Hon. Phamolie Morris Kromah, FELMAUSA Secretary General

As this year comes to its closing stages, it is imperative for us to count down some of the successes and stumbling blocks that we as a people have encountered both in FELMAUSA and other places around the Liberian and Mandingo communities. We will in addition count down some of the personal achievements as well as disappointments and sadness that transpired in 2009. It is our passionate hope that this publication will serve as a sober and reflective tool for each of us in our quest for Mandingo unity, Mandingo pride and Mandingo success.

Now let’s get the count down rolling…

EDUCATION

In 2009, we were fortunate to observe more Mandingoes achieve contemporary education in pursuit of self fulfillment. Over-all, one can clearly say that we as a people have come a long way educationally. Optimistically, we have a promising future given the trend at which our current and future generation has enthusiastically attach greatest importance to education.

Overtime, we’ve seen more and more graduates from various high schools, colleges and universities in Liberia, Europe, and here in the U.S. with under-graduate and graduate degrees in different disciplines. Evidently, FELMAUSA website has been a place where graduates photos have been posted in commemoration of their achievements.

Unfortunately, there is a disproportionate number of men vs. women among our graduates. Without any statistical evidence, you will agree that there were more men graduates in 2009 then women. With anticipation of a better future, it’s our dream to see a tremendous increase in female graduates in different disciplines in the coming year.

It is in this same token that FELMAUSA has and continue to deposit its meager resources to the scholarship program.

Meanwhile, a local US-based Philadelphia women organization called Diplomat initiated its scholarship program in August 2009 to assist 10 deserving high school students in Liberia. Among other things, the group launched its scholarship program in the summer of this year so as to lend a helping hand to struggling parents in Liberia. This move must be applauded and emulated by other female organizations around the U.S and other places.

HEALTH

The Liberian Mandingo community in the U.S. witnessed a modest increase in kidney and liver transplant as well as other illness and diseases in 2009. Due to our limitations, we cannot attribute the causes to such increase but we can create awareness and education that might reduce the chances of others been affected by these killer diseases.

The famous of all in 2009 was Mr. Kafumba Kenneh-a God fearing individual donating one of his kidneys to Mr. Muctar Sheriff who was under-going intense dialysis due to the illness of a failing kidney. Mr. Sheriff has since recuperated from the illness and has resumed his work of community resuscitation and been a father.

This illness however continues to plaque our communities as there are more and more discoveries of Mandingo men and women that are affected by deteriorating kidneys and livers. In the coming year, we hope to establish a special medical column on FELMAUSA website where periodic publications will highlight and enlighten our various communities about common measures against frequent epidemics and diseases.

POLITICS

Liberian Mandingoes, politically in Liberia even though on the brink of success, remains victims of injustices and brutal vulnerability. Even though Liberian Mandingoes are now been considered for key positions in government, Liberian Mandingoes properties are still being crouched on by illegal and disgruntled inhabitants of Nimba County and its surrounding areas. The despicable attack on the free movement of Liberian Mandingoes needs to be addressed by the political maharishis of our time.

In 2009, the governments of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf called Mr. Sekou Damate Konneh- a born and raise Liberian citizen, a Guinean while he was incarcerated at the hands of the military junta in Guinea. While we are not in the position to attribute the government assertion to Mr. Konneh been a Mandingo, it is still disheartening to term a former presidential candidate of Liberia a Guinean. With the galvanizing support of individuals from around the U.S., Liberia, and Guinea, Mr. Konneh has successfully returned to Liberia and actively participating in the rebuilding process.

In 2009, the appointed city mayor of Monrovia, Mary Broh meticulously unleashed her ignorance and political immaturity when she physically attacked innocent Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan in her attempt to address the deadly need of city ordinance and street cleaning. Amazingly enough, the only thing Liberian Mandingoes received out of such injustice was an apology from the president.  

We are optimistic that in the coming year, our political condition in Liberia will improve enormously.

On the Local front, we were proud in 2009 to have Mr. Bangali Trawally and Abu Sillah elected to the Organization of Liberians in Minnesota and the Liberian Association of Pennsylvania Board of Directors respectively. We are confident that these individuals will bring a wealth of knowledge and initiatives to their respective Board of Directors in the coming year.

TRAGEDY

Tragedy was among the mishaps that plagued the Liberian Mandingo communities in 2009. Among many of the tragedies that occurred, the deaths of 2 young Mandingo men in NY with their bodies thrown in the river was a headliner as it took local and international media attention. The culprits of the crime are yet to be identified as investigations into the reason for their death continue. As the Mandingo community and Liberian community were mourning those men death, 7 people died in a house fire in Philadelphia as a result of a kerosene heater.  Few months after, the cold hands of death strike again and took the live of a little girl in Philadelphia who was trying to find a place to cool off during the hot summer weather.

In spite of all the difficult moments of tragedy, sadness, poor health and disappointments, our various communities in the U.S., Europe and Liberia remain unwaveringly committed to the socio-political development of our people.  With time, we are destined to transcend the core values and believe of change to generations to come, God’s willing.