On July 26^th it’s Liberia’s Independence Day! Happy celebration to all the wonderful Nobel team members we have in Liberia! We are truly grateful and proud that you are part of our multicultural Nobel family!

Last year, on the occasion of Liberia’s National Day, we learned about this beautiful African country’s history, geography and so much more, but this year we want to actually experience what it’s like to be a Liberian nowadays.

That’s why we asked our lovely Nobel Country Ambassador from Liberia – Morvella Johnson to share with us some fascinating details and photos of her home country. Join us below in discovering interesting aspects of the Liberian culture, food, daily life, travel attractions, language and more:

• Besides the Independence Day (July 26), Liberia’s most important national celebrations are Armed Forces Day (February 11), Fast and Prayer Day (second Friday in April) and National Unification Day (May 14).
• Rice is a Liberian staple food that is always present on the tables of people across the country.
• Stunna’s ‘For Life’ is one of the songs trending right now in Liberia. Give it a listen to get into the Liberian music atmosphere!
• Football and basketball are the most popular and loved sports in Liberia at the moment. Barrolle is the biggest team in the basketball league while LISCA is the biggest football team.
• The cost of living in Liberia is relatively cheap, 1.39 to 1.88 times less expensive than the world average. Liberia ranked 168th or 174th out of 197 countries by cost of living and the 154th or 159th best country to live. The average salary after taxes in Liberia is $350, which is enough to cover living expenses for 1 month for a person.
• Traditionally, aunts or uncles are considered mothers or fathers in the absence of parents, and cousins are treated as siblings. Many rural families are polygamous. Urban families usually consist of a husband, a wife, and children. Both parents typically have jobs outside the home. Families tend to be patriarchal.
• The current educational system of Liberia has 5 levels: The Kindergarten or Pre-Primary, the Primary School, Junior High School, Senior High School and College.
• The diverse tribal ethnicities making up the population of Liberia today have all added to the richness of cultural life in the country. Christian music is popular, with hymn songs in the iconic African Style.
• If you love nature, then you should definitely visit Kpatawee Waterfall in Liberia. It is located in the rainforest region of the country. This waterfall is managed as an eco-tourism site. It generates revenues for the county and the communities that live around it. Kpatawee Waterfall is a tourist attraction located in Bong County.
• The Liberian National Museum is located in downtown Monrovia. It was once destroyed during the civil wars, but it was recently renovated with UNESCO’s assistance. It was established in 1958 by the National Legislature and was originally housed in the First Executive Mansion on Ashmun Street.
• If you are visiting the country of Liberia, you should definitely visit the Centennial Pavilion, a place where history and culture are celebrated. This beautiful building is located on the island of Monrovia. Surrounded by palm trees, it provides a serene and humble ambiance.
• Visit the Waterside Market in the capital, Monrovia. The market caters to both the locals and visitors to the city, selling hand-made pottery, leather goods, and colorful fabric. It’s an important landmark of Liberian national life. It is also where the country’s president is sworn in. The market is a lively hub of local culture and nightlife.
• Our Liberian colleague Morvella recommends the below touristic itinerary for the best experience in Liberia:
  • Harper: Harper, situated on Cape Palmas, is the capital of Maryland County in Liberia. It is a coastal town situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Hoffman River. Harper is Liberia’s 11th largest town, with a population of 17,837.
  • Fish Town: Fish Town is the capital city of River Gee County, Liberia. As of the 2008 national census, the population stood at 3,328.
  • Lake Piso: Lake Piso, also known as Lake Pisu and Fisherman’s Lake, is an oblong tidal lagoon in Grand Cape Mount County in western Liberia, near the town of Robertsport. At an area of 103 km2 (40 sq mi), it is the largest lake in Liberia.
  • Mount Nimba: The Mount Nimba range is located at the intersection of the Republics of Guinea, Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire, at 7°32’N to 7°44’N and 8°20′ W to 8°30′ W.
  • Providence Island: Providence Island is situated between Mesurrado River and Stockton creek and it is very symbolic as a testament of how freed slaves forged nationhood out of their forced calamity upon gaining freedom when slavery was abolished.
• Liberia is considered a biodiversity hotspot and has more intact forests characteristic of the Upper Guinea Massif than do neighboring countries. There are 2,000 species of vascular plants (including 225 tree species), approximately 140 species of mammals, and over 600 species of birds.
• Liberian English (Kolokwa) is the dialect of English spoken in Liberia.
• One of the expressions used in Liberia is “Monkey can’t leave his black hand behind” meaning something similar to the expression “Leopard cannot change his skin color.” It is used to express the fact that the true character of a person will always show no matter how much they try to hide it.