In Honor of Bai T. Moore: Liberia’s Cultural Heritage Resurrected

BOMI COUNTY – Liberia’s poet, writer, culturist and statesman, the late Bai Temia Johnson Moore, who was laid to rest in 1988, has been remembered by some of his students and colleagues of the nation’s cultural and intellectual society.

Moore was buried at the age of 71 in his native Dimeh, following a state funeral at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion in Monrovia.

His funeral turned out to be a cultural extravaganza of a home-going, as six cultural troupes from various tribes and many dignitaries were in attendance.

However, family sources and former colleagues say the grave of the cultural legend and renowned author was desecrated and the casket stolen by some of the warring factions that plagued the country during the 14-year civil conflict.

Peter Yakpawolo Ballah, one of Bai T. Moore’s cultural trainees and executive director of Liberian Cultural Promoters (formerly known as Flomo Theater), however, has taken the laudable and historic initiative to construct an exquisite memorial over the grave of the fallen cultural hero in Dimeh.

“There is a need for people to remember those who have made history in this country,” Ballah said.

“I am glad and grateful for the teaching that Bai T. Moore imparted to me. So the project was done to enable people to remember him,” he explained.

Last Saturday, January 30, Ballah accompanied Moore’s widow, Mrs. Gillian Tulay Moore, and her son Butch Moore to the grave site to inspect the developments there. Also on the delegation were Kenneth Y. Best and his daughter, Lilian Best. Having worked together at the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Best was a longtime friend and associate Moore’s.

Ballah recounted how the late Bai T. Moore promoted him in the field of the noble Liberian culture, which, he said, now faces a massive invasion by foreign cultures.

Himself a Liberian cultural icon, Ballah further stressed the need for the inclusion of cultural studies in the Liberian educational system because, he said, the youths of today are forgetting their cultural heritage and Liberia is losing the money it could be making from tourism.

That idea may not be far from becoming a reality. Liberia’s Acting Minister of Information, Culture & Tourism, Elizabeth Hoff, told a gathering at the opening of the country clothe (textile) exhibition at the National Museum last December that Liberia’s educational system must take on the responsibility of keeping alive and promoting the Liberian cultural heritage.

She described as ‘alarming’ the invasion of foreign cultures in Liberian society.

“I am saying this because it is very important. Thousands of our young people go through our school system every year without learning about our cultural values,” she asserted.

Meanwhile, Ballah has disclosed plans for the building of a US$2.5 million Cultural Complex off the Bomi Highway, where young people will be trained in the knowledge and value of Liberian culture.

For more information on the life and works of Bai T. Moore, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bai_T._Moore.