Ramsey N Singbeh Jr
director@news.throngtalk.com
+231772641146 / 880147358
Officials and members of the National Association of the Kpelle and Kpelle-Speaking People of Liberia converged in the city of Gbarnga, Bong County to host the first general meeting of the group.
The organization is geared toward promoting cultural heritage, unity and development among the Kpelle Tribe which constitutes over 20 percent of Liberia’s Population.
The first Kpelle meeting was held at the Gbarnga Administrative Building in Bong County on May 17, 2025. In attendance at the meeting were kpelle speaking people from many of the counties of Liberia including the venue county, Bong as well as Gbarpolu, Margibi, Lofa, and Montserrado amongst others.
There were also some prominent Liberians such as former vice president Jewel Howard-Taylor, former Senate Pro-tem Armah Z. Jallah, former Senators Henry W. Yallah, and Franklin Siakor of Gbarpolu and Bong Counties respectively.
Others are Senators Prince K. Moye and Nathaniel F. McGill of Bong and Margibi Counties, former Rep. Moses Y. Kollie of Lofa County, Rep. Marvin Cole of Bong County and many others.
Mr. Lepolu Torlon, National Chairman
Speaking during the meeting, Mr. Lepolu Torlon, National Chairman of the association, provided an overview of the Kpelle people, who number over two million across Liberia, Guinea, and northwestern Ivory Coast. In Liberia alone, he mentioned, the Kpelle constitute about 26% of the population, with over one million people, primarily living in rural areas.
Despite their size, he noted the Kpelle have historically remained fragmented both nationally and internationally, leading to misconceptions about their ability to govern themselves and a gradual erosion of their rich cultural traditions.
Mr. Torlon emphasized the urgent need to rekindle the Kpelle’s traditional arts, crafts, blacksmithing, and other cultural practices that are rapidly disappearing. “We see it imperative to rekindle our cultural heritage and seek a national unification of all Kpelle and Kpelle-speaking people of Liberia,” he said. The new association aims to collaborate with existing Kpelle organizations to foster unity and cultural preservation.
He said the National Association’s vision is “to be the leading advocate and unifying force for the advancement, cultural preservation, equality, and development of the Kpelle and Kpelle-Speaking people of Liberia.”
“Its mission focuses on upholding the rights and interests of the Kpelle through advocacy, community development, and educational advancement, while promoting collaboration and harmony among Kpelle communities both within Liberia and abroad” he explained.
In a stirring declaration, Former Senator Henry W. Yallah, acting chair of the Board of Directors, called on the Kpelle people to overcome divisions and unite for a stronger future.
“For too long, we have allowed fractures to divide us. But I ask you: When have we ever thrived in isolation? Our power lies not in uniformity but in the harmony of our voices, the richness of our traditions, and the shared dreams we hold for our children,” he said.
Yallah painted a vivid vision of a future where Kpelle villages and cities thrive with pride, where the Kpelle language is a living testament to their identity, and where past scars become foundations for reconciliation.
He urged the community to channel their historical struggles into a force for progress, emphasizing that unity does not mean silence but rather collective strength.
Marking a new chapter, Yallah declared that all Kpelle people, regardless of their regional subsets-such as Guinea Kpelle, Margibi Kpelle, or Lofa Kpelle-will now be recognized collectively as Liberian Kpelle.
Furthermore, he announced that every third Saturday of May will be celebrated annually as National Kpelle Unification Day, symbolizing the community’s commitment to solidarity and cultural pride.
With the power vested by the Board of Directors and standing on the legacy of Ambassador Dr. Jeremiah C. Solunteh, former senator Yallah officially established the National Association of the Kpelle and Kpelle-Speaking People.
This historic event marks a significant step toward overcoming longstanding divisions and revitalizing the cultural heritage of the Kpelle people. The association pledges to work tirelessly to unite the community, preserve their traditions, and empower future generations. As Senator Yallah concluded, “Our story does not end here; it begins anew today. Let us rise.”
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