Africa-Press – Liberia. May 10, the township of Crozierville will awaken to vibrant celebration as it marks the 160th anniversary of its founding — a milestone that rekindles the township’s historic spirit of patriotism, resilience, and contribution to Liberia’s national story.
A quiet settlement tucked among the hills of rural Montserrado County, Crozierville was founded in 1865 by freed emigrants from Barbados, part of a wave of voluntary repatriation movements that enriched Liberia’s early development. Their dreams, faith, and labors helped lay the groundwork for education, religion, governance, and culture across the young republic. Now, as the township commemorates Crozierville @160: Our History, Heritage & Diversity, it stands ready to honor its illustrious past and forge a hopeful future.
A high-profile itinerary has already begun with the arrival, on Thursday, May 8, of Her Excellency the Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, President of Barbados, and her delegation at Roberts International Airport. A traditional and cultural welcome, complete with military honors, greeted President Mason before her motorcade proceeded to the Boulevard Hotel for private engagements.
Today, Friday, President Mason will meet with Liberia’s President, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., at the Executive Mansion and receive the symbolic Key to the City at Monrovia City Hall, during a luncheon in her honor. A youth engagement at historic Providence Island will further underline the cultural and historical bonds between Liberia and Barbados — ties dating back more than a century and a half.
The heartbeat of the anniversary celebrations, however, will sound tomorrow, Saturday, May 10, when dignitaries, citizens, and students gather in Crozierville itself for a day rich with symbolism, remembrance, and pride.
The morning will begin with a student and citizen march from the Crozierville Community School to the Founders’ Monument, heralding the arrival of special guests. Traditional leaders will offer a warm Liberian welcome as President Boakai and President Mason join the community in laying wreaths at the monument in tribute to the founding settlers.
A solemn moment will follow with the unveiling of three commemorative plaques honoring Liberia’s former heads of state of Barbadian lineage: Presidents Arthur Barclay, Edwin James Barclay, and Charles Gyude Bryant. Their leadership not only shaped Liberia’s trajectory but also illustrated the profound influence of the Caribbean diaspora on Liberia’s national identity.
Further emphasizing this link, a Breadfruit tree—a Caribbean symbol of sustenance and resilience—will be planted, and a new street designation, Barbados Circle, will be unveiled to permanently mark the historic bond between the two peoples.
The Christ Episcopal Church, spiritual home to generations of Crozierville families, will host a thanksgiving service to offer prayers for the township’s enduring legacy and future prosperity. Afterward, the Crozierville Town Hall will host the centerpiece event: the official program marking the township’s 160th anniversary.
Here, seven distinguished citizens will be honored for their lifelong service and contributions to the community and Liberia at large. Among them is renowned journalist Kenneth Y. Best, celebrated for his fearless commitment to press freedom and responsible journalism; Hon. Modesco Siaker, the township’s longest-serving commissioner (posthumously honored); and 109-year-old Martha T. Dolo, Crozierville’s oldest living citizen, whose life bridges past and present.
Others to be honored include long-serving educators Fannie Padmore and Gladys Porte, and youth advocates Randolph Diggs and Matthew D. Kerkula, each recognized for their unwavering dedication to community empowerment and development.
Adding a cultural dimension, a short film titled “Children of Lemongrass Street”—capturing the spirit, challenges, and dreams of Crozierville’s new generation—will be screened. The Made in Liberia Fair will simultaneously showcase local crafts, foods, and innovations, celebrating Liberian creativity and entrepreneurship.
While the day’s ceremonies honor those who paved the way, they also serve as a clarion call to a new generation to carry forward the spirit of Crozierville: a spirit of resilience, education, and patriotic service to Liberia.
Though often seen as a sleepy town a far cry away from the bustle of Monrovia, Crozierville, at 160, awakens not simply to celebrate its past but to inspire the future. It reminds all Liberians of the power of history to shape identity—and the necessity of embracing that identity to move forward with pride, unity, and purpose.
As the flags rise, the wreaths are laid, and the breadfruit tree takes root in Crozierville’s soil, the township calls out not just to its own, but to all Liberians: remember who you are, honor those who came before, and walk boldly into the destiny they dared to envision.
For More News And Analysis About Liberia Follow Africa-Press
