A Brief History of Liberia and Africa's Iron Lady | Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
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- čas přidán 19. 06. 2024
- With its rocky history of violent civil wars, military coups and strongman warlords, very few outside observers would have expected the Republic of Liberia to be the nation that would produce Africa’s first ever female head of State. Referred to as Africa's ‘Iron Lady’, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf made history in January 2006 when she was inaugurated as Liberia’s first female president. Sirleaf’s election was celebrated all around the world as a truly momentous occasion and a ground breaking step in the push for women's empowerment in Africa. However, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s 12 years at the helm of one of Africa’s most volatile nations would be a bitter-sweet mixture of great triumph and great disappointment.
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Written by: K.B. Taiwo & Wame Gabaake
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All hail, Liberia, hail!
All hail, Liberia, hail!
This glorious land of liberty
Shall long be ours.
Though new her name,
Great be her fame,
And mighty be her powers,
Though new her name,
Great be her fame,
And mighty be her powers,
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, Liberia, hail!
In union strong success is sure
We cannot fail!
With God above
Our rights to prove
We will o'er all prevail,
With God above
Our rights to prove
We will o'er all prevail,
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 valor unpretending.
Long live Liberia, happy land!
A home of glorious liberty,
By God's command!
A home of glorious liberty,
By God's command! 🇱🇷💕💕💕💕💕
Wonderful Video as always, please make a video about "The Effect of Abrahamic Religions on Africa" and have a good day/night, New Africa :)
@@cartier2312 Love to Liberia from a fellow African :) 🇱🇷🇳🇬
@NewAfrica Pls make a video about Thomas Sankara. A true african icon
kki
Can I just say, Africa has always been a more or less unknown area in my education, which is an absolute shame. The only times western textbooks talk about it was the slave trade and resultant imperialism, or in the ancient world. NewAfrica on the other hand, gives an unbiased look at Africa’s many leaders, and does not call them despots are revere them, but just states the facts. The Biafran War video encapsulates that belief, and gives heavily detailed content, very stylized visuals, and in such a short time. The channel doesn’t just deserve a million subs but more than that.
I didn’t even know this woman existed until a few minutes ago, and the rest of the world deserves to know it as well about her triumphs but also her failures like nepotism.
The history classes in America and the rest of the world are highly Eurocentric, with almost nothing being thought about Africa and other regions in the world. The few snippets of history being taught of the rest of the world are often oversimplified history written by Western historians from their point-of-view, instead of taking into account the natives’ perspective. That’s why it’s hard for most Westerners to understand the modern geopolitics of the East.
I was educated in New York public schools in the 1980's and world history including Africa was pretty well covered. You've done an excellent job of showing that historical figures are complicated with good and bad aspects of their legacy.
@I'm not flat, stop asking no disrespect but you level of ignorance is alarming, let me just point some few common examples to you of the impact of other parts of africa that perhaps your prejudice wouldn't allow you to learn, first is the fact that humans dint originate from North Africa but from East Africa, (scientifically proven with evidence) secondly the richest human of all times was from West Africa (mansa Musa) and also look up the impact of his trip to the holy city of Mecca, thirdly Africans from the mali empire in West Africa have been traveling back and forth to the Americas before Mr Columbus was even a thought, he also mentioned it in his diary. I can go on and on so how can you say that the origin of humanity has no impact on humanity (world)
@I'm not flat, stop asking what do you think started making the European to come in their numbers in search of treasures in West Africa, for your info that was after his trip, plus it was the Europeans who drew him on a map holding a solid gold in his hand, but I guess theres no point going back and forth with you cus I've observed that people of other races will go to any length to push the absorb narrative that Africa has no impactfull history. But you think Columbus going to the Americas impacts Africa or Hitler killing Jews has an on Africa?
As a Nigerian, this channel makes me so happy. We must learn about Africa not from the Neo Imperialist, the Marxist Ideologues or the "Blame the white man for everything" crowd. We must learn about our failures and our triumphs as a people and most importantly, we must look outward and not be tempted to look inward as many postulate these days.
If there's anything we can lean from the People's Republic of China, A state I have no love for but duly respect, It is only by looking outwards that we can usher in our people into a new golden age.
Africa will be great, we must not be dismayed :-)
you nailed it with the line ' the Neo Imperialist, the Marxist Ideologues or the "Blame the white man for everything" crowd. thank you
♥️💜
This comment is everything. Thank you sir 🙌🏿🔥
@@NewAfrica No, this comment is everything 😁. I am a massive fan.
As a "New African" I can remember how difficult it was articulating to my peers what needs to change in Africa is a fundamental mindset. I still hold to that fact, as a fellow Nigerian, Yoruba as well. We need to embrace our nations, despite their flaws and make them worthy of being called home. All of us, not just the politicians, through meaningful democratic engagement.
Unity in diversity, Strength through Peace and Progress ✌️
Very good comment. I'm tired of these neo Marxists.
I’m joyed that the best African history/ Geopolitics channel has uploaded
As an American, I really enjoy learning about Africa on this channel since it's coming from a very different perspective than what I'm used to.
What is fascinating is the degree to which Liberia's history contradicts so many conflicting stereotypes...
So... the Americo-Liberians were basically West Africa's Afrikaners or Rhodesians, and created their own system of apartheid. Huh.
Truly a Tragedy how the Spark Of Hope Of The founding beliefs of Liberia soon were dumped for a Apartheid-Like Society. . .
Guess they are not so different from whites after all,they need to stop the victim bullshit cos they'll do same if they were white.
Hurt people,hurt people
George Orwell’s Animal Farm comes to mind
@@NosaBourdy Ahhh, I see you too are a Person Of Culture, Unfortunately yes, Liberian History does remind us of that book.
One of the few channels with good perspective on African nations. One tends to inevitably oversimplify certain nations as each one has complex histories. Great job and keep it coming
Much appreciated!
Have any others to recommend?
@@NewAfrica Excuse me, but just out of curiosity (since it wasn't explained in this video) when were the Indigenous Liberians given the right to vote?
As an Australian we don’t learn any of this stuff in school so thank you so much for this channel mate 🙂
Thank you for watching 👍🏿
We don't learn this stuff in America!
@@elvisjames we were all assuming that mate haha
I agree with you, Australia needs to teach history in a much broader light
@@elvisjames Only Liberians learn about these things in school.
New Voice of Narration? I like it!
I am a proud Liberian Queen love my history and thanks for sharing my great history 👏👏👏❤
Exactly how a great leader should be seen. They are never God, they have their faults that should certainly be discouraged by the electorate in future elections, but they end up strengthening the country overall and raising the bar for the next government. You should never have a poster of a great leader in your room, but you should be proud to have them as part of your nation's story.
Right
Explain to me some of the greatness of Ellen please
KEEP GOING GUYS! The best African history/politics channel here! Please keep educating!
Good introduction to the history of Liberia, interesting stuff. I feel your video is balanced and didn't take sides, just presenting the facts.
Best wishes to any Liberians watching to forge a bright future :)
Thank so kindly! As a Liberian, I want to use this time to ask you to please extend our heartfelt felicitation to your country and its people. Liberia 🇱🇷 welcomes you anytime. When you arrive at RIA(Roberts International Airport), you welcome to mention me. ✌️ and ❤️
Kraut sent me here. And I'm so glad he did
First time hearing about Kraut. What video sent you here?
Where did he send the message to come here? I did not see him mention this channel in CZcams.
Huge fan of Kraut as well but I didn't find this channel by his recommendation. Honestly both channels are giants in the historical/geopolitical CZcams game and I'm happy both exist and I'm excited to see more
@@monkeymaster6489 same, I did not even find any mention of newafrica in his community.
DON'T SKIP ADS🤗
Hey, just out of curiosity, - how much does CZcams Premium cost in Africa?
@@KOTYAR0It costs 4$
@AOC Fan Cheap to you. I'm not from Africa (I'm from Bosnia) and it is quite cheap for me as well, but that money has a real value here.
The idea that feminism is extremist is really just because the world has forgotten that once upon a time women had to fight for even the most basics of rights and privileges, and today they still have to carry that fight some places. However, as feminism started to become to norm many places, some people created new sub-groups within feminism that have come at the center of attention in the last few years, and given feminism a bad reputation among many people as the focus is usually put on the people who actually are very radical (or "extremist", though I don't agree with the use of this word in this context, to call it radical is more correct). The very radical people may for instance put a very strong focus on women's "complete" independence, which sometimes seem to be at odds with the idea of marriage and heterosexual love itself which goes against what many people aspire towards (men and women who want partners and to make families), and sometimes they are vulgar in order to make a point about how the female body should not be a source of shame for anyone, which is not really something that most people feel is important to them (or they are otherwise trained from youth to feel shame and react based on this) so they don't appreciate the effort, meanwhile conservative forces feel like their traditional authority is not respected so they make a big deal out of it (essentially a combination of apathy from the benefactors and condemnation from those who lose authority). Lastly, there is a sub-divison that goes further by presenting men as an issue in and of itself, they may perhaps not do anything in particular against men, but they create an atmosphere of suspicion at best and hostility at worst against men, sometimes apparently indiscriminately (so that "all men are bad"), and when the media gives these people attention the former image of feminism as a champion cause for equality is suddenly broken among the populace. People who doesn't actually know the history behind feminism are easily mislead to think feminism is the people who are hostile towards all men and only care about women, this is false of course, but people are unfortunately too uneducated in the subject to know that.
One thing to point out is that there's a genuine disconnect between feminists from different countries/cultures. The feminists that were harping on about Liberia were white women who came from very privileged backgrounds and rich countries. Rome wasn't built in a day, and Ma Ellen had to fight a completely different hell compared to a Thatcher for example. Additionally, forcing Western customs on Africans was what got Africa in such a mess to begin with.
Education doesn't always bring common sense it makes some arrogant and indisputably right
@@edwardmerriam6970 there's crazy ideas which are 'indisputable' with sometimes highly educated people who can't define what a woman is. It's crazy here 🇬🇧
You still can't parallel park though.
Great introduction on Liberia, I love how you really explained our history.
Glad you enjoyed it!
The greatness of Liberia during Tolberts Presidency is missing.
These videos are incredibly informative! Best wishes from Mexico
Glad you like them!
Aptly presented to capture all angles. Well done 👍🏾
Thank you for watching Nnanna!
This video was excellently and expertly produced with every sentence factually verifiable and authentic! It's exceedingly even-handed, neither demonizing nor idolizing its subject. A perfect production! Bravo to the producers!
My mom tells me how she used to live nextdoor to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as a kid. She tells me it was relatively prosperous economically until the Doe coup and the wars.
Right, and the country was doing okay up until the war. Some nasty people running around commenting the country had no development in the 200 years since the Americans landed. Still until today the only country you can call well developed is South Africa but they want to make Liberia look worse than it already does. The place was building just like any other African country and they all build slowly if you consider how long they have been in contact with modern development.
What was some of the prosperity your mom told you about?
@@gemjewelle2687South Africa is not the only well developed country in Africa sis. Do your own research don't mind the media
@@empressmouande8237 i have done my own research thanks. But you are free to list other places you believe are "well" developed.
Nice video from New Africa. You guys inspired me to start my channel.
Well done! keep up the good work!
Can’t get enough of this channel! Such great story tellers and an area of history that just is not covered.
This content is gold! I mean... can’t say enough. Unbiased and straight facts! One of my favorite channels!
Great video! I remember freshman year of university, seeing her in an interview by Jon Stewart of the Daily Show and wondering "Who is this person?" And now, after all these years, getting to know her story even better, a very fascinating leader!
Wow, this channel teaches me so much. Thank you for the uploads
Fantastic video as always. I'd love to see a video from you guys on Nelson Mandela.
One of my favorite channels. As a nigerian, this channel has enlightened me on things I thought I knew but coke to realize I didn’t
Go!Go!
I did not know about miss Sirleaf, thank you very much and congrats from Croatia!
Leymah Roberta Gbowee Nobel Peace Prize Winner is my Aunty.
For years her mom would come over and as a kid I didn’t even know. Actually will be seeing her this December 🙏🏿🙏🏿
Hi Jay
Then i’m your aunty ? I’m Leymah’s older sister
This channel is gold.
I've learnt about my continent here than I ever hoped to learn in school.
I share your videos every chance I get.
Kindly don't relent.
Thanks a lot
Awesome comment, thank you!
Making my way through this channel and I’m enamored by everything. Each video is packed with details that keep me hooked and the visuals are 😌👌🏾
This channel has such amazing content, can’t wait for more. I also hope we can hear more from this narrator as well.
Love ur channel, keep the great content
Appreciate it!
Western liberals are such a bothersome bunch. Let the country go through some phases before you start harking on about representation. Just give it some time.
You'd be shocked by how many people don't get this.
Notice how Canadians, Australians and Europeans cry about making the world a better place and never actually do anything? Such people are useless in making Africa a better place and are the enemy. Figures like Kagame and Sirleaf are necessary evils; what both share in common is putting faith in the free market to do its job, and see the fruits of their labor years later. Of course, Kagame and Sirleaf are two different rulers, but both got work done and should be admired. Zambia, Botswana, and Gabon are other great examples.
Exactly, even in my country Kenya, East Africa... Western liberal ideology is seemingly being forced upon our values. I used to think it only happened in the US and Europe, but it's also being forced upon us, all of it is just neo-colonialism, I hope fellow Africans can see this. In fact they are using International Organizations and Non-profits to force all these liberal ideas
@@edwardmerriam6970 What Kagame and Sirleaf did was based on simple rationality and African conservative principles, which are similar to the conservative founding principles of the US. I can tell you it hurts international organizations, especially so-called human rights groups, shame on them wanting to keep Africa down
@@HighFlyingOwlOfMinerva Wow, I cannot believe u said such bullshit in public. What a mindless regurgitation of tv sound bites. So they made language simple and hyperbolic because daytime tv was aimed towards women in a victorian era idea of women being simple and emotional. Emotion is more powerful than logics and the laws and social dogmas aimed at discriminating against woman r emotional based. U and the 4 other knuckle-draggers need to stop holding the progress of the human consciousness up and creating so much fragmentation of the human psyche.
Thank you so much. I love this. This is the standard. very informative and easy to follow.
Excellent video as usual, thank you very much NewAfrica!
Thank you for watching!
Thnxx new Africa for the beautiful upload.
Great presentation. However, no discussion of Liberia would be complete without covering the Kru Coast Revolt of 1915-16. That is the most significant matter in Liberian History. Maybe NewAfrica would want to cover the Kru Coast Revolt (1915-16).
Always balanced and informative, another great video. Keep it up!
Wow, very interesting. This will make a great movie.
Brilliant work. We are all flawed.
She gave her country what they needed not what the enlightened ones thought was best.
This ladies didn’t any hood in Liberia . She was very corrupt. Stood by and all her family and friends corrupt the country.
This is fantastic. I REALLY LOVE ALL OF THESE VIDEOS
You just got a new African American subscriber. 🖤💚❤️👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Well researched NewAfrica !
Thank you guys!
Your doing great work. Thank you for my daily knowledge.
Thank you for putting your time into these videos i hope you expand into the theological history of africa from the pagan or polythiest days to the Christization or Islamificaton and the Ethiopian church my old coworker was talking about how Ghana balenced between the christian islamic and pagan populations and id love to hear more on how the old traditions weren't wiped away by religious zealotry
My comes his that Hi not seen enninuff to make a cometmen
This was a very nice video! Thank you :)
This is so educative .thank you
I love this channel! I’m glad you talk about history and politics that is often overlooked.
Your channel has really excellent content - keep it up! We need more stories about Africa from Africans.
Thank you for the content!!
Thank you for watching!
Love your videos they are the best. I always share them with I enjoy the balanced viewpoint of them all. There's more countries in Africa, please make more!! Looking for your Sankara video...
great pierce. well done. You guys are doing Africa proud. I would love to be a contributor and also support you too.
Thank you for this video
I love the work you all do on this channel, I literally have watched every single video produced! Keep up the great work! P.S. I am patiently waiting on videos about the Gnassingbe Political Dynasty of Togo! Sending love and support from the USA!
Thank you for your continued support!
Excellent work. Thank you.
As an African I am sometimes extremely saddened by the actions of our predecessors
Amazing as always
Your choice of music is amazing.
Interesting doc - you guys are great
I am happy I found this channel, it is so hard to find African history
Liberia is a fascinating case, would definitely like to learn more on the subject.
This channel is the best on u tube base on African history. But I'm ready to build my own channel as my book I just wretting as tittle the political history of africa and the Berlin conference. This May be one day we all shall talk of our real history. Once more thanks to my brothers and sisters of their hard work on this channel.
Best Channel for Modern African history
Ayyy my dad's home country! He admires this lady so much!
Really great video. I wish I had seen this before I went to Liberia.
Thank you for making history...
Love this channel
Thanks for a great video
We wish for the best.
Good presentation.
A very balanced video. Thanks.
Thanks for explaining my country history to the world..
Very nice to hear a factual, balanced report.
this is such an excellent channel
Excellent job , as always . Keep up the good work :) .
I can , in exchange inform u about my country if you want.
Question , will you gonna make Somalia Civil war explanation ?
I hope this channel creates content more frequently or that someone can recommend me similar creators. I'm a history buff, but finding anything on youtube related to African countries and their history is basically impossible.
Especially since I'm Polish, we never enslaved or colonised any African nation so our textbooks don't really focus on Africa due to lack of any significant historical events happening between us. Genuinely the only thing I remember from high school was some diplomatic courtesy between few African countries and communist Poland back in the previous century (as polish government tried to establish some friendly agreements with them as they saw those nations and their situation to similar to our own, constantly occupied and used by western countries, and tried to sway them closer to the Warsaw Pact as opposed to the US/western sphere of influence) but... that's pretty much it.
Thanks for the entertainment and greetings from Poland/UK.
Thanks buddy! We hope to produce more frequently as we grow, but we will be dropping a new video next week Friday so please drop by again then 👍🏿
The fact that you're interested in African history is surprising and laudable. A lot of Africans aren't even interested in their own history!
i love this channel. plz make more vids.
I can say so much about this channel, Afrika, and all that… but damn. I’ll just say this: KEEP IT UP!!!
This is very great!!
While it was a bit different from European Colonialization its hard to argue that Liberia wasn't' a colony.
Great for NewAfrica to be back!!
I'm always amazed at how blacks can be so racist against each other even when they themselves were persecuted.
You don't understand because you look at them all as "blacks". The Americo-Liberians and the natives of the area were people from vastly different cultures.
@@chuckhiggins4940 Well sir what difference does the culture make. The American Liberians knew what exploitation felt like and yet they still did it. I contend if they didn't subjugate the natives they themselves would have been persecuted. Yes "blacks" discriminate against people that are more similar to them than different from Uganda, Sudan to liberia not to mention here in the states. It's an uncomfortable truth, let's not blame it on culture, look at chicago (gangs) and california (gangs) look at Afro-Latino countries, the whole light skin dark skin, it literally goes on and on.
Curious you put "blacks" in quotes as well, wonder where your going with that?
As I stated amazing (curious) behavior.
@@kingstonlion73 Because "black" is a Western concept. In Africa, people identify primarily with their ethnic group or tribe. Westerners generally make little to no distinction between people of African descent, which is why they (especially Americans) tend to treat Africa almost as if it is a singular entity. Talking about "blacks" from an American perspective makes sense because most Americans of African descent are from the same ethnic group (Black Americans), and many of the concepts of race began in America. Talking about "blacks" from an African perspective, however, makes no sense.
Not only is Africa the most genetically diverse continent on Earth (for example, a Sudanese Nilote will have different DNA than a Liberian native, an Afar in Somalia will have different DNA than a Khoisan in South Africa), there are also ethnic differences, add on top of that culture and traditional differences and the concept of "black" isn't so straightforward.
My point being that Americo-Liberians' ancestors had already been in America for some 200 years, they were thoroughly Western thinking people who grew up in a society with slavery as an institution. The idea that because they were "black" that they would somehow magically assimilate with the natives is ludicrous. It's something that would only make sense from an American perspective.
@@chuckhiggins4940Well sir in my definition I clearly group all people of African decent no matter the culture as "Black". You clearly understand stand because you acknowledge that. My point still stands, a group of people that are discriminated against because of there complexion (race) still persecute people that are more similar than different irregardless of culture.
Does their different ethnicities (Cultures) make genocide less wrong? What is cultural or ethnic discrimination but a kind of racism.
Both are social constructs. For you I'll call it Cultural and ethnic bias going forward instead of racism.
My suspicion is the word "black" triggered you and you needed to respond. Probably needed to clarify not wanting Aficans grouped with the other "Blacks"(American black etc.)further proving my point.
My point still stands. People of African decent (Blacks) are Racist ( Cultural and ethnic biased) against people that are more similar to themselves than different.
"America created race concept", listen to Farrakhan much.
@@kingstonlion73 Let's be clear, I never said that "America created race concept" I said that many of the concepts of race began in America, which is a fact. Along with the trans Atlantic slave trade came theories of race, many of which lack any sort of nuance.
And no, the use of the word "black" did not trigger me, I just find the conflict between two different people from two different cultures being boiled down to "blacks are racist against each other" pretty ridiculous. This is where the idea of "black" as this sort of monolithic group starts to fall apart. Your perception of what happened in Liberia is heavily influenced by your Americanized thought process, lumping all black people into one convenient category. Again, that works in America because the black population is largely homogenous, it doesn't work in Africa where people may share similar skin tones, but have completely different cultures.
In reality these Black Americans had far more in common with the average American of any color than they did with a random tribe in Africa. If they had shipped a diverse group of Americans made up of Native Americans, Asians, whites, and Black Americans, the same thing would likely happen. The Americans would form a society among themselves and distance themselves from the natives. That doesn't excuse what happened, it just shows that the situation was far more complex than "blacks are racist lol".
And this channel is also in French and Portuguese? Brilliant 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿
could you possibly make a video on Thomas Sankara? love your work!
Jamaica Stands with the unification of one Africa
Nice video!
Rwanda is doing well because women are fully involved
#NewAfrica WELCOME BACK TO CZcams COMRADE!
I do hope that Comrade Sankara is next on the list.
BTW, where's Taiwo the usual narrator?
Love your channel :-)
Thanks so much!
Awesome 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
11:04 - Ok, I’m not even surprised that Rwanda is in the top 10 at this point. . .
People need to give her a break. Nothing is going to be perfect after going through decades or war, poverty, & civil unrest. The actress/comedienne Retta from Parks & Recreation and Good Girls is this woman’s niece.
I love the balanced views of this channel. Showing the success, but also faults and crimes of these people.
Great job as always.
Love your channel fellow Africans. Beautiful and simplified content.
Can you try two make two videos every month please.😊😊😊
Can you also please do a video on the origin of pan Africanism and how far it is now. Thank you in advance.
Love from South Africa
Africa my beloved.
My great great grandfather is americo Liberian and my great great grandmother is kpelle
This stuff should be on tv. In the uk people think Africa is kids with flies around them drinking water from a well because of unisef and oxfam
Africans should refuse to let their people be filmed in this way, it enforces a racist stereotype of Africans drinking dirty water and always having their hands out for charity. I hate it
For such unique country it would be nice to see the not-brief but comprehensive Liberian history video. At least about start-up period as one unique country was created by other unique country but in meantime new nation was recognized by enemies-rivals faster then by founding -fathers.Very strange and interesting.
The female narrator in this video has a very clear, easily understandeable voice and way of pronouncing english.
She talked a little bit hurried in this vid, but you could definitely use her more in your vids.
@Simo Zulu Americans learn history? Since when?
@Simo Zulu Me personally, I had a lot of middle-european history in high school.
The one year of my life I took part in american public education was a blast, though.
You know - meat is healthy, guns are freedom, and the whole world is but a smidgeon at the very margins of the USA...
Hence my incredulous "americans learn history?" - because what I witnessed in 10 class back then was surely no history education.
Rather patriotic/US-centric/propagandized storytelling.
We had better, more critical history classes in middle school.