Cultural festival marks peace progress in Liberia

Liberia’s largest ever cultural festival will take place over three days in the capital Monrovia from December 11th, featuring performers from across Liberia and the surrounding countries and attracting over 30,000 people.

The event, organised in partnership with the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of Liberia, will bring together people and leaders who until the end of the conflict lived on opposing sides of the war and encourage those taking part to celebrate cultural diversity, rather than allow such differences to divide. Throughout the war these differences were used and manipulated by leaders of all sides to fuel the conflict.

While celebrating diversity and consolidating the peace the event will also not shy away from tackling the continued legacy of the war on society, including endemic levels of rape and sexual violence perpetrated against young girls and women.

The United Nations estimates that 4 out of every 10 women in Liberia have suffered either rape or sexual violence[1].

Through a series of public performances and debates the vital role that women have to play in building a long term and sustainable peace, in a country with Africa’s first democratically elected female head of state, will be explored.

President of Liberia Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, in an address to the nation about the festival, said:
“As I speak to you today our country is at the cross roads of recovery, following years of conflict which negatively affected every aspect of life in our dear country. As part of our efforts for our country’s recovery, the Liberian Government in collaboration with International Alert Liberia will host a national peace and cultural festival”.

Through this peace and cultural festival our people from all the counties will join our neighbours from the Mano River Union countries – Guinea, Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone - embracing one another and committing themselves to peaceful co existence through their indigenous cultural heritage.”

Dan Smith, Secretary-General of International Alert, said:
“We look forward to this festival making a significant positive impact on Liberia’s journey towards a peaceful future”.

“Culture was often used to divide during the years of war and the people of Liberia are reclaiming that diversity and celebrating it for the strength that it is”.

“Innovation is at the heart of peacebuilding and this is an excellent example of a unique approach to a unique set of circumstances. We look forward to working with other national and international partners to make this vision a reality.”

- ENDS

Notes

· President Johnson-Sirleaf’s statement to the nation can be found on the International Alert website at http://www.international-alert.org/liberiafestival

About International Alert

International Alert is an independent peacebuilding organisation working in over 20 countries and territories around the world. Our dual approach involves working directly with people affected by violent conflict as well as at government, EU and UN levels to shape both policy and practice in building sustainable peace. Our regional work is based in the African Great Lakes, West Africa, the Caucasus, the Andean region of South America, Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Philippines. At both regional and international levels, our thematic work focuses on the role of business, humanitarian aid and development, gender, security and post-conflict reconstruction in the context of building peace.

International Alert, 346 Clapham Road, London SW9 9AP, UK