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Mandingoes Cautioned To Attain Upward Mobility In Post War Liberia Tuesday, November 6th, 2007/ Reports by Lassana Y. Bamba
Milwaukee WI - Having been seen as Jews of West Africa, because of their economic power, an educator is challenging Mandingoes to consider that as the past and look forward to what the future holds for them in Liberia.
Dr. Augustine Konneh, professor of history at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, is urges Mandingoes to attain quality education for their upward mobility in Postwar Liberia. He says, with quality education, Mandingoes are in no doubt to succeed because they are hard working people.
He challenged Mandingo youth to endlessly engage in logical discussions that will yield echoing results for their community. In such discourses, the learned educator cautioned the youth to maintain positive attitudes when engaging each other as well as other communities. “I am proud of Ousman Sekou Bamba and other Mandingo youth for their intellectual ability in maintaining conversation in the right direction,” Dr. Konneh said.
The Bolahun and Massabolahun native stressed the need for the new leadership of the Federation of Liberian Mandingo Associations in the USA (FELMAUSA) to refrain from corruption and focus on transformational leadership, noting that good leadership starts from within.
Speaking on the theme, “Community, Unity and Empowerment in Postwar Liberia,”at the jam-packed Mother Daniel’s Conference Hall on Saturday, November 3, 2007, the Guest Speaker, cited the Liberian civil war as a contributing factor to the downward trend of quality education in Liberia. He linked the deficiency of clean drinking water, school-going materials such as test books, and quality teachers to the war.
Dr. Konneh strongly advised Liberian Mandingoes, to actively and positively participate in the process of rebuilding Liberia. He frowned on those who continue to sit on the fence and staying away from the situation in the country to reconsider such stance and join the process. “Liberia can not rebuild itself, go back home and rebuild roads, bridges and change the history about Mandingoes in Liberia,” Dr.. Konneh appealed and added, “this is one way Mandingoes will express their rights in the West African nation.”
Dr. Augustine Konneh, a Phi Beta Kappa scholar, also encouraged his kinsmen to foster relation with others in an effort to move Liberia forward. The Guest Speaker, who spoke extemporaneously, exhibited every sign of a good speaker as his message continued to resonate with the audience, who continuously interrupted him with loud applause.
In Liberia, Mandingoes were mainly involve with commerce such as transportation and proceeds from the venture went to construction of new homes, many of those homes were either devastated during the Liberian civil crisis or forcibly taken over by the rebels.
The writer is a former Asst. Language Program Coordinator/ Radio Program Producer at the Liberia Broadcasting System as well as inventor of the program Indigenous Songs of Liberia, former producer of Focus on Development still heard on ELBC, Liberia. Lassana Y. Bamba, Jr. can be reached at763-477-8604 or lassanabam5@yahoo.com
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