National Cultural Festival Unites Liberia in Colorful Celebration of Heritage and Women's Empowerment

Monrovia, Liberia:Thousands of Liberians converged at the Samuel K. Doe (SKD) Gymnasium on Saturday for the 2026 National Cultural Festival, an event that celebrated the nation's diverse cultural heritage while promoting the empowerment of women and girls through culture, music, dance, and storytelling.

Held under the theme, "Our Culture, Our Pride: Empowering Women and Girls," the festival was organized by ActionAid Liberia in collaboration with several partners. The event brought together participants from Montserrado, Margibi, Bong, Gbarpolu, and Grand Gedeh counties, each presenting unique cultural performances that reflected Liberia's rich traditions and identity.

The celebration began with a colorful parade from ELWA Junction to the SKD Gymnasium, featuring traditional dancers, drummers, cultural masquerades, decorated floats, and performers dressed in indigenous attire. The lively procession created an atmosphere of unity and national pride.

Inside the gymnasium, each participating county entertained the audience with traditional dances, songs, and cultural displays highlighting the history, customs, and values of their respective communities. Bong County opened the performances, followed by Gbarpolu County, whose masked dancers demonstrated the enduring role of traditional leadership alongside modern governance.

Montserrado, Margibi, and Grand Gedeh counties also delivered captivating cultural presentations, showcasing the significance of their traditional practices and emphasizing the importance of preserving Liberia's cultural identity for future generations.

Speaking during the program, Montserrado County Superintendent Whroway Bryant welcomed participants and praised the festival for strengthening national unity through culture. Sweden's Ambassador to Liberia and Sierra Leone, Kari Backe, reaffirmed her country's support for initiatives that promote the rights, empowerment, and opportunities of women and girls across Liberia.

The festival also featured spoken-word performances by young poets Dickson Yiadom and Benetta T. Konton, whose poems celebrated Liberia's heritage, the resilience of women, and the importance of preserving cultural values.

Delivering the keynote address, Gbarpolu County Superintendent Sam K. Zinnah emphasized that protecting and empowering women and girls remains essential to safeguarding Liberia's cultural heritage and building stronger communities. He encouraged Liberians to preserve their traditions while embracing inclusive development.

The event concluded with the recognition of the Embassy of Sweden for more than nine years of support through the Just and Equal Communities Project. ActionAid Liberia, together with its partners—DOMAFEIGN, LIWEN, SAIL, NAPTAH, and WOCDAL—commended Sweden's continued commitment to gender equality and national development. The program attracted traditional leaders, elders, government officials, and Liberia's Cultural Ambassador, Kekura M. Kamara, popularly known as Malawala Balawala, as participants departed with renewed pride in Liberia's cultural heritage and a shared commitment to preserving it for generations to come.