden Lancaster University Society of African Missions Svend E. Holsoe Corann Okorodudu University of Delaware Rowan College of New Jersey D. Elwood Dunn M. Alpha Bah The University of the South College of Charleston Momo K. Rogers Yekutiel Gershoni Middle Tennessee State University Tel Aviv University Lawrence B. Breitborde Romeo E. Phillips Knox College Kalamazoo College Henrique F. Tokpa Cuttington University College Edited at the Division of Fine Arts, Languages and Literature, i University of South Carolina at Spartanburg. 4 The editors and Advisory Board gratefully acknowledge the contributions of The University of South Carolina in the production of the Journal. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor CONTENTS THE LIBERIAN PRESS UNDER MILITARY RULE By Momo K. Rogers, Sr. 7 HISTORY REPEATED? THE LIBERIA- SIERRA LEONE BORDER, 1905 AND 1991 By Yekutiel Gershoni 33 TOWARD CULTURAL PLURALISM IN EDUCATION By Sakui W.G. Malakpa 50 BOOK REVIEWS Sankawulo, Wilton. The Rain and the Night. London: Macmillian Education Ltd., 1979. By Robert H. Brown 72 Korte, Werner. ETHNISCHE TRADITION und MILITARISCHE INTERVENTION in AFRIKA: Essay uber den Putsch von 1980 in Liberia. Munster, Germany: Lit Verlag, 1995. By Dougbeh C. Nyan 86 RECENT PUBLICATIONS AND THESES 90 NEWS AND NOTES 93 DOCUMENTS 104 CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE 167 A referee journal that emphasizes the social sciences and humanities, the Liberian Studies Journal is a semiannual publication devoted to studies of Africa's oldest republic. The annual subscription rate is $30.00, $15.00 for students and $45.00 for institutions, and includes membership in the Liberian Studies Association, Inc. All manuscripts and related matters should be addressed to The Editor, Liberian Studies Journal, Division of Fine Arts, Languages and Literature, The University of South Carolina at Spartanburg, 800 University Way, Spartanburg, SC 29303. Subscriptions and other business matters should be directed to The Secretary- Treasurer, Liberian Studies Association, Albany State College, P.O. Box 31222, Albany, Georgia 31795 -2791. Copyright 1995 by the Liberian Studies Association, Inc. ISSN 0024 1989 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor FROM THE EDITOR In the previous issue of the Journal, we expressed a cautious and guarded optimism that peace was about to return to Liberia given the material difference between the Abuja Accord of August 19, 1995, and the other twelve peace agreements that preceded it. We were wrong. As we prepared to go to press, Liberia had virtually fallen into anarchy with the escalation of violence which started April 6, 1996, when the safe haven status of Monrovia was shattered, and warring factions began another orgy of fighting and destruction. The Liberian Studies Association maintains its stance not to take a political position of any kind, but to remain an impartial, scholarly organization. This editor is committed to, and believes in that basic principle on which the LSA was founded. However, history will not forgive us if we remain passive observers in the ghastly drama unfolding in Liberia. In this connection, we, as a scholarly organization whose primary purview is Liberia, must endeavor to document the situation as objectively as is humanly possible. Our News and Notes section in this issue is dedicated exclusively to providing a timeline of some of the major events affecting Liberia since April 6. Our Document section also provides the text of some of the key documents emanating from individuals, organizations and governments that relate to the most recent developments in Liberia. Also in this issue, Momo Rogers has given us a good synopsis of the role of the press in the transition to democratic governance in his article, "The Liberian Press Under Military Rule. In view of the fact that the civil war in Liberia spilled over into neighboring Sierra Leone, Yekutiel Gershoni's article, "History Repeated? The Liberia - Sierra Leone Border, 1905 and 1991," is very timely, and resurrects a historical problem with a Liberian Studies Journal, XXI,1 (1996) 5 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor 6 contemporary twist. Sakui Malakpa deals with yet another very important issue in his article, "Toward Cultural Pluralism in Education." Robert Brown has given us a critical but fair review of Wilton Sankawulo's novel, The Rain and the Night. We are also grateful to Dougbeh Nyan for his review of Werner Korte's book, ETHNISCHE TRADITION und MILITARISCHE INTERVENTION in AFRIKA: Essay uber den Putsch von 1980 in Liberia. The book, written in German, translates thus: ETHNIC TRADITIONAND MILITARYINTERVENTION IN AFRICA: Essay About the Coup of 1980 in Liberia, but you already knew that! The editorial advisory board wishes to extend our thanks and appreciation to Alfred Konuwa who leaves his post as book review editor after several years of distinguish service. It was with great reluctance that we accepted his resignation. However, we have been very fortunate that the person filling the spot, Augustine Konneh, brings a record of scholastic distinction with him to the Board. We wish Alfred the best in his personal and professional lives as he continues to make contributions to the Journal and the LSA, and we welcome Gus and wish him success in his new post. It has been confirmed by the President of LSA, Walter Wiles, that the 29th Annual Meeting of LSA will take place at Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas next year. Our host will be Massaia "Prince" Reffell, who is Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Technology in the College of Engineering & Architecture. There will be more detail on the conference as information becomes available. We wish to acknowledge, with thanks, all those who have made, and continue to make contributions to the Journal by submitting material for publication, reviewing material, and providing valuable, sometimes critical, suggestions on how we can improve our publication. Thanks. The Editor. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor 7 The Liberian Press Under Military Rule Momo K. Rogers, Sr. Introduction Liberia's first republic ended on April 12, 1980, when 17 noncommissioned officers of the Armed Forces of Liberia staged a military takeover that ousted the (William R.) Tolbert government. The change in government seemed to have been welcomed nationwide as long overdue. The young army officers said they had undertaken the coup to liberate and redeem the Liberian people from over 100 years of repressive rule by the True Whig Party, which was