Liberia, created by freed slaves from the US and the Caribbean in 1847, is Africa’s first and oldest modern republic. Under the leadership of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first female president in Africa, the country is slowly recovering from a brutal military rule from 1980 to 1989, followed by a ruinous civil war, which lasted until 2003 and killed 250,000 people and displaced a million. 95% of the population is indigenous Africans. Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world. About 80% of its people live below the poverty line.
アメリカ合衆国とカリブ海上諸島からの解放奴隷が作り上げたリベリアは、1847年に独立したアフリカ最初で最古の共和国。1980年に軍事クーデターが起こり、1989年から2003年まで血みどろの内戦が繰り広げられた結果、25万人が命を落とし、100万人が故郷を追われた。現在、アフリカ初の女性大統領エリザベス・ジョンソン・サーリーフの元で復興を図っている。解放奴隷の子孫は国民の僅か5％。国民の約8割が貧困ライン以下の生活をしている最貧国。
Selfie, Golden Beach, Monrovia, Liberia, April 2017
Selfie, Golden Beach, Monrovia, Liberia, April 2017
Washing clothes, Monrovia, Liberia, April 2017
“God’s Grace Tailoring Shop”, Monrovia, Liberia, April 2017
A break from work?, Monrovia, Liberia, April 2017
Shop owner, Monrovia, Liberia, April 2017. Many shops are called “business center”.
Girl walking in front of heavy-security building, Monrovia, Liberia, April 2017
Mother and daughter, Monrovia, Liberia, April 2017
West Point, Monrovia, Liberia, April 2017
West Point, Monrovia, Liberia, April 2017. There is only one road to get in and out of this slum, says our driver.
Fruit seller, on the way to Katata, Liberia, April 2017
Bread seller, on the way to Katata, Liberia, April 2017
Two ladies, on the way to Katata, Liberia, April 2017
Main street, Katata Town, Liberia, April 2017
Working in the kitchen, Bong, Liberia, April 2017
Old farmer who asked me “Ya ne na?” (I think it means “What’s your name?” in Liberian English), Bong, Liberia, April 2017
Handmade bricks, Bong, Liberia, April 2017
Tree branch with flowers and fruit, Bong, Liberia, April 2017
A cock, Bong, Liberia, April 2017
Various items hung under the eaves, Bong, Liberia, April 2017
Hen pecking a papaya, Bong, Liberia, April 2017
Okra flower, Bong, Liberia, April 2017
Farmer, Bong, Liberia, April 2017
Farm, Bong, Liberia, April 2017
Chillies, Bong, Liberia, April 2017
Woman sorting vegetables, Bong, Liberia, April 20177
Two men under umbrella, Bong Town, Liberia, April 2017
Husband and wife, Monrovia, Liberia, April 20177
Communal water pump, Monrovia, Liberia, April 2017
Boys playing with tyres, Monrovia, Liberia, April 2017
Security guard who raised four kids on her own, Monrovia, Liberia, April 2017
Street vendors, Monrovia, Liberia, April 2017
Girl sitting on the steps, Monrovia, Liberia, April 2017
School girls on the way home, Monrovia, Liberia, April 2017
Three men on the street, Monrovia, Liberia, April 2017
Dignified lady, Monrovia, Liberia, April 2017
Masako Osada Visual Arts 