Monrovia-One of Africa’s oldest cities, the City of Monrovia came alive in grand celebration of its heritage, legacy, and future as thousands of Liberians including students, musicians, traditional mask dancers, officers of the Liberia National Police, Monrovia City Police and other citizens celebrated the nation’s capital with in grand style.
Led by Mayor John Charuk Siafa, yesterday’s festivities carry added significance-while it is the forty-ninth anniversary of Monrovia Day, it also marks 202 years since the city officially received its name in 1824 in honor of then U.S. President James Monroe, a key advocate for resettling formerly enslaved Black individuals from the Americas to the West African coast.
The week-long commemoration underscores Monrovia’s pivotal role not only in Liberia’s history but also in the broader African diaspora narrative.
The celebrations begin early Wednesday, February 12, 2025 with a vibrant parade under the themed, “The Monrovia We Want.” Scores of Liberians including mask dancers, cultural groups, members of the Monrovia City police, the Centre Monrovia Band, the Liberia National Police Band, and employees of the Monrovia City Corporation marched from Broad and Randall Street to Monrovia City Hall, passing along the Capitol Bye-Pass to the Monrovia City Hall.
The Monrovia Day celebration was a joyous day as Liberians in their numbers grace the celebration with Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr of Freetown being the Special Guest, joining Mayor John Charuk Siafa to receive the parade.
Following yesterday’s parade, which included several students from various schools in Monrovia and its environs, an indoor program at the Monrovia City Hall was held which feature the official opening ceremony for Monrovia Week, including a keynote address from President Joseph Boakai and a drama dramatizing the founding of the city.
Due to his busy schedule, resident Boakai’s message was delivered by the Minister of Information, Cultural and Tourism, Jerelinmex Matthew Piah who pledged the Government of Liberia’s unflinching support to the Monrovia City Corporation and to ensure that the city of Monrovia remains the beacon of hope.
In his week’s opening address, Monrovia City Mayor John Charuk Siafa noted, “Today, we come together not just to celebrate, but to ignite a transformation. Monrovia, our beloved capital, is more than just a city-it is the pulsating heart of our nation, embodying resilience, hope, and the shared dreams of all its inhabitants.”
Mayor in an emotional speech noted that, “Our theme this year, “The Monrovia We Want,” is not merely a slogan. It is a robust call to action, a clarion call that encourages every one of us to forge a city that stands as a standard of cleanliness, safety, inclusiveness, and prosperity. It symbolizes our collective aspiration to elevate Monrovia to showcase the best of Liberia.”
Mayor who is the 28th City Mayor of Monrovia added that Monrovia Week transcends mere celebration adding, that it is a key moment for civic reawakening, community solidarity, and a recommitment to the sustainable development of our urban landscape. Through a series of cultural exhibitions, business expos, and community-driven environmental initiatives, we will reaffirm our resolve to rejuvenate our city and reaffirm its status as a beacon of progress on the African continent.
He noted, “While some of us today only see and know a Monrovia where the streets litter with garbage inhabited by unregulated petty trading, cluttered sidewalks and loud noise from street hawking, loud seakers from religious houses and bars, others remember a Monrovia of yesteryears, a city teeming with promise under the Liberian sun. It was a place where the streets marched in orderly rows, as clean and welcoming as the smiles of market vendors calling out their wares. These vibrant markets, alive with the colors of fresh produce and the sounds of haggling, formed the pulsating heart of our community.”
“I remember Rivoli Cinema flickered with tales from distant lands, while Ducor Hotel and Hotel Africa stood as symbols of hospitality, welcoming visitors from across the globe. Beyond the bustle, the beaches stretched wide and white, their sands pristine and untouched, kissing the Atlantic’s playful waves. Tourists, charmed and wide-eyed, wandered these shores, their laughter mingling with the calls of seabirds,” Mayor Siafa noted.
He pointed that, “This was the Monrovia of our collective memory-bright, hopeful, and thrumming with the potential of what it meant to be at the heart of Liberia, a symbol of warmth and hospitality. This is the spirit, the very essence, we seek to rekindle and celebrate as we envision the future of our beloved city. Yet, today we face multifaceted challenges. The streets where I once played now grapple with waste that chokes our waterways and mars our city’s beauty. Our economy is under duress, and our youth is in need of greater opportunities. It is a stark reality that only 28% of our city’s waste is currently managed effectively—an untenable situation demanding immediate and decisive action.”
Committing himself, Siafa noted, “As your Mayor, I am unequivocally committed to revitalizing Monrovia. I envisage a city that is not only clean and green but also thriving and inclusive-a city that attracts investments, nurtures tourism and embraces innovative solutions for sustainable urban development.”
He envisions a Monrovia where families reside in secure, meticulously planned neighborhoods, where businesses flourish, catalyzing robust economic empowerment, where the youth access impactful educational and employment opportunities, where public safety is enhanced through proactive, community-focused policing, and where the waste management systems are overhauled to incorporate state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly technologies.
“This vision is ambitious but entirely achievable. However, it requires more than just individual effort; it demands a collective endeavor. This transformation transcends political lines and bureaucratic layers—it is about crafting a legacy for future generations. That is why we have a Monrovia Week and not just a day. A week of awarenes, meaningful interactions and engagements, a week of listening to your constructive inputs and criticisms. This call to action is for every Monrovian-every child, student, professional, entrepreneur, and elder. I urge you all to engage with community initiatives, volunteer within your neighborhoods and participate actively in efforts to maintain our city’s cleanliness and safety, the City Mayor told the gathering.
Among other things, Mayor Siafa concluded, “Together, let’s foster a Monrovia that is not only livable but lovable-a city that stands as a demonstration of what is possible when a community unites in purpose and action. Let’s build The Monrovia We Want-a city of hope, unity, and pride, not just for Liberia, but as a shining example to the world. Monrovia is ours to cherish, to nurture, and to love.”
During the indoor program, Historians such as Dr. D. Elwood Dunn, Dr. C. Patrick Burrowes, Dr. Herbert Brewer, Dr. William Ezra Allen, Dr. Jacien G. Carr, and Dr. Elijah Zehyoue delve deeper into Monrovia’s storied past during a special Fireside Chat, titled “Monrovia: Antiquity to 1824.”
Cultural pride runs high throughout the week as an all-day festival, spotlighting West African cuisine, will continue following Wednesday opening ceremony. This event will focus on the beloved jollof rice, bringing together embassies from across the region to showcase their culinary traditions.
The week-long celebration is expected to feature Liberian comedians like Future Doe, Bamboo Koto, MC Spider, and Milkman, as well as musicians including Arblakolo, Nuchee Meek, C-Jay, Spize, Wakim, L’Drez, J-Borbor, Lestico, Lil More, Jatway Easy, King Face, Mighty Blow, The Heat, Sayon Mayson, and many others with some participating in the opening ceremony on Wednesday.
The excitement continues on today Thursday, February 13, with a roundtable discussion from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Attendees and panelists will map strategies for “the Monrovia we want,” highlighting good governance, inclusive policies, community engagement, and environmental protection.
Friday, February 14, brings a moment of reverence with an intercessory prayer service at a local mosque. Saturday’s program shifts to sports competitions at Invincible Sports Park, where various borough communities and the Paynesville City Corporation will compete in friendly matches. A symbolic tree-planting ceremony will also take place, tying the festivities to Monrovia’s ongoing environmental efforts. The week-long events conclude on Sunday, February 16, beginning with a prayer service at the Provenance Baptist Church.
The much-anticipated State of the City address by Mayor Siafa follows, setting forth his vision for Monrovia’s progress. A dinner and fundraising ceremony at City Hall will then officially launch the Monrovia City Foundation, bringing the curtain down on a week of unity, cultural expression, and proud reflection on the city’s journey from its founding centuries ago to its vibrant present.
