Africa-Press – Liberia. The National Association of the Kpelle and Kpelle-speaking People has been officially established in Liberia with the aim of uniting Kpelle-speaking communities across the country.
According to the Chairman of the Association, Lepolu Torlon, the initiative seeks to bring together Kpelle people from all fifteen subdivisions of Liberia under one umbrella to address disintegration and revitalize their cultural heritage.
“There are over 2 million Kpelle people globally, with 1,058,448 (26% of Liberia’s total population) residing in Liberia, approximately 1,004,475 (7.8%) in Guinea, and around 30,000 in northwestern Ivory Coast,” Torlon disclosed.
He emphasized that despite being Liberia’s largest ethnic group, Kpelle people remain fragmented and marginalized, especially in terms of cultural and traditional identity. He added that only about 15 percent of Kpelle in Liberia live in urban areas, while the majority reside in rural communities.
“As a result of this disintegration, we have been labeled as people who are unable to govern ourselves,” he lamented.
Torlon further noted a steady decline in the traditional way of life, with artisans, blacksmiths, and other craftsmen losing prominence. “The traditional artistic and artisanal crafts the Kpelle were once known for are disappearing day by day,” he said.
In light of these challenges, he said it has become imperative to rekindle the Kpelle cultural heritage and foster national unity among all Kpelleh and Kpelle-speaking people.
“There are many Kpelle organizations in and out of Liberia; this has been noted with serious consideration,” he stated. “It is in this vein that we have formed a national umbrella organization named The National Association of the Kpelle and Kpelle-Speaking People of Liberia.”
Mr. Torlon said the association will work in collaboration with existing Kpelle organizations to foster unity and preserve cultural heritage. He outlined the vision of the association as “to be the leading advocate and unifying force for the advancement, cultural preservation, equality, and development of the Kpelleh and Kpelle-speaking people of Liberia.”
He continued: “We are committed to upholding the interests and rights of the Kpelleh and Kpelleh-speaking people through advocacy, cultural preservation, and community development. We seek to foster unity, respect for cultural heritage, and educational advancement among our members and across Liberia. With integrity and dedication, we promote collaboration, mutual assistance, and harmony, and our cultural values among all Kpelle and Kpelle-speaking people and communities both domestically and internationally.”
Also speaking at the declaration ceremony was former Bong County Senator and Assistant Board Chairman of the Association, Henry W. Yallah. He decried the internal fractures that have divided Kpelleh people for years.
“Old wounds left untended, doubts left unchallenged, and whispers of ‘us versus them’ distract us from the truth; we are stronger together. Let us pause and remember who we are. We are descendants of resilience. Our ancestors weathered storms, crossed rivers, and built communities with nothing but courage and unity,” Yallah declared.
He added, “Yet, here we stand at a crossroads. There are those who would see us fragmented, who mistake our diversity for weakness and our silence for compliance. But I ask you: When have we ever thrived in isolation? Our power lies not in uniformity, but in the harmony of our voices, the richness of our traditions, and the shared dreams we hold for our children.”
Yallah envisioned a future where Kpelleh communities are vibrant, united, and proud of their language and traditions. “A world where our children learn our language not as a relic, but as a living testament to who we are. A world where the scars of the past become the foundation for a legacy of reconciliation, not resentment,” he noted.
He called on Kpelleh people to choose unity and progress. “Unity does not mean silence. It does not mean forgetting the injustices we have endured, the marginalization, the struggles for recognition, the battles to preserve our culture in a changing world. Unity means channeling these experiences into a force for progress,” he stressed.
He declared the formal start of a national movement: “Today, we are meeting in this historic hall to kick-start a mass movement of the Kpelleh and Kpelle-speaking people across the Republic of Liberia. Today is a very special day because it formalizes a process that we began some months back to unite and organize our people and to facilitate the utilization of our numbers and expertise to strengthen collaboration, promote unity of purpose, and foster greater solidarity.”
“To the weary, I say: Rest your heart, but not your hands—we need you. To the hopeful, I say: Your light will guide us. Let us move forward with purpose. Let us honor our ancestors not with words alone, but with action. Let us build bridges where walls once stood, replace suspicion with collaboration, and transform our pain into power,” Yallah urged.
He made a historic declaration, unifying all Kpelle-speaking subgroups under a single identity. “Henceforth, there is no more Guinea Kpelle, Margibi Kpelle, Bopolu Kpelleh, Lofa Kpelleh, and the rest of the subset of Kpelle groups. All Kpelle-speaking people are now Liberian Kpelleh,” he announced.
In addition, he declared that every third Saturday of May will be celebrated as National Kpelleh Unification Day. “Now, therefore, as the acting chair of the Board of Directors of the National Association of the Kpelle and Kpelle Speaking People, standing on the shoulders of Ambassador Dr. Jeremiah C. Solunteh and with the power vested in me by the distinguished board members, I declare that the National Association of the Kpelle and the Kpelle Speaking People is hereby established,” he concluded.
Also speaking at the event was former Vice President, Chief Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor, who praised the initiative and urged the leadership to unite all Kpelle organizations in Liberia under one umbrella. She emphasized the importance of membership dues to sustain the operations of the organization.
The declaration ceremony was well attended by dignitaries including former Vice President Chief Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor, former Senate Pro-Tempore Armah Jallah, former Representative Moses Y. Kollie, Senator Nathaniel F. McGill, Senator Prince Kermue Moye, Senator Johnny Kpehe, former Senator Henrique F. Tokpah, former Senator Franklin O. Siakor, and citizens from across all fifteen counties of Liberia.
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