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To the place I first open my eyes
To the place of my future and past
To reason my love for Africa never dies
To the place my mother calls home
Sweet Liberia, I salute thee
To the reason I'm proud to be called African
To the German plum, the monkey apple and those sweet sweet sugar cane
To the cassava leaf, the palm butter and the juicy torborgee
To the pem-pem boys ont he corner of Meclin and Carey Streets
Sweet Liberia, the very thought of thee excites me
To the hard times, the war and all it left behind
To the blood, tears and lives on the front lines from years of civil wars
To the devastation, the frustration and the reconstruction that came after
To the hope for the young and new generation
To the grona boys trying to make ends meet
To the children chasing cars selling cold water in the streets
To the land you've given those people
To the beautiful red, white and blue on our flag
To the lone star representing the first Western Styled Independent Republic in Africa
sweet Liberia, I salute thee
To the glorious land of Liberty
To the million reason only a few enjoy those liberties
To the Lone star and Liberians everywhere
To the girls in the Grebo Bushes
To the guys carry cutlass in the bushes
To endless possibilites of a new day
To the day it comes and people working towards it
Sweet Liberia
I Salute Thee
- Zuleka
- Apr 27, 2017
- 2 min read
What is Kehkeh? Kehkeh is LIFE. Some will say Kehkeh are the three-wheeled taxi used for transportation in Liberia or just the capital city. They come in various colors, make and models. In Asia, they're known as Tuk-Tuk...Well, in Thailand that's what they called it during my study abroad. I think I fell in love with then there, but forgot how much I enjoyed them until I got to Liberia. If you ever ran into me while in Liberia and I wasn't in a Kehkeh, it wasn't me! I even had an assigned Kehkeh with a guy named Roland. We had a relationship much more than just passenger and driver. I spent so much time with Roland that I even knew his family and where he lived. Roland knew my friends, family and all the conu-conu (Secret spots). You see, I worked in the rural parts of Liberia and they did not have any Kehkeh there. So during my few visits to the capital, Roland and his Kehkeh was a huge part of my days. I went to lunch, ran errands, visited families and friends, etc all while smiling and observing the craziness of the overpopulated Monrovia. Riding Kehkeh was cheaper, but also offered the best view of all things Liberia. I could jump in and out of a Kehkeh if I saw street food worth trying. Or I simply took Instagram Stories as I rode along. Sometimes I just sat there and enjoyed music and sipped coconut water from the shell. I can not think of a more efficient way to travel and enjoy any city. I got a front eye view to people, places and traditions in a way I never thought I could. Some people told me Kehkehs are for poor people. A police Officer even told me "people like me should not be Kehkehs". I had a friend tell me "I can't be serious" when I showed up for lunch in a Kehkeh. I am not going to get into the socio-economic ramifications of Kehkehs. I just want everyone to get a piece of my life in Kehkehs. This is for Roland and all those random times I asked him to play music even when he didn't like it. This is also for all those so-called rich folks who taught they were better than me because I showed up in my Kehkeh. We all were at the table eating though...Nah?
"To travel is to Live" Kehkeh is Life. The next time you visit Liberia or a place where you see these little things, hop in and thank me later.
