Liberia, a country that few people visit, holds a compelling, though often untold, historical relationship with the United States, a connection rooted in the 1800s when freed African Americans were offered a new home in Africa. This land, however, was already governed by powerful indigenous tribes, leading to conflicts that shaped the birth of this unique nation. The country’s flag, strikingly similar to the U.S. flag but featuring a single star, is a direct throwback to these roots. The enduring lack of global awareness of this history was highlighted when then-President Trump questioned the Liberian president about where he learned English, sparking widespread outrage across Africa.
The journey begins with the Fearless & Far team crossing the border from Ivory Coast, a process immediately fraught with problems as two foreigners attempting a land crossing is not common. The border itself is a river requiring a ferry crossing. Upon arriving in the town of Harper, the explorers wake up to a surprise: a full marching band hired to wake someone up for their birthday at 6:30 a.m., an event described as "ridiculous" but "incredibly beautiful". During breakfast at Bobby’s Business Center, which serves unique combinations like spaghetti with egg, a local expressed a common sentiment: they wish to see more Americans in Liberia and particularly in Harper, noting that when Americans were there, they were "very good people".
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Harper itself is a haunting architectural echo of the American South. The streets are lined with abandoned American colonial buildings, featuring weathered wood, wraparound porches, and faded elegance, mirroring the architecture the settlers saw in the U.S.. These were built by the American settlers—freed black Americans—who had never actually been to Africa; their connection was through their grandparents who were taken as slaves. Thus, these settlers, being Africans "at heart and in soul" but culturally American, struggled to integrate, speaking English and only knowing American customs. Many of Liberia's cities, like Harper and Monrovia, are named after U.S. politicians and presidents.
A key figure in Liberian history is President W.V.S. Tubman, who ruled from 1944 to 1971 and is known as the father of modern Liberia, responsible for progress as well as turmoil. The team explored his abandoned mansion, a presidential palace built in 1927, noting the lack of graffiti thanks to caretakers. Discussing life in Liberia with local residents on the rooftop, the sentiment was that life is "hard" because only "other people takes the money," and there is a great need for job facilities. Ex-soldiers also voiced their need for help in Maryland County, noting that since the war ended 14 years ago, things have been peaceful.
The adventure shifts from colonial history to indigenous culture with a journey into the jungle to meet the Gribo tribe in the village of Kabala. The team, guided by Pastor Z, who is both a local pastor and owns a driving school, received a unique welcome. Upon arrival, village elders and warriors, some wearing black paint and carrying machetes, lined the road, necessitating a formal protocol to state the visitors' intentions. It is customary in such meetings to partake in local provisions, which included kola nuts dipped in fiery pepper—described as "very bitter" but surprisingly palatable—and a locally distilled, sugary moonshine. The cola nut caused the host to feel "buzzed" and energized. The meeting concluded with formal speeches, an official blessing using liquor given to the ancestors, and a dancing ceremony. The experience highlighted that the arrival of tourists, or "outsiders," often becomes an "oddity and interest" in itself, resulting in cell phone cameras pointed at the visitors. Despite the wide range of practices, the journey offered a rare look at a wild country with an even wilder history.
