Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Union of Todeeans in the Americas
♦ UTA ♦
3rd Annual National Convention And Fundraising Banquet
June 22-24, 2018
Quality Inn Hotel 531 Akron Drive
Winston-Salem, NC 27105
Souvenir Program
The Overview
The Union of Todeeans in the Americas – UTA – encourages and welcomes inclusive membership of diverse-backgrounds: citizens, former students, former residents and friends of Todee District, Liberia residing in the Americas – diaspora who are interested in the overall development of Todee District. UTA was formally established on 24th of June, 2016, during its first convention held in Winston-Salem, NC; and thereafter, attained its Articles of Incorporation Status in said state on 25th of October, 2016.
The Mission
The Mission of the Union of Todeeans in the Americas – UTA – is to extend enhanced
charitable development and educational opportunities to the people of Todee District,
Liberia. Since its inception, members have identified and narrowed developmental
initiatives to undertake in three distinct phases. Members are convinced that through
collaboration and cooperation, we can achieve opportunities to encourage and attract
potential investors and bring about rapid economic empowerment and developments in
our cherished district.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Quality Inn Hotel 531 Akron Drive
Winston-Salem, NC 27105 June 22-24, 2018
Friday, June 22, 2018 Welcoming of Guests Meet & Greet ......................................................... 6:00PM-10:00PM
Hosted by Arthur & Gloria Hunder 2834 Greenway Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC 27105
Saturday, June 23, 2018 Continental Breakfast by Quality Inn Hotel ................................................. 6:30AM-7:45AM
Registration of Participants ..................................................................... 8:00AM – 8:55AM Gloria Hunder
1st Business Session ................................................................................. 9:00AM – NOON Conference Room
Lunch! Lunch! Lunch! ............................................................................ 12:30PM – 1:30PM
Hotel designated room
2nd Business Session .............................................................................. 1:30PM – 4:30PM Conference Room
Banquet and Fund-Raising Ball ............................................................... 7:00PM – 2:00AM Dinner Served Promptly at 7:30 PM Guest Speaker: Honorable Lawrence Morris Representative District #1, Montserrado County Republic of Liberia
Sunday, June 25, 2018 Continental Breakfast by Quality Inn Hotel ................................................. 6:30AM-7:45AM
Fellowship & Thanksgivings Service ........................................................ 10:00AM - NOON Goler Memorial AME Zion Church 630 Patterson Avenue Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Departures .............................................................. We wish all God’s Traveling Mercies!
AN ABRIDGE HISTORY OF UTA CONNECTIONS TO
TODEE DISTRICT, LIBERIA
LIBERIA is a country in West Africa which was founded by the American Colonization Society in 1822. Its capital is Monrovia; named after US President James Monroe. Todee District is one of four districts located in Montserrado County, Liberia. The others are; Careysburg, Greater Monrovia and St. Paul District. Todee District is the first, yet, the least developed of the four districts. There are seven clans in Todee District, namely: Pleemu, Markoi, Kpo, Fahnsen, Mein, Nyehn and D’ing clan. The district has a population of about 50,000 with subsistence farming as the primary economic activity.
UTA: The Union of Todeeans in the
Americas was formally established in Winston-Salem, NC, during its First National Convention held June 24th-25th, 2016 with the desire to keep alive the legacy of the late Mother Rachael Famatta Dorkpor Goba. (December 8, 1939 - December 27, 2014). Rachael sought the formation and strengthening of a community of Todee residents in the USA that will promote unity among us for the development of our district. She served the people of Todee with such indescribable dedication, selflessness and sacrifice. She remained committed and faithful throughout her life to the development and progress of Todee District. Consequently, the birth of UTA to actualize her vision. Our union membership is comprised of Citizens, Former Residents, Students, and Friends of Todee District residing in the Americas or anyone, who supports the mission and purposes to enhance economic empowerment and development within Todee District in the Republic of Liberia.
"Oh when I think of Todee"
Oh when I think of Todee; I think of it's beautiful landscape, it's hills, the valleys, the towns full of huts and few zinc shats, all our parents had to live in. Oh, when I think of Todee: I think of its cool breeze and fresh air. It's dusty roads and rocky pathway. It was on those roads and pathways I began my journey. Oh, when I think of Todee and how she gives me my first breath of fresh air when I was born, give my parents a place to call home, it was she who quenched my thirst with the fresh waters from its wells, creeks and streams. Oh, when I think of Todee and how she fed me when I was hungry: her rich soil provided the country rice, the yams, potatoes, oranges, plums and the money nuts too. Oh, oh when I think of Todee, I wonder, has she been forgotten? Oh, what can I render to her for all that she did for me? Like a turtle wanting to box, but no hands I lament and know you do too. Oh, when I think of Todee, how she opened her arms to both residents and visitors, yes, it is she who quenched my ignorance with academic knowledge. O I wonder how can I render to her my widow's mite before she dies from the under development, or I'm I too old to play my honest part!
John T. Flomo
MEMBERS
Williette E. Barclay
Winston G. Dennis
John S. Fahnbutu
Yartu Bright-Grigsby
Beatrice Sims-Hansford
Arthur P. Hunder, Sr.
Gloria L. Hunder
Cenethe L. Hunder
James Y. Hunder, Sr.
Massa K. Hunder
Joseph Johnson
Andrew N. Korti
Tenneh Hunder-Korti
Beatrice S. Martin
Georgia Woodson-Martu
Jonathan S. Morris
Roseline Meekie Peal
Bartune P. Sims
Elizabeth K Sims
Imani B. Smith
John Smothers Strader
Comfort Whea
Frederick K. Cegbeh
Frederick Jah
Edwin Hunder
Benetta Morris
Musu Sekou
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
James Y. Hunder, Sr. .......................................................................... National Chairman
[Vacant] .......................................................................................... National Co-Chairman
Bartune P. Sims ..................................................................... National General Secretary
Gloria L. Hunder ................................................................................... National Treasurer
[Vacant] ................................................................................. National Financial Secretary
John T. Flomo .............................................................. National Membership Coordinator
Jonathan S. Morris .......................................... National Projects Chairman and Chaplain
ELECTION COMMISSION
John S. Fahnbutu ............................................................................................... Chairman
Musu Sekou-Gaye........................................................................................ Co-Chairman
Joseph Johnson ................................................................................................... Member
2018 CONVENTION PLANNING COMMITTEE
Beatrice Martin ................................................................................................... Chairman
Gloria Hunder ............................................................................................... Co-Chairman
Elizabeth Sims ..................................................................................................... Member
BOARD MEMBERS
Arthur P. Hunder, Sr.
Roseline Meekie Peal
Comfort Whea
Massa Hunder
Cenethe L. Hunder
Union of Todeeans in the Americas
Just getting started . . . 2016 1st Annual National Convention . . . Memories
Union of Todeeans in the Americas Just getting started . . . 2017 2nd Annual National Convention . . . Memories
The Union of Todeeans in the Americas (UTA) hosted their 2nd Annual National
Convention from June 23-25, 2017 at the Quality Inn Hotel, located at 1806 Belmont
Avenue in Windsor Mill, Maryland, USA. The convention was attended by UTA's
members from far and near from states such as NC, NY, and MN, just to name a few.
The meet and greet was hosted on Friday, June 23rd by Mr. John & Mrs. Johnetta
Flomo at their lovely home in Randallstown, MD. Very fruitful Business Sessions were
held at the host hotel on Saturday, June 24th from 9 am until 4:30 pm with all registered
participants in attendance, including two new members: Mr. Fred Cegbeh and Mrs.
Musu Sekou-Gaye. The convention climaxed with a very successful fundraising banquet
with over a hundred attendees, including several local supporters.
A message of greetings and welcome from the Baltimore County Executive under the
signature of Honorable Kevin Kamenetz was read. Our convention speaker, Dr. DaBeth
S. Manns eloquently inspired the audience by her presentation from the theme: "United
for Progress and Development in Todee
District, Liberia.”
1ST BUSINESS SESSION
Saturday, June 23, 2018
Order of Business...................................................................................... 9:00AM – NOON
Call to Order ..................................................................................... James Y. Hunder, Sr National Chairman, UTA
Invocation ............................................................................................ Jonathan S. Morris National Chaplain, UTA
Convention Roll Call ................................................................................ Bartune P. Sims National General Secretary, UTA
Welcome Remarks ............................................................................ Arthur P Hunder, Sr. Board Member, UTA
Recognition of Potential Members.............................................................. John T. Flomo National Membership Coordinator
Secretary, UTA
Potential Projects in Todee District...................................................... Jonathan S. Morris National Chaplain, UTA
Recognition of Guests for Remarks (2 minutes each) ......................... James Y. Hunder, Sr. National Chairman
Republic of Liberia – What’s Happening Today ............................. Hon. Lawrence Morris Representative District #1, Montserrado County
Republic of Liberia
The State of the Union .................................................................... James Y. Hunder, Sr. National Chairman
2ND BUSINESS SESSION Saturday, June 23, 2018
Order of Business.................................................................................... 1:30PM – 4:30PM
Call to Order ..................................................................................... James Y. Hunder, Sr National Chairman, UTA
Patriotic Monologue “What has Todee Done for Me” ................................. John T. Flomo National Membership Coordinator, UTA
Ratification of Constitutional Addendum [a] Insert Liberian Flag in UTA’s Logo [b] Tenure of National Treasurer [c] Funding for Non-Profit 501©(3) Status
Updates & Way Forward on Future Projects in Todee District [a] Hand Pumps “Water Sanitations” in the District [b] Markets in Major Towns [c] Latrines in Major Towns [d] Improve Healthcare Centers [e] Improve Schools [f] Build a Service Station at Todee/Kakata Junction [g] Construction of Arched Gate: “Welcome to Todee District”
2017/2018 Financial Report .................................................................... Gloria L. Hunder National Treasurer, UTA
Election of National Officiers ................................................................. John S. Fahnbutu Chairman, Election Commission, UTA
Vacant Positions: Chairman Co-Chairman General Secretary Financial Secretary
Social Secretary Chaplain Members of the Board of Directors
Voting on 2019 National Convention Venue
Formal Announcement of Election Results ........................................... John S. Fahnbutu Chairman, Election Commission, UTA
Adjournment
MATS TO MATTRESSES CAMPAIGN Dear fellow Todeeans, former students, residents, friends and supporters of Todee District/Liberia:
Heartfelt greetings on behalf of the members, officers and Board of Directors of the Union of Todeeans in the Americas (UTA); and in my own name. I am pleased and honored to welcome you to this auspicious event-the Third Annual National Convention and Fundraising Banquet of UTA. Todee is one of four statutory districts, and the least developed in Montserrado County, Republic of Liberia. Therefore, in 2016, we the citizens, residents, friends and former students of Todee District residing in the Americas-diaspora saw the need for a project-oriented entity to help bring about economic empowerment and capacity
building for improvements in all the critical sectors in Todee District, ie: health, education and infrastructural developments. Your generosity in support of our vision will demonstrate our belief that perseverance can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles; that education equals opportunity and that helping others is the key to a meaningful and well lived life. It is our vision through UTA to help lift our beloved citizens in Todee District. Our efforts are focused on our Capital Campaign slogan: " from mats to mattresses." It is in that vein, that we extended an invitation to you to participate in our Convention Fundraising Banquet. If you were unable to make prior contributions, you are now provided another opportunity at this event to make your donations in support of this worthy project. Once again, on behalf of UTA, I thank you for gracing this occasion with your presence and for your generous support to the development and capacity building in Todee District, the Republic of Liberia. May God bless the works of our hand, prosper Todee District and save the Republic of Liberia! Patriotically yours,
James Y. Hunder, Sr. National Chairman
BANQUET & FUNDRAISING BALL
STANDING ORDER OF PROGRAM
Saturday, June 23, 2018
The Occasion ............................................................................................. John T. Flomo Master of Ceremony
Invocation and Blessing of the Food ................................................... Cenethe L. Hunder
Welcome Remarks ..................................................................................... Olu A. Browne President of the Liberian Organization of the Piedmont, NC
Singing of the National Anthems of the Republic of Liberia & the USA (see insert)
Welcome from the City of Winston-Salem ............................................... Gloria L. Hunder
Interlude of Music and Dinner Served
Introduction of the Keynote Speaker ..................................................... John S. Fahnbutu
Keynote Speaker ................................................................... Honorable Lawrence Morris Member of the House of Representatives, District #1
Montserrado County, Republic of Liberia
Presentation of the Officers ................................................................... John S. Fahnbutu Chairman, Election Commission, UTA
Administering the Oath of Office ........................................... Honorable Lawrence Morris
Inaugural Remarks ............................................................. National Chairman Elect, UTA
Lifting of Rally to Benefit Todee District in Liberia ...................................... John T. Flomo Master of Ceremony
Vote of Thanks ........................................................................................... Comfort Whea
The Traditional Grand March .......................................... Mr & Mrs Ralph A. Pearson, Sr.
Special Acknowledgement & Thank You to our fabulous DJ Mr. Flomo
Lawrence Morris
Nationality: Liberian Telephone Liberia: +231.777.166.824 Careysburg, Blacktom Town, Montserrado County. [email protected] Professional Profile
Mr. Lawrence Morris is result oriented, with an extensive and impressive career throughout Africa, Europe and the United States spanning over twenty years. This includes facilitating community driven initiatives such as livelihoods project, Non-emergency programs, Natural Resources Management and Climate Change programs, financial management, advocacy and lobbying. Lawrence possesses special skills in facilitation and community mobilization employing
the effective use of participatory tools.
Educational Background & Professional Coursework
2018, Candidate, Master Certificate in Leadership & Conflict Management, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Boston - U.S.A.
2015, Post Graduate Diploma in International Relations/Development Diplomacy, Foreign Service Institute (FSI) University of Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia.
2006, Post Graduate Certificate in Financial Management & Systems Training (FAST) USAID Capacity Development in conjunction with John Hopkins University, Maryland, MD. U.S.A.
2006, Post Graduate Certificate in Management Centre for Communication, John Hopkins University in collaboration with Africare/USAID, Monrovia, Liberia.
2002, MBA, Financial Management, Hogeschool Van Arnhem/Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
1998, BSc, Accounting/Management, University of Cocody, Abidjan, La Cote D’Ivoire
1995, D iplome D’Etudes Pratique de la Langue Francaise, Centre Universaitaire D’Etudes Francias (C.U.E.F), University of
Cocody, Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire
Language proficiency in English, French & Dutch. Working knowledge of German, Spanish & Creole.
National Anthem
Republic of Liberia
All hail, Liberia, hail! (All hail!) All hail, Liberia, hail! (All hail!) This glorious land of liberty,
Shall long be ours. Though new her name,
Great be her fame, And mighty be her powers, And mighty be her powers.
In joy and gladness, With our hearts united,
We'll shout the freedom, Of a race benighted.
Long live Liberia, happy land! A home of glorious liberty,
By God's command! A home of glorious liberty,
By God's command!
All hail, Liberia, hail! (All hail!) All hail, Liberia, hail! (All hail!)
In union strong success is sure. We cannot fail!
With God above, Our rights to prove,
We will o'er all prevail, We will o'er all prevail!
With heart and hand our country's cause defending, We'll meet the foe with valour unpretending.
Long live Liberia, happy land! A home of glorious liberty,
By God's command! A home of glorious liberty,
By God's command!
National Anthem
United States of America
O say can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream: 'Tis the star-spangled banner, O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion, A home and a country, should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation. Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.' And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
BRIEF HISTORY OF SOME NOTABLE SCHOOLS IN
TODEE DISTRICT
Historically, most of the schools in Todee District were built and operated by churches or Christian Missions. However, unlike the public or government schools, the private or Church Missions Schools have reputations for offering a better quality of education, and most Todeeans have earned their rudimentary education from such notable schools, namely: Church of the Living God Mission (CLG)- 9th Grade; Killingworth Mission School-9th Grade; June L. Moore Baptist Mission School-6th Grade; and the Presbyterian Todee Mission School (PTMS)-9th or 12th Grade, etc. Over the period of many decades, PTMS was the most recognized in the district, especially during the administration of the longest serving Principal Ametowobla, when the school was elevated from Junior to Senior High levels. It wasn’t until August 31, 2015 when the United Nation International Children Fund (UNICEF) built another high school in Nyehn Town at the cost of $116,000.00 USD.
PTMS was founded in 1945 when Rev. Dr. J.J. Mendescole, a Presbyterian minister,
persuaded then Paramount Chief Kpana Goba, to donate land for the establishment of a mission school that would be operated by the Presbytery of Liberia. Mr. Goba had the foresight to bring education opportunities to his people. He followed through on his vision and donated a 200-acre piece of land on the outskirts of Goba Town to make this a reality. In further pursuit of his dream, he personally undertook the building of the Goba Town Presbyterian Church, assisted with constructing the first three buildings on the PTMS campus; and in addition, fed the mission from his own resources for two months.
PTMS was the first and only school then at a high school level in the district. It included grades Kindergarten thru 12th Grade and accommodated 460 students, including 152 boarding students. Also, at its peak, before the gruesome civil wars (1989-2003), PTMS had pipe-borne water, plumbing, and electricity supplied by generators.
To date, in accordance with our vision through UTA, it is our fervent hope that our generosity will demonstrate our belief that perseverance can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacle, that education equals opportunity and that helping others is the key to a meaningful and well-lived life. Hence, because the “love of Todee unites us” we owe it to ourselves to make a difference by giving back to the district and schools
that fundamentally nurtured and impacted our lives!
HISTORY, MIGRATIONS AND KINGDOM OF THE
KPELLE
The word Kpelle connotes a leader, a nation, a county, a language, and a family. The Kpelle are the largest ethnic group in Liberia compared to the Bassa who are second and the Mano (Mahn) are third. They are found in the central highland plateau of Liberia called Bong County. Bong County is straddled by Guinea in the North, Gbarpolu County in the West, Margibi County in the South, Lofa County in the Northwest, and Grand Bassa in the Southeast. However, the Kpelle are found not only in Bong County, but also in Margibi, Grand Bassa, Lofa, and parts of Grand Cape Mount and Montsorrado Counties. The Kpelle homeland, Bong County, has a number of city-states based on the splinter traditional leadership, including Gbatala, Suakoko, Totota, Bedefarnai, Sanoyea, Salala, Gbenkollema (or Gbonquenema), Kakata, Zoeta, Fuamah, Jorquelle, Kokoya(h), and Kpaai.
While the Kpelle clans of Luangkori, Tengia, and Warn in western Bong County speak in a distinct variation of Kpelle not heard elsewhere in Liberia, all Kpelle people have the same bloodline. The Kpelle of Luangkori, Tengia, and Warn shared similar vocabularies with the Loma and main Kpelle group, as well as some words from other ethnic groups
in Liberia.
The Kpelle language is broken down based on tonal variation and location. These include: • Jorkorlie Kpelle, meaning those who live near the Jor River • Men-korlie Kpelle, meaning those who live near the Men River • Fala- Kpelle—meaning Kpelle of the Fala region • Kakata Kpelle--those who live near the sea • Diepolu-Kpelle--- those who live behind the Die River • Luangkori, Tengia, and Warn Kpelle—a Kpelle group with distinct tonal variation than
the rest of the Kpelle of Liberia
These tonal variations in the Kpelle language are, however, no exception to modern language development. Social anthropologists often link the development of dialect variation to geographical and associational reasons, occasioned by .the natural isolation such as ocean, mountain ranges, deserts, and steppe lands, which normally lead
isolated groups to develop a distinctive language and attitude.
Origin of the Kpelle The Kpelle ethnic group of Liberia is a member of the Niger-Congo ethnic group who migrated from western Sudan. Thus, their language falls in the Mande group of Niger-Congo. Some Liberian historians believe that the Kpelle, like the Loma, Gbandi, Mahn, and Mende ethnic groups, began immigrating from Kumba, present-day Ghana where they were builders of the empire by the early 1500. The Liberia-bound migration took them through the Songhai Empire which replaced the Mali Empire to central Liberia in
the early 1600s.
Bearing in mind that present-day Guinea has its roots in the Mali Empire. In Guinea and some part of Mali, the Kpelle are called Guerze or the people of Guerze. It is believed that the Kpelle warrior/leader Guerze lead the migration to Guinea as invading Arabs from the 7th to 15th century pushed them through toward Liberia. Toady the Kpelle formed a part of the Guinean-Frontier or southeastern mountainous forest region where the Toma (Lorma), Kono (Vai), Mahn, and Koniagui lived. According to Kpelle oral history, the legendary leader, Kpelle, led the migration of his followers from Guinea to Liberia. The presence of the Kpelle in Guinea provides the clearest case study of the routes of the Kpelle migrations. Those who traveled to Liberia are known as “Kpelle” because at some point between Guinea and Liberia Kpelle came to the leadership, meaning change of leaders or splinter in migration which was normal in these kinds of migration where group wanted stay or move on.
Political, Social and Educational Institutions: Poro and Sande Colleges are the two dominant institutions in Kpelle Kingdom. Learning in the all-male Poro College of Kpelle Kingdom varies from the simple instruction to the complex educational system involving highly organized and sophisticated oral curriculum buttressed by myriad of ceremonies. The Poro College provided for the education for young Kpelle men in Kpelle culture and mores, offered rituals to mark the end of puberty, and served as custodians of Kpelle customs and traditions.
The admission process to the Kpelle Poro College is called Korma, an equivalent of going to battle where the spirit Nyamu is located in the grove of the College to transform the young men into manhood. When the male student has not yet enrolled, and he is outside of the college walls he is known as kpana. Kpanchu described if the student has entered into initiation. The process of graduation from the male college is called porlumkula. Upon initiation, the students are known as joboi. When the student has met all the requirement: initiation, graduation and now full member of the community, he is
known as kanamu.
The Kpelle Poro College has both secular and spiritual leader. The man who leads the Poro College is called the joh. In addition to the Joh is the man who cares for the students or wonyateh Chepolor, meaning the lighter of feast fire. The invisible male spirit of the Poro College is referred to as Nyamu (Ngamu). The Nyamu doesn’t sing but his wife does. The singing wife of the Nyamu is called Nyamunair. The union (children)
of the Spirit Nyamu and the Spirit Nyamunair (Ngamulay) are called the Kaynekay.
In essence, one of the great honors for a male is to become a member of the Poro College and go on to become Zoe, or champion cultivator of society. The Zoe is respected throughout the region and in his old age he is given predominant leadership roles in the community. Hence, for young students, rites of passage to the Poro College marked the culmination of one epoch in life and the beginning of another. As students of this respected institution they are introduced by their elders to the legends surrounding the previous exploits of their society, to the mysteries of their religion, to the practical aspects of hunting, farming, raising cattle, and to their communal or societal
responsibilities.
Sande College: Like ever Sande College of each ethnicity, the institution for females is separate and distinct from the male Poro institution, and it is not allowed to hold session concurrent with the Poro College. The women called their college grove whine. After the “Council of Elders or Zoe” agreed to educate women, the institution is ordered re-opened. The Kpelle used two terms to describe before the entrance of their college and inside their institution. Thus, the terms whine-la and whine-chu are employed respectively. Girls from about twelve to sixteen are enrolled with the option to complete one of the two
levels: Blanta and Leekpa.
Blanta: This level provides the opportunity for the young women to get their feet wet, meaning initial introduction or preparation before enrolling in the leekpa arena. The learning here is carried on to the final level or if the student chooses to stop at the blanta level, the
graduate is prepared for her role and play in the society..
Leekpa: The leekpa is more diversified than the blanta. Not only is it rooted in spiritual traditions, but it also provided intensive academic experiences, as some are reflected in a particular pedagogy, and some are specialized for specific populations.
The students of the Sande College learn basic survival skills and social etiquette, including but not limited to how to be obedient and respectful to their elders and how to be good wives and mothers. For the most part, the rites of passage to womanhood-- don’t only embody the ideals of the Kpelle culture, but also female spirituality and knowledge in a culture where female knowledge represented truth. Thus, after sufficient instructions the gbechea or students of the Sande College are spiritually washed and public ceremonies are held for three days as part of the rites of passage to womanhood. Afterwards, the new graduates are expected to behave as gboblo or women, and are be treated as such. They are then expected to get married, give birth, help promote fertility and perform special ceremonies.
Liberian Studies
Harbel College
HISTORY AND MIGRATION OF THE GOLA ETHNIC
GROUP
Origin of the Ngola [Gola] People: The Gola is a nation of people and language which is a part of the Niger-Congo language family who migrated from western Sudan to present-day Congo. In the Congo, the Gola became a part of the “proto-Bantu” family and later splintered in two groups: Cameroon and Angola. The group that went south eastern of the Congo Kingdom by the Cuanza River erected the Ndongo Kingdom under the leadership of Ngola, meaning “King” or “leader.” Historians provide the evidence that present-day Angola, the corrupt name for the powerful kingdom of Ngola has been inhabited since pre-historic epoch and at the time of the Portuguese arrival in 1492. In other words, “Angola” is coined from the name of King Ngola, the rule of Ndongo Kingdom. The Mbanza Congo Kingdom and its southern kingdom of Ndongo, under the leadership of the Ngola had 50,000 people. The Ndongo Kingdom didn’t only bestride south by the Kwanza River, but it straddled present-day northern Gabon [http://angola.history.en.wikimiki.org].
Gola in the Cameroon: The group that came via the Cameroon founded the Ngola kingdom Cameroon. Recently, the Independent Observer [Global Witness] led a mission to Ngola Kingdom, now a village or community. There is a forest community called Ngola Achip Community. Equally so, one of the Gola leaders named Ngola was
the founding father of Guinea Bissau in 1831.
Gola in Ghana: In Ancient Ghana the Gola were dominant in the field of Judiciary and land surveying. In most cases when new land was acquired by the empire, a Gola person was sent to establish the seat of justice in the new territory. The Arabs armies invaded and overran the ancient Ghana Kingdom. The Gola and other ethnic groups resisted, which led to what is known as the Kumba wars. Evidence is increasingly conclusive that the Gola did not only lose three of the Kumba wars but were also forced to withdraw to present day Sierra Leone where the Mende, Gbandi and Loma fought with them in the battle over land. Their enemies at the time pursued them and continued to make war with them. As their enemies pushed them into the Mende, several battles ensured with the Mende in present-day Sierra Leone. The Gola were eventually compelled to leave Sierra Leone and retreat yet again before finally making Liberia their home land where they met the Dei people. This is the manner in which the Gola arrived in Liberia. Some of these ethnic groups included the Gbandi, Lorma, Mende and Mandingo. Furthermore, history tells us that as early as the 1300s the Gola left ancient Ghana and migrated to what is known today as Ivory Coast and started to settle there and beyond. During that time, much of what is now Ivory Coast and Liberia was
uninhabited, tropical rain forests.
Gola in Libera According to the legend, Kanda Dazujuaha powerful Ngola or Ruler of the Gola people arrived in present-day Liberia between the 1200s to 1300s A.D. and established a kingdom in an area not near what later become known as Providence Island. The first successful kingdom established by the Gola was called Komgba, with Zui as its capital or seat of conscious. By the following decades, Jaa Kpende had succeeded Kanda Dazujuah and expanded the kingdom that straddled present-day Providence Island, where E.J. Roye Building stands today. The area comprising the Roye Building was called Dazoe because it was where the Gola had their Poro and Sande Colleges. The main entrances to these Universities during their heydays were on present-day Lynch
and Broad Streets.
With the establishment of one of Liberia’s oldest kingdoms, the Gola warrior Gbao decided to find salt for his people, a journey that took him farther into a mishap. Days passed and warrior Gbao didn’t return with the salt. This prompted seven of his men namely, Da Hondo, Ziai, Ziai Dolo, Jaa Kpende, Baa Nyaamgbaa plus two others to go and find out what had happened. One day, the search for warrior Gbao took the seven men to Goije region near Zuo and Gbaama towns where the rescuers chose to take a break. They asked the citizens of Zuo and Gbaama whether they had seen warrior Gbao. Sadly, they learned warrior Gbao died while trying to retrieve salt from the Atlantic Ocean. Saddened by the news of their warrior’s death their stand was to settle in Goije region. They called their new home Gbaa Maambo or 'Pola,' which means
fishing basket in Gola.
The second Gola settlement consisted of densely forested area of Dei Kingdom of Wuliwion near the Kpo River where the Dei Chief Baa Jiwa welcomed the Gola. During the meeting Da Hondo who led a group broke words that they needed a land. As land was the collective property of humanity and the ethnic groups did not see themselves as immigrants but indigenous Ancestral Baa Jiwa agreed and the Gola were granted permission to settle in an unoccupied land. Thereafter, a new Dei-gola culture developed, which was based on agriculture, and people built large towns that were renamed Bola. Very soon, however, the people started to branch out and establish their own towns. The kingdom came into being in the districts of present-day western Lofa, Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, and Montserrando Counties. Some of the known leaders of the Gola were Ge Tumbe of the Gbo Kingdom, King Njola of Senje Kingdom, Da Bombo Kasso of Goiji Kingdom and Gbato Kawa of Yangaaya Kingdom.
Names that are phonetically common between the Gola of Liberia and the Gola of Angola are Matamba, Kassanje Kissamas, Jinga, Jinga Mbandi, Ngola, and Kanini.
United States by Region
For the establishment of UTA Chapters to be headed by an elected Regional
Coordinator, who reports directly to the National Chairman.
Western Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Hawaii
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
Oregon
Utah
Washington
Wyoming
Mid-West Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Ohio
South Dakota
Wisconsin
Northeast Connecticut
Delaware
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont
West Virginia
The South Alabama
Arkansas
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Louisiana
Mississippi
North Carolina
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
We encourage citizens, former residents, students and friends of Todee, Liberia to join
UTA in bringing economic empowerment, improving educational opportunities and
infrastructures development in our cherished number one district in Montserrado county,
Liberia.
We invite you to please visit our webbsite: www.utaforprogress.weebly.com frequently
and support UTA's programs in Todee District, Liberia.
WITH THANKFUL HEARTS
You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don't make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can't take their eyes off you.
Maya Angelou
CONTACT INFORMATION
Union of Todeeans
in the Americas (UTA)
Mobile
336.655.4759
Fax
336.724.0693
Electronic mail
Web Address
www.utaforprogress.weebly.com
Postal Address
UTA Office
PO Box 1292
Winston-Salem, NC 27102-1292
USA
