A myriad of symbols—visual, spoken, sung, and enacted—continue to engender a rich communicative pallet for Liberia.

Lone Star Matilda Newport Day “The love of liberty brought us here” Child Soldiers Blue Helmets

Rice Cassava Palm Wine “The time is now” (taxi motto) English

Drums Elephant Horns Poro Masks Masked Performers Stilt Dancers

Some are indices rich with historic and political meaning; others are associated with a broad range of cultural and aesthetic responses.

Liberians, whether as a nation, as ethnic groups, voluntary associations or individuals, have always employed symbols to interpret their past in light of the present and to envision their future, often drawing upon the past. The Deshield Commission Report (1978) gave serious consideration to possible changes in the national motto, seal, anthem and constitution. Others have addressed the need to revisit Liberia's symbols and find ways to re-fashion them to reflect the true national identity, unity, brotherhood, oneness and reconciliation among all Liberians.

Questions will include:

(1) How have the symbols on which your discipline focuses been interpreted in the past?
(2) What symbols are emerging in the post-conflict period and how are they being enacted?
(3) What symbols might be adopted for the future and how could they be employed?
(4) What symbols have implications for education, curriculum, rehabilitation, reintegration?

Presentations

(1) Overhead projector, video projector, Windows PC, and CD and tape player will be available for use.
(2) All presenters at LSA39 must be LSA members. International presenters may wait until the conference to register. To become a member, click here: LSA Membership