The African Country That Changed History Twice (And It's Not What You Think)

Added: 2026-05-19

[00:00:02]I bet you you've heard the stories of Mana Musa. I know you've heard the stories of the Moors.

[00:00:09]Of course, the legendary stories of the mighty empire of Benin.

[00:00:15]Perhaps you've even heard the the Gold Coast stories of Ghana, right? But I bet you, you may not know there's one country in Africa that holds two distinguished firsts.

[00:00:40]Welcome to the perspective and I am Milin King. I'm back for another episode, y'all. I think Panda Genius may like me. So, let's have some fun with it. Remember, all thoughts, views, and perspectives on this platform are all mine. So, if you have an issue with it, like and engage and let's do it. So, I was telling you guys about Africa and some of its legendary stories.

[00:01:11]I bet you, well, some of you may not know, there is one country in Africa that hosts two distinguished firsts.

[00:01:23]Think about how large the continent of Africa is.

[00:01:28]One country host two distinguished firsts.

[00:01:36]Liberia.

[00:01:38]Yes, my country, Liberia, we host two distinguished firsts.

[00:01:45]The first republic ever in Africa was established in Liberia and the first female president on the continent of Africa.

[00:02:04]Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

[00:02:10]I swear I swear >> that I will.

[00:02:34]>> So, and the 52nd legislature is session >> two legendary firsts huh for one of the smaller countries.

[00:02:46]Now before we get to Ellen Johnson sleeve let's let's talk about Liberia and it's its interesting connection with America.

[00:02:58]So Liberia, if you know the history, was founded by free slaves.

[00:03:06]And like we said, this is perspective.

[00:03:09]So my take, my perspective it on this is those free slaves were of the land.

[00:03:16]They left home for an extended period of time to to learn some things, if you will.

[00:03:25]And when this country decided that they couldn't deal with them anymore or they didn't want them here anymore, they offered them the the original, why don't you go back to Africa?

[00:03:38]And Liberia happened to be one of those countries that received slaves.

[00:03:47]And in receiving the slaves, obviously they brought some of their American things that they learned over here. Uh, and they they learned a lot of random things. Not all of them were positive, but we'll get to that later. This is more of like a light history lesson for those who don't know. And this is a personal connection for me. As on my first episode, I'd mentioned that I'm Liberian. So, I'd like to talk about the history of Liberia to help the diaspora and the rest of the folks who are watching this learn. So, when we talk about history, we're saying that Nigeria and Ghana first universities, their first university higher education was established in 1948. So, that's a long time. But what if I told you Liberia was almost 80 years before that?

[00:04:41]was well more than 80 years, right? 1862 and then you also had 1889 we had Cington University established.

[00:04:52]You see, Cington University at the time was one of the largest when it was established in Africa at the time. And the University of Liberia, it was the school at the time.

[00:05:08]people around Africa went there to get educated. Oh, and about Cington University, it still stands to this day through two civil wars in Liberia.

[00:05:18]Yeah. So, that that's some of the great history. But I got to be honest and touch base on this history, too.

[00:05:28]Yes, there were freed slaves that came back to Liberia, but the situation with the freed slaves was there were indigenous people who were already there. Over 17 different languages were spoken at that time in Liberia.

[00:05:48]And when the America Liberians came back, they brought some of the American flavor with them. the class system. Now, my take is class systems were already established in Africa at that time, but it probably was a little different because it was Africans doing it to Africans.

[00:06:11]This one just felt and seemed a little different.

[00:06:16]It was you can't speak the language, we don't understand you, so we're going to do this on our own.

[00:06:27]So think about that. You are indigenous to the land and you are pushed out of your own land. Not able to actively participate. Not able to build. Not able to better yourself, creating a massive divide right there on the grounds between two types of blacks. between the Americano Liberians, the Americans and the indigenous Liberian. So despite that separation between the Americano Liberians and the indigenous, Liberia still thrived. Make no mistake, 50s, 60s, and the 70s, Liberia started to progress.

[00:07:13]But the truth of the matter is this. How can you keep someone who's a native of the land out of power for so long? Like I mentioned earlier, a hundred years before the indigenous people got their right to vote and really speak about what was happening in their land.

[00:07:33]I'm pretty sure the intention was, well, we know what's better for you because we were in America and we experienced this and we're more educated and we've got more money.

[00:07:44]But ultimately in April, April of 1979, April 14th specifically, there was a projected discussion to increase the bag of rice. Pardon me. It was actually established that it was going to happen from 22 to $26. Now, you know, in Africa, rice is a staple in most households.

[00:08:12]So going up from 22 to 26 did impact a lot of people. But not only did it impact a lot of people, what it also brought to the forefront was the fact that the president, President Tober at that time, it was believed that his family would benefit from that increase.

[00:08:31]And you see that that line again of the America Liberians and the indigenous Liberians having their differences. So they felt away about it.

[00:08:42]>> There's been a lot of trouble in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, over the weekend. It all began, apparently, with an announcement that rice prices were to be increased. People came out onto the streets on Saturday and Sunday and went on the rampage. Tear gas was used by the police to try and disperse the crowds.

[00:08:59]They opened fire and a number of people have been killed and injured. And Monrovia has been put under a nighttime curfew. Here's Jan Perry. At a cabinet meeting today, President Tolbert said that at least 29 people had been killed in the weekend's disturbances and 376 wounded. He admitted, however, that casualties could be much higher since these figures only referred to people admitted to the government John F.

[00:09:25]Kennedy Medical Center. President Talbert said that the riers had caused millions of dollars worth of damage.

[00:09:33]Major shops and food stores, he said, had been wrecked and looted. Police and soldiers, he claimed, had only opened fire when tear gas could not control the demonstrators. According to President Tulbus, the demonstrations were not really over the issue of rice prices at all. They were a concerted effort, he said, to wreck and overthrow the government. He described those who'd organized the demonstrations as satanic enemies of the state. President Tolbert did not say who he believed had organized them, but an accusing finger is being pointed at a small opposition party, the Progressive Alliance of Liberia, which set up offices in Monrovia in 1978.

[00:10:14]President Tolbert said that he intended to deal mercilessly with those responsible for the weekend's disturbances.

[00:10:21]Whether that means that widespread arrests of leading members of the Progressive Alliance have already been made isn't clear. According to reports, Monrovia is quieter today, but a curfew is still in force and soldiers have been out patrolling the streets. According to one report, a detachment of Ganaan troops were flown in yesterday to help support the Liberian army.

[00:10:44]>> That report by Jan Pi.

[00:10:46]>> Rice riots ensued.

[00:10:49]Many say that that was the precursor to what put Liberia into the predicament that it's in to this day. Because just about a year later, April 12th of 1980, Samuel Doe, he and his military team did a coup of the government.

[00:11:30]Now, I don't need to get into the specifics, but history lets us know when coups happen, people aren't really kept around to talk about them.

[00:11:45]So as you can imagine majority of presidents toolbert of presidents Tolbert's cabinet was assassinated and that is when the indigenous people took over.

[00:12:01]Now, in all fairness, I don't want to say this guy ruined Liberia, but I will say this. He was yearning for an opportunity to lead Liberia.

[00:12:21]And he didn't do a good job.

[00:12:23]Liberia went from a country that was prosperous to losing its GDP in less than 15 years. So when Charles Taylor came and gave him the same offering that he gave to the president before the country was already damaged. Now Charles Tail is a different story for another day.

[00:12:50]This is just me talking about my personal connection to April 14th, 1979.

[00:12:56]Now, y'all gonna say, "Damn."

[00:12:58]But that's when I was born. April 14th, 1979, the day of the Rice riot. And I could recall my mom telling me the story of on her way to the hospital being caught in traffic and not knowing if she was going to make it to that hospital that day. It was a Saturday that she told me. She said a simple five minute ride turned into something that was almost two hours.

[00:13:24]So for me, I think about that day set forth everything as to why I'm sitting in front of this camera talking to you today.

[00:13:37]My father often times told me stories.

[00:13:39]He said, "If D didn't happen, there'd be no reason to be in America.

[00:13:49]Well, one will never know, but for me who left at a young age and hasn't had a chance to go back because of the two instances when I attempted, war started to escalate.

[00:14:06]It's important for me to stay connected with that history regardless if I haven't been on the grounds.

[00:14:14]So, this is my personal outreach to anyone in the diaspora.

[00:14:20]If you have that connection and you're from that place, don't let it go just because you haven't been back. Stay connected. Learn from the culture. I still learn from my mom, still learn from my uncles, from my aunts, and ultimately myself.

[00:14:38]I'll be going back there sooner than later.

[00:14:42]My name's Milin King and I hope you enjoyed tonight's episode. Look, engage.

[00:14:48]Let me know your thoughts. Let me know your insights. And if you're from somewhere in the diaspora and you haven't been back since you were a little kid for whatever that reason is, drop a comment and let me know.