Liberian Independence Day: Exploring Liberia’s History and Cuisine

Jul 26, 2021 04:11PM ● By Oga Africa

(Liberian Dry Rice. Image by Wally Gobetz via Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/6293255679 )

Happy Independence Day, Liberia! On July 26th, 1847, this African country gained independence from the United States. We are celebrating Liberian independence by exploring the West African country’s history and cuisine.

The country, now known as Liberia, which translates to ‘Land of the Free’ in Latin, has long been home to over 16 indigenous tribes, including the Kpelle, Gola, Kru, Bassa, Loma, and more, who voyaged to the area from Western Sudan (an area covering present day Sudan to Chad) in the late Middle Ages.

In 1820, formerly enslaved Africans in the United States and the Caribbean resettled in Liberia. The next year, the American Colonization Society established the region as a colony of the United States. American colonizers put resettled African diasporans in leadership positions, and this trend continued after independence. By the late 1900s, rampant poverty in the country, political corruption, disenfranchised indigenous populations, and other factors culminated into a civil war, which lasted from 1989 to 2003, claiming the lives of almost 250,000 people.

As a result of this war, many Liberians fled as refugees. Today, Philadelphia has a vibrant Liberian community, and many non-Liberians connect with the culture through food. Philadelphia was reported to be the metropolitan city with the most Liberian immigrants in 2016. If you are reading this from Philly, you may have seen or heard of some of the dishes we are about to mention.

(Cassava Leaf with rice. Image by @Yattas_Liberian_Cuisine via Instagram )

Cassava leaf and potato greens, two of Liberia’s most popular dishes, are leaf-based stews. Cassava leaf, which is made with the leaf of a cassava, and potato greens, made with the leaf of sweet potato, is usually paired with white or dry rice.

( Torborgee. Image by @Rodstarlet via Instagram)

Torborgee is a dish that is made with cowpeas, or torborgee beans, spices, meat, and palm oil. This delicacy is usually accompanied by rice and has both a spicy and bitter taste. There are different versions of this dish, and they all have one thing in common--they are delicious!

(Chicken gravy. Image by @Ma.bcuisine via Instagram)

Liberian chicken gravy is a delicacy that usually includes chicken, shrimp, chicken stock, and vegetables like green beans, bell peppers, tomatoes, and onion. This stew is usually served with rice.

(Dumboy with peanut soup and fixings. Image by @KitchenButterfly via Instagram)

Dumboy, the national dish of Liberia, is a cassava fufu and soup dish, eaten with pepper soup, peanut butter soup, or another soup with meat, and includes toppings such as eggplant and powdered pepper.