VOLUME XXV 2000 Number 1 LIBERIAN STUDIES JOURNAL 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 intended for consideration 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 must, in addition to their manuscripts, submit a computer disk of their work, preferably in WordPerfect 6.1 for Windows. 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 ofthe text, author's name, address, phone number, and affiliation. All works will be reviewed by anonymous referees. Manuscripts are accepted in English and French. Manuscripts must conform to the editorial style of either the Chicago Manual of Style (the preferred style), or the American Psychological Association (APA) or Modern Language Association (MLA). All manuscripts intended for consideration should be mailed to: Amos J. Beyan, Editor; Liberian Studies Journal; Department of History; West Virginia University; 221E Woodburn Hall; Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-6306. All items relevant to Book Reviews should be mailed to: Yar D. G. Bratcher, Book Review Editor; Liberian Studies Journal; Emory University; 859 Petite Lane; Lithonia, Georgia 30058 Cover map: Compiled by William Kory, cartography work by Jodi Molnar; Geography Department, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor VOLUME XXV 2000 Number 1 LIBERIAN STUDIES JOURNAL Editor, Amos J. Beyan West Virginia University Associate Editor, Konia T. Kollehlon Book Review Editor, Yar D. G. Bratcher Trinity College, Washington, D.C. Emory University EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD C. William Allen-University of South D. Elwood Dunn-The University Carolina-Spartanburg of the South Bertha B. Azango-University of Liberia M. Alpha Bah-College of Charleston Warren d'Azevedo-University of Nevada Momo K. Rogers-Kpazolu Media Christopher Clapham-Lancaster Enterprises University Yekutiel Gershoni-Tel Aviv University Thomas Hayden-Society of African Lawrence B. Breitborde-Knox College Missions Romeo E. Philips-Kalamazoo College Svend E. Holsoe-University of Delaware Henrique F. Tokpa-Cuttington University Coroann Okorodudu-Rowan College College of N.J. LIBERIAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Joseph Holloway-President Timothy A. Rainey California State University-Northridge Johns Hopkins University Cyril Broderick-Vice President Emmanuel Dolo Delaware State University University of Minnesota Dianne Oyler-Secretary-Treasurer Ciyata Coleman Fayetteville State University Clark Atlanta University Arnold Odio-Parliamentarian Albany State College FORMER EDITORS D. Elwood Dunn Svend E. Holsoe Edward J. Biggane C. William Allen Jo Sullivan Edited at the Department of History, West Virginia University. The editors and Advisory Board gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of History at West Virginia University in the production of the Journal. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor CONTENTS 111 The Tenth County: From Myth to Reality in the Go la Concept of Historic Destiny By Warren L. d'Azevedo. 1 U.S.-Liberian Relations: Challenges in the Twenty-First Century By Tim Dweh Siklo 16 Address to the Liberian Studies Association, March 30, 2000 By Reverend Father E. Bolling Robertson 36 Book Reviews Ayittey, George B. N., Africa in Chaos By D. Elwood Dunn 41 Brown-Sherman, Mary Antoinette, Barclay Women in Liberia- Two Generations: A Biographical Dictionary By C. William Allen 44 Carey, Robert and John Furbay, Freedom Ships By Chandra Dunn. 48 Minutes of the Liberian Studies Association Business Meeting on Saturday, April 1, 2000 Prepared by Dr. Cyril E. Broderick 53 New Publications on or Relevant to Liberia 57 Documents 58 A refereed journal that emphasizes the social sciences, humanities, and the natural sciences, the Liberian Studies Journal is a semiannual publication devoted to studies of Africa's oldest republic. The annual subscription rate is US$40.00, US$15.00 for students, and US$50.00 for institutions, and includes membership in the Liberian Studies Association, Inc. All manuscripts and related matters should be addressed to Dr. Amos J. Beyan, Editor; Liberian Studies Journal; Department of History; West Virginia University; 221E Woodburn Hall; Morgantown, West Virginia 26506- 6306. Subscriptions and other business matters should be directed to Dr. Dianne Oyler, Secretary-Treasurer; Liberian Studies Association, Inc.; Fayetteville State University; P.O. Box 14613; Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301-4297. Copyright © 2000 by the Liberian Studies Association, Inc. ISSN 0024 1989 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor The Tenth County: From Myth to Reality in the Go la Concept of Historic Destiny Warren L. d'Azevedo* This study was presented at the Annual Meeting of the African Studies '..ssociation, October 24, 1984 in Los Angeles. The circumstances as described for e mid-1980s prevailed until 1989 when the unprecedented devastation of the seven -year civil war was instigated and protracted by the marauding bands of Charles Taylor's National Patriotic Front of Liberia sweeping down from the eastern interior and eventually overthrowing the regime of Samuel K. Doe. During the interim peace established by ECOMOG, Taylor was put forward by his well armed and relentless party as a major candidate for the presidency. When I returned to Liberia as an election observer in 1997, much of the western coastal region I had known, including the new Bomi County, lay in ruins where thousands of countrymen had been killed or had escaped to foreign lands as refugees while child soldiers looted and ravaged the farms and villages at will. The scattered remnants of Go la families I met in Monrovia had submitted to the bitter irony of casting their votes for Charles Taylor on the meagre hope that, given the power he sought, peace would be maintained and the civil war would not erupt again. A most dismal ordeal was to hear their children, among the many others in the streets, marching like ragged little soldiers, chanting the daring ditty: He killed my ma, he killed my pa But we will vote for him, eh yah! Perhaps the deepest sense of lost cause and subjugation came when the victorious candidate proclaimed his title as President Dakpanah Dr. Charles Ghankay Taylor of Liberia. "Dakpanah" is the sacred title of the messenger between Poro and Sande appointed by the Council of Most Sacred Zonya of the Go la. How Taylor managed to acquire it in these disrupted times is a subject of furtive speculation *Dr. d'Azevedo is a distinguished American Liberianist. He has published significantly, especially on the Go la ethnic group of Liberia. Dr. d'Azevedo is a Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at the University of Nevada, Reno. Liberian Studies Journal, XXV , 1 (2000) PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor 2 THE TENTH COUNTY among a dispossessed and uprooted people. The "Dr." is his claim to academic achievement from an American university, and the middle-name "Ghankay" is his opportune assertion of an assumed tribal link through a Go la mother! Curiously enough, this seems to be the same strategy employed by his assassinated mortal enemy Master Sergeant Samuel K. Doe, his predecessor and the assassinator of President William R. Tolbert, Jr. in the coup of 1980. As leader of the despised Krahn-dominated militia, and appointed head of state by the People's redemption Council, he claimed to have been declared head of Poro with the title "Tanu"-or, allegedly, "owner and defender of the town." (cf. Sawyer 1987, pp. 13-14.) The study is based on extensive interviews, direct observation, Liberian government pamphlets and newspaper reports. For additional background information concerning the period and issues under discussion, consult the selected bibliography. In 1983, twenty years after the creation of the new county system throughout the former hinterland of Liberia, a tenth county named Bomi was proclaimed by the Commander and Chief and Head of State Samuel K. Doe, leader of the military coup of 1980 and a determined aspirant to the civilian presidency under the provisions of the new Liberian constitution. This move was cautiously welcomed by the leaders of the predominantly Gola chiefdoms in the northwestern interior