Liberia
The Land of the Free — Africa's oldest republic and the proud homeland of the Kissi people. A nation of profound history, enduring grace, and unwavering hope.
“The love of liberty brought us here.”
Motto of the Republic of Liberia
A Nation Like No Other
Liberia — “the Land of the Free,” “the Lone Star,” “Sweet Land of Liberty” — is Africa's oldest republic and the second-oldest Black republic in the world, after Haiti. Founded in 1847 by freed American slaves, Mother Liberia occupies a singular and sacred place in the story of the African diaspora: a nation born from the desire for freedom and the determination to build a new society on ancestral soil.
But Liberia's story goes far deeper than the 19th century. The land that is now Liberia has been home to indigenous peoples — including the Kissi (the “Peacemakers”), the Gola, Kru, Bassa, Mano, Gio, and many others — for millennia. The name itself, Liberia, comes from the Latin word liber, meaning “free.”
Mother Liberia is a land of breathtaking beauty — from the mist-covered peaks of the Nimba Mountains to the golden sands of Robertsport, from the dense rainforests of Lofa County to the mighty waters of the St. Paul, Mano, and Makona Rivers. Her people are her greatest treasure: resilient, dignified, generous, and possessed of an unshakeable faith in the future.
The Lone Star Flag
The flag of Liberia features eleven alternating stripes of red and white, symbolizing the eleven signatories of the Liberian Declaration of Independence. The blue canton with a single white star represents the first independent republic in Africa — the “Lone Star” of liberty.
The Kissi of Liberia
The Kissi people are one of the sixteen recognized indigenous ethnic groups of Liberia, concentrated primarily in Lofa County in the northwest of the country. They are among the oldest inhabitants of the land, with oral traditions tracing their presence in the region to approximately 450 B.C.
The Kissi — known as “the Peacemakers,” the “Uncles and Aunties of West Africa,” and the “Keepers of the Iron” — have played a vital role in the formation of the Liberian nation. From the fertile lands of the Makona River Basin to the forested hills of Foya and Vahun, the Kissi homeland is among the most culturally rich and historically significant regions in all of West Africa.
The Kissi people straddle the borders of three modern nations — Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea — a testament to the fact that their civilization predates the colonial boundaries that now divide the region. In all three countries, the Kissi maintain their language, their traditional governance structures, and their cultural practices, including country cloth weaving, iron smelting, and the ceremonies of the Poro and Sande societies.
Liberia at a Glance
| Official Name | Republic of Liberia |
| Capital | Monrovia (named after U.S. President James Monroe) |
| Independence | July 26, 1847 — first independent republic in Africa |
| Population | Approximately 5.3 million (2024 estimate) |
| Languages | English (official), plus over 20 indigenous languages including Kissi, Kpelle, Bassa, Kru, Gio, Mano |
| Area | 111,369 km² (43,000 sq mi) |
| Counties | 15 counties, including Lofa (Kissi homeland) |
| Currency | Liberian Dollar (LRD) |
| Motto | "The Love of Liberty Brought Us Here" |
| National Anthem | All Hail, Liberia, Hail! |
A Tribute to Mother Liberia
Mother Liberia — the Land of the Free, the Lone Star, the Pepper Coast, the Grain Coast — you are a nation of extraordinary strength. Through civil war and recovery, through hardship and hope, you have endured. Your rivers still flow. Your forests still stand. Your people still dream.
The Kissi people — your oldest children, among the first to walk your land — stand in unwavering solidarity with the Republic. We pray for your prosperity, your unity, and your peace. We celebrate your beauty, your resilience, and your boundless potential.
“All hail, Liberia, hail! This glorious land of liberty shall long be ours.”