16

The sun rises over the highest peaks of Mount Nimba

To bellows from the Pepperbird’s belly

Day breaks and her mouth opens solely to sing praises for what God has done

Beholding the beauty of the Creator’s handiwork

She soars over hill, land, and sea—

A reminder to the righteous of who we were

Kpelle, Bassa, Kissi, Kru

Handcrafted from the richest of all soil and high spirits

Were a people of structure and resilience

Gio, Grebo, Mandingo, Vai

From triangular slave trade to becoming a safe space of refuge

For those experiencing unrest wherever they laid

Mano, Gola, Gbandi, Dey

By the Creator’s most unique ordinance,

A diaspora bridge between continent and colony of prodigal children

Bella, Mende, Lorma, Krahn

Keepers of the ocean and protectors of hospitality,

As rich in natural resources as we are in warmth and unconditional joy

God bless Liberia and all of her fruits,

By birth, by blood, and honorary

Let us sever ties with revisionist history and revel in truth

May we meet social elitism and the cancer of class with a strong rebuke

There are 16 tribes and ways of speaking

16 tribes and ways of living

16 ways of being

16 ways to love one another

16 ways to love ourselves

16 rays of light from a Lone Star

16 identities that shape the 1 we all are

16 histories to reclaim

16 ways to spell our name

16 tribes but One Source,

And His banner over us is Love, not war

16 histories to reclaim

16 ways to spell our name

16 ways to say - I AM A LIBERIAN

He created us from different tribes so we may know each other

For His banner over us is Love

The sun sets over the sands and glistening shores in Montserrado

The Pepperbird has made her rounds and now heads back to rest

Humming this affirmation while retreating to her nest—

All hail Liberia, God’s Beloved

From inception to present— She is blessed

All hail Liberia, God’s Beloved

From inception to present— She is blessed.