American singer, songwriter, and dancer Ciara has officially received citizenship in Benin, becoming one of the growing number of African-American celebrities reconnecting with their ancestral roots through African citizenship.
The 36-year-old artist shared the news on her official Facebook page, revealing that she was granted Beninese nationality on July 26, during this year’s United Nations International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent. Notably, Ciara is the first person in the world to be granted citizenship under Benin’s new initiative to welcome members of the African diaspora.
“July 26, history was made. On this year’s United Nations International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent, I was honored to receive Beninese citizenship, becoming the first person in the world granted nationality under this new initiative! To be welcomed by His Excellency President Patrice Talon, the Office of Benin Tourism, and the beautiful people of Benin is a moment I will never forget,” Ciara wrote.
The singer also paid tribute to Benin’s historic city of Ouidah, one of the busiest slave ports during the transatlantic slave trade, acknowledging the painful past and the importance of reconnecting with her ancestral roots.
Ciara now joins a list of prominent black folk in America who have reclaimed African citizenship, including Tiffany Haddish, Stevie Wonder, Samuel L. Jackson, and Ludacris.
As more members of the Black diaspora trace their lineage to Africa, initiatives like Benin’s are helping to heal historical wounds and celebrate cultural reconnection.
Malcolm Brogdon might be known to NBA fans as a steady, intelligent, and efficient point guard. The 2017 Rookie of the Year, 2023 Sixth Man of the Year, and a consistent performer from the free-throw line and beyond the arc. But the roots of his character stretch far deeper than basketball. His impact off the court is just as powerful. From childhood, Brogdon was raised with a sense of purpose, identity, and service values instilled in him by his remarkable parents, Mitchell Gino Brogdon and Dr. Jann Adams.
Named after Malcolm X, Brogdon has always had a deep understanding of his role in society. His upbringing wasn’t accidental…it was intentional. At the height of their careers, Malcolm’s parents boldly moved their family from a middle-class neighborhood into inner-city Atlanta. Aiming to raise children who understood the complexities of the world around them. That decision and early international experiences in Ghana and Malawi opened Malcolm’s eyes to inequality, social justice, and global responsibility. The wisdom and principles passed down by his parents continue to shape who he is today—on and off the court.
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Who is Malcolm Brogdon’s Father?
Malcolm Brogdon’s father is Mitchell Gino Brogdon, a respected lawyer and mediator based in Atlanta, Georgia. With a calm demeanor and thoughtful approach to conflict resolution, Mitchell brought more than just legal insight to the Brogdon household; he brought vision.
Mitchell played a critical role in shaping Malcolm’s understanding of the world. One of Mitchell’s most defining decisions as a father was moving the family into inner-city Atlanta. It wasn’t about convenience or prestige but about exposure and empathy. “It was a conscious decision on their part to make sure we grew up with an understanding of what other people had to go through,” Malcolm said.
Mitchell also took young Malcolm to Ghana when he was just 10 years old. There, father and son worked in daycare and maternity facilities. This experience forever changed Malcolm and planted the seeds of his humanitarian focus, especially his commitment to global access to clean water and education. The lessons Mitchell passed on weren’t abstract; they were lived and now ripple out through Malcolm’s work with the Brogdon Family Foundation.
Who is Malcolm Brogdon’s Mother?
Malcolm’s mother, Dr. Jann Adams, is the Associate Vice President at Morehouse College. A historically Black all-male institution with a legacy of developing some of the nation’s greatest civil rights and social justice leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr.. Their alma mater and neighborhood became part of Malcolm’s own daily experience.
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A dedicated scholar and psychologist, Dr. Adams is more than just an academic…she’s a social advocate. As a follower of Malcolm X, she named her son after the activist and raised him with the same unwavering belief in justice, equity, and dignity. When Malcolm was subjected to racial discrimination in a private school as a child, Dr. Adams didn’t hesitate. She pulled him out, not allowing her son to internalize racism or feel diminished. She taught him self-respect and resistance.
Her influence goes beyond her children. Dr. Adams helped spearhead a social justice and HBCU tour for underserved high school students through the Brogdon Family Foundation. Connecting them with institutions that reflect their history and potential. “Malcolm basically grew up at Morehouse,” she once said. “He literally grew up in Dansby Hall in Morehouse College.” Her leadership and foresight shaped Malcolm into the person he is, and pushes him to strive for more as an athlete.
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What is Malcolm Brogdon’s Ethnicity?
Malcolm Brogdon is African-American and holds American nationality. His parents, Mitchell Gino Brogdon and Dr. Jann Adams, are African-American and resided in Georgia before their divorce. The Brogdons belong to a family line deeply rooted in civil rights, education, and service. Dating back to Malcolm’s great-grandfather, Eugene Avery Adams Sr., a pastor and early civil rights advocate, and his grandfather, John Hurst Adams, who marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
While it’s impossible not to appreciate Malcolm Brogdon beyond the stat lines, knowing his background makes you respect him even more. His poise isn’t just basketball IQ; it’s lived experience. It’s the product of a powerful upbringing by two parents who didn’t just raise an NBA player…they raised a leader. When Malcolm Brogdon steps on the court, you’re not just watching a basketball player. But the legacy of generations of educators, pastors, activists, and truth-tellers.
American actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for his iconic role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has died at the age of 54 after drowning while on vacation in Costa Rica.
According to Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency, Warner was caught in a strong ocean current while swimming at Playa Grande in Cocles, Limón Province, around 2:00 PM local time on Sunday. Though bystanders pulled him from the water and the Costa Rican Red Cross attempted resuscitation, Warner was pronounced dead at the scene.
Warner rose to national fame as the teenage son of Bill Cosby on The Cosby Show, which aired from 1984 to 1992 and dominated television ratings during its peak. He was just 14 when he was cast on the final day of auditions. His performance earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1986.
The sitcom, which portrayed an upper-middle-class Black American family, was praised for redefining television narratives at the time. Warner reflected in a 2013 interview: “When the show first came out, there were white people and black people talking about [how] the Huxtables don’t really exist… Meanwhile, we were getting tens of thousands of fan letters from people saying, ‘Thank you so much for this show.’”
After The Cosby Show, Warner starred in the sitcom Malcolm & Eddie and made appearances on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Sesame Street, and The Resident, where he played cardiothoracic surgeon AJ Austin. In recent years, he used his voice in spoken word, earning a Grammy nomination in 2023 for his album Hiding In Plain View. He previously won a Grammy in 2015 for Best Traditional R&B Performance alongside Robert Glasper and Lalah Hathaway.
Warner was also active in mental health advocacy, especially within the Black community. In 2023, he launched the podcast Not All Hood, focusing on Black mental wellness.
News of his sudden passing has shocked fans and colleagues across generations.
Fellow entertainers and public figures paid heartfelt tributes. Actress Taraji P. Henson wrote: “Malcolm, we grew up with you. Thank you for the art, the wisdom, the grace you gave us! Rest easy, king!!!! Your legacy lives far beyond the screen.”
Actor and comedian Eddie Griffin, Warner’s co-star on Malcolm & Eddie, simply posted: “R.I.P. King. My big little brother.”
Actor Jacob Latimore who plays Emmett in the The Chi Tv show, posted on his Facebook page A terrible loss. Glad I got the opportunity to meet and work with you on screen man , RIP to the great and multitalented actor, musician, and poet Malcom Jamal Warner
Musician Questlove, actresses Jennifer Hudson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Vivica A. Fox, and Jennifer Love Hewitt all shared their sadness, calling Warner “a gentleman,” “an incredible talent,” and “deeply kind.”
Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock tweeted: “For me and so many in my generation, Malcolm-Jamal Warner was a part of our childhood… May God grant peace to his soul, strength and grace to his grieving family.”
Basketball icon Magic Johnson also mourned Warner, recalling his passion for life, creativity, and their shared advocacy: “He will truly be missed.”
UN Women’s Executive Director, Sima Bahous, at a 2025 UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development side event. Credit: Naureen Hossain/IPS
UNITED NATIONS, Jul 21 2025 (IPS) – Discriminatory laws and the absence of legal protections impact more than 2.5 billion women and girls worldwide in various ways. Legal reform is paramount to securing gender equality, and the world cannot afford to roll back on decades of progress in women’s rights.
The purpose of the event was to spotlight the success in ending discrimination through the passing of robust, inclusive legislation and acknowledging the work that remains in combatting legal discrimination against women and girls. Bringing together stakeholders across the public sector and nongovernmental organizations, the event highlighted the relevance of global agreements that center on sustainable development and uphold international law, Equality Now Executive Director Mona Sinha pointed out.
“It is ever more urgent in these times of backlash against gender equality that the right to equality on the basis of sex as a fundamental human right is protected and promoted by States and the international community,” said Sinha.
“At UN Women, we are proud to lead a global strategy to achieve equality in law for women and girls by 2030 with our partners… We are racing against time to repeal discriminatory laws and to replace them with protections rooted in dignity and equality,” said UN-Women Executive Director Sima Bahous.
The event coincided with the launch of a joint publication from Equality Now and GCENR ‘Select Draft Articles on Nationality Rights to Ensure Gender Equality.’
The publication is intended to be used by policymakers as guidelines for drafting inclusive policies that enshrine protections for nationality rights for women and their children and partners. This was spotlighted as a persistent form of discrimination that restricts certain rights by virtue of their identity.
Panelists at the Equality Now side event at the 2025 UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. Credit: Naureen Hossain/IPS
Catherine Harrington, Campaign Manager of the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights, remarked on the “utter injustice” that men should have the “inherent right” to pass down nationality to their child or spouse, but women are not granted the same.
There are 24 countries where women legally cannot pass down their citizenship to their child, and at least 40 countries where women cannot confer the rights of citizenship to a non-citizen spouse. Such restrictions prevent impacted people from exercising other fundamental rights, including access to education, healthcare and even the right to enter the country they were born in or consider home.
The fight over equal nationality rights is emblematic of the broader issue of gender equality, as it demonstrates how a lack of legal protections can leave people vulnerable to having their rights denied or exploited.
“What does it say about women’s status as citizens and their equality in the family when the law that establishes the very foundation of political personhood, citizenship, holds that men naturally have the right to pass citizenship as full citizens and women do not and are not deserving of the same?” said Harrington. “What does it mean to be committed to combating gender-based violence when we know that gender discriminatory laws are linked with multiple forms of GBV and contribute to the root cause of gender-based violence, which is women’s unequal status in society?”
Women’s participation in public spaces, including politics, is also a measure of gender equality and a step toward sustainable development. A report from UN Women stated that while there was a boost in the proportion of women in parliament, as countries had taken steps to boost women’s participation in national and local legislatures, such as with gender quotas, three out of four parliamentarians were still men. These environments need to be created to be gender-inclusive and safe to ensure women’s participation. As long as the institutions that are meant to represent the people are shaped by laws that only benefit a select few, there is no room for equality.
“Democracy cannot be credible or effective if it does not reflect the diversity of people,” said Paddy Torsney, Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Permanent Observer to the UN. Tornsey remarked that fostering inclusive political environments allows women the “power, protection and the platform to lead.” These environments can be created through inclusive policies and a zero tolerance for gender-based violence in all forms.
Effective, inclusive legislation can only be driven by “reliable data,” according to Hikaru Yamagishi from the World Bank. Yamagishi added that through the Women, Business and Law Project, the World Bank has provided “comprehensive, comparable data” on how laws affect women’s jobs to lawmakers across 190 economies.
Among their findings was that although women have 64 percent of the rights of men, economies have less than 40 percent of the systems in place needed to implement those rights in practice. This indicates a ‘significant’ implementation gap, Yamagishi said, between formal legislation and what women actually experience in real life.
“This implementation gap must be tracked alongside legal [gaps]. The Women Business and Law report evidences the importance of legal reforms like banning discrimination… but it also shows that those reforms only go so far without supportive policies,” she added.
The event brought together representatives from member states to share how their countries dealt with eliminating discrimination through legal reform. In the Kyrgyz Republic, steps were taken to reform the labor code, including 400 professions that were previously restricted from women.
Bakyt Sydykov, Minister of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, remarked on federal programs that boosted employment opportunities for women living in rural areas. Along with civil society and trade unions, international partners like UN Women and the International Labour Organization (ILO) consulted the country’s legislative reform in ensuring equal employment opportunities.
“We believe that Kyrgyzstan’s experience can offer a useful reference point for other countries where similar challenges arise,” said Sydykov. “Our approach shows that when reforms stem from nationwide dialogue and international standards, implemented in partnership with all segments of society, they can succeed.”
“As a country that has elected two women to the highest position in the government, the Philippines can confidently say that gender equality is robust and highly needed in our society. However, there are still areas for improvement along the way,” said Noel Mangaoang Novicio, Minister, Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the UN. Novice cited his country’s Magna Carta of Women, adopted in 2009, a comprehensive human rights law for women that is based on the principles of international law.
These examples demonstrate that widespread gender equality is achievable. Nevertheless, no country has achieved true gender parity, so it remains an ongoing effort. This also shows the importance of partnerships across multiple sectors and stakeholders. Governments can enforce legal reforms on a wide scale, the private sector can advocate for reforms and lead by example, and multinational organizations such as the UN and the World Bank have the resources to provide evidence of where change is needed and bring stakeholders together.
“When we work together to make legal equality a reality, it unlocks economic potential and fuels inclusive progress,” said Yamagishi.
The event, which included youth advocates and representatives from around the world among its attendees, demonstrated one of the UN’s roles in a microcosm: a convening body that brings together governments, civil society and experts on a global stage to drive forward shared commitments.
Antonia Kirkland, Equality Now’s Global Lead, Legal Equality and Justice, remarked that this makes the UN “an indispensable force in pushing for transformative, rights-based legal reforms worldwide.”
“By amplifying the voices of women’s rights advocates, particularly those from the Global South, UN platforms provide an opportunity to elevate grassroots demands to the international level, to influence legal and policy change. The UN provides an essential space for peer accountability, shared learning, and collective pressure that no single organization or government could generate alone,” said Kirkland.
Kirkland explained to IPS the ‘uniquely powerful’ role the UN and its agencies play in promoting legal reforms for gender equality. The UN has helped to set international legal standards, and its treaties and special mechanisms provide the frameworks to hold members accountable and call them out on legal discrimination.
With that said, the UN must continue its support and wield its influence amidst increasing attacks from anti-rights movements that threaten to reverse the progress on women’s legal rights.
Kirkland told IPS that anti-gender equality and anti-rights movements have been working to “erase or dilute the concept of ‘gender’ from UN documents, negotiations, and frameworks.” Erasing gender-inclusive language risks undermining international human rights standards and further weakening accountability for gender-based violence and discrimination and marginalizing the diverse experiences of women and girls.
Therefore, the UN needs to strengthen its monitoring and enforcement mechanisms for international commitments such as CEDAW and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and use its platforms to publicly track progress in legal reform. This will also require the support of member states through reaffirming their international commitments and through sustained funding to the UN.
“At a time of rising authoritarianism and anti-rights backlash, a strong, well-resourced UN is essential. Governments also need to enhance and defend the UN’s legitimacy in multilateral forums and resist political efforts to weaken its role in protecting rights and holding states accountable,” Kirkland said.
“Let us invest in feminist leadership. Let us enshrine equality, not only in our speeches, but in our statutes and in our actions,” Bahous said in her closing remarks. “The law must not be a tool of oppression. It must be the first guarantee of justice. Only when we achieve equality for all women and girls under the law can we get back on track to the SDGs, and SDG 5 [Gender Equality] remains our docking station upon which all SDGs depend.”
For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. – Nelson Mandela
The General Assembly’s Plenary meeting on Nelson Mandela International Day. Credit: Jennifer Xin-Tsu Lin Levine/IPS
UNITED NATIONS, Jul 18 2025 (IPS) – The United Nations celebrated Nelson Mandela International Day in honor of the activist and politician’s lifelong commitment to peace and democracy.
At the 16th celebration of Nelson Mandela International Day, delegates, representatives and visitors alike reflected on the impact of South Africa’s first black president and leader in a fully representative democratic election.
The activist and politician, who spent 27 years in prison, was a staunch freedom fighter—arguing that freedom was not only an individual mission but also a collective responsibility and communal effort.
These principles were enshrined in the Nelson Mandela Rules, officially called the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, a document protecting humane treatment of individuals without liberty. The document emphasizes respect for human dignity, prohibits torture and promotes fair and just conditions.
Although the Nelson Mandela Rules are “soft law” and not legally binding, the General Assembly has adopted them as universally agreed minimum standards. Many countries have incorporated the rules into domestic law, but many othershave violated conditions of healthcare, solitary confinement and ethical working rights. Delegates and various speakers agreed that there was still much work to be done.
Nelson Mandela International Day, established in 2009 by the United Nations General Assembly and officially celebrated in 2010 on July 18th (President Mandela’s birthday), is a holiday encouraging all citizens around the world to engage positively in their communities.
Dr. Naledi Pandor, chair of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, addresses the UN General Assembly Plenary on Nelson Mandela International Day. Credit: Jennifer Xin-Tsu Lin Levin/IPS
From annual volunteer events to the annual Mandela Prize, awarded to two laureates each year who have profoundly impacted their communities by serving humanity, speakers, including the award recipients, the Secretary-General and the chair of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, all reflected on Mandela’s legacy on their own lives and on the UN.
In Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the General Assembly at their plenary meeting, he said, “Power is not a personal possession to be harbored. Power is about lifting others up; it’s about what we can achieve with one another and for one another. Power is about people.” He echoed Mandela’s belief in collective grassroots action to deliver power to the powerless, encouraging member states to bring these principles into practice.
Dr. Naledi Pandor, chair of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, similarly called for action against injustice and inequality. She recalled how the United Nations aided South Africa in ending apartheid as it “stood against apartheid domination, not through arms but through bringing its undeniable moral weight into combat against injustice. That boldness, that courage is needed more and more today.”
Nelson Mandela, then Deputy President of the African National Congress of South Africa, raises his fist in the air while addressing the Special Committee Against Apartheid in the General Assembly Hall, June 22, 1990. Credit: UN Photo/Pernaca Sudhakaran
Pandor went on to recall Mandela’s political views beyond South Africa—his demand for global equity extended to all, and reflecting on how he might feel about the current state of the world, she quoted his 1990 speech to the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid.
Mandela said, “We also take this opportunity to extend warm greetings to all others who fight for their liberation and their human rights, including the peoples of Palestine and Western Sahara. We commend their struggles to you, convinced that we are all moved by the fact that freedom is indivisible, convinced that the denial of the rights of one diminishes the freedom of others.”
Mandela was a strong supporter of Palestine, often comparing its struggle with South Africa’s. South Africa, even after his death, maintained close ties to Palestine and brought the case of genocide against Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2024.
The 2025 Nelson Mandela laureates, Brenda Reynolds of Saulteaux First Nation and Canada and Kennedy Odede of Kenya, both spoke about how Mandela inspired their respective work. Reynolds, a social worker by trade, led the establishment of a national, culturally grounded mental health initiative for survivors of Indian residential schools.
Reynolds described her work with survivors as an example of Mandela’s notion of moving forward from resentment towards progress—as people found peace with their experiences, they were able to recover and lift up their communities from oppression. She described this as a process of peacebuilding within people, saying, “peace begins with individuals, and from there, you can find peace within your family and within your communities.”
Odede, who founded Kenya’s largest grassroots movement, Shining Hope For Communities (SHOFCO), to empower struggling urban communities, shared how Mandela’s words and experience with struggle inspired him to build within his own life. He found creative ways to organize communities around simple things like soccer, providing hope to people in dire situations.
The representative for The Gambia, who spoke on behalf of the African states, called upon the UN to adhere to Mandela’s principles, particularly on poverty as a man-made horror that can and must be removed by actions of human beings. The representative warned of extreme poverty on the rise, centering the “developing countries and middle-income countries” suffering the most “with unemployment rates beyond records.”
He said, “It is time for solidarity, partnerships and genuine actions where they are most needed,” asserting that poverty and underdevelopment were huge perpetuators of racism, therefore continuing a vicious cycle that oppressed people.
The representative argued, “rising inequity and progressive discrimination are not inevitable; they are a result of decades of policies and dynamics emanating from colonialism, appetite, and discrimination.” Criticizing these practices as misaligned with the UN charter, he pushed the UN to renew their commitment to progressing social development by redistributing wealth.
As the world commemorates Nelson Mandela’s enduring legacy, the message resonating from this year’s observance is clear: his vision of freedom—rooted in dignity, justice and collective responsibility—demands more than remembrance; it requires action. From prison reform to poverty alleviation to indigenous healing to grassroots empowerment, Mandela’s ideals continue to challenge the global community to uphold humanity over power and compassion over indifference. In honoring his life, the UN and its member states are reminded that freedom is not static—it is a continual struggle, a shared pursuit and a moral obligation.
Across Africa, English accents vary, but the Liberian accent is often recognized for its clarity, particularly among those with formal education. As linguist Ian Hancock observed, the educated variety of Liberian English exhibits distinct phonological features that enhance intelligibility, especially in international settings.
By: J. Rudolph Teh Mentroe
When U.S. President Donald Trump expressed surprise at the Liberian President’s fluency in English, it wasn’t an isolated case, it revealed a broader misunderstanding of Liberia’s linguistic reality. Many educated Liberians living or studying abroad, myself included, frequently encounter similar reactions. As an MBA student in Canada, I’ve lost count of how many times professors, classmates, and even strangers have questioned where I learned to speak English so well. These interactions, though often subtle, reflect lingering stereotypes and a general lack of awareness about Liberia’s long-standing relationship with the English language.
These encounters expose widespread ignorance about Liberia’s history, culture, and educational system. They also highlight how Western institutions, especially universities—consistently exclude Liberia from lists of English-speaking African countries, forcing Liberian students and those seeking opportunities abroad to jump through costly, unnecessary hoops to prove proficiency in a language we have spoken since childhood.
Liberia’s Linguistic Reality
Liberia as a nation was founded in the 19th century by freed African Americans and has operated with English as its official language ever since. English is the medium of instruction in schools, the language of government, and the dominant tongue in daily life. Liberian students graduate with English credentials, take English-taught examinations, and pursue higher education in English.
Yet despite this deep-seated linguistic foundation, Liberians are routinely excluded from institutional policies that waive language proficiency requirements for applicants from “English-speaking countries,” affecting not only students but also professionals, immigrants, and others seeking global opportunities.
📚 The Real Cost of Misrecognition
Institutions in Canada, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere often require Liberians to prove their English proficiency through exams such as the IELTS and TOEFL. These tests can cost hundreds of dollars, demand significant preparation time, and present emotional and logistical challenges.
This is not just bureaucratic inefficiency—it’s a discriminatory oversight. The assumption that being African makes one linguistically “foreign” contradicts Liberia’s reality and penalizes its citizens unfairly.
In contrast, countries like Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya—whose colonial and linguistic histories parallel Liberia’s are often included on exemption lists. So why not Liberia?
🏛️ A Comparative Glance at Institutional Policies
A review of several Western institutions reveals Liberia’s exclusion:
Canada: Memorial University of Newfoundland lists English-speaking African countries for exemption—but not Liberia.
United Kingdom: The University of Edinburgh lists Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Liberia is excluded. The UK Home Office’s list of “majority native English-speaking countries” includes zero African nations.
United States: Most universities, including Purdue University, do acknowledge Liberia’s English fluency and exempt Liberian students from language tests.
Australia: Institutions such as Monash University consistently include Liberia on their waiver lists.
Comparative Table: African Countries Commonly Listed (Excluding Liberia)
Institution / Agency
African Countries Listed (Excluding Liberia)
Memorial University (MUN), Canada
Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
University of Edinburgh, UK
Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe
UK Government
None (South Africa occasionally)
Purdue University, USA
Liberia is included
Monash University, Australia
Liberia is included
🎯 Call to Action: Institutions and Diplomats Must Step Up
Liberians abroad shouldn’t have to defend their linguistic identity. The facts are clear, and it’s time that institutional policies reflect them.
But this isn’t a challenge for academia alone. Liberian embassies and government missions abroad must take a more assertive role in addressing this gap. They can:
Advocate directly with host institutions
Publish official letters and documents confirming Liberia’s linguistic landscape
Elevate the issue through cultural diplomacy and media engagement
If education is a gateway to opportunity, language policy shouldn’t be its lock. Whether applying for university, pursuing professional certification, seeking employment abroad, or navigating immigration systems, Liberians should not have to prove fluency in their native language. The linguistic facts are clear. Liberia deserves recognition—not as an exception—but as an integral part of the global English-speaking community.
References:
Hancock, I. F. (1974). English in Liberia. American Speech, 49(3/4), 224–229.
Government of Liberia. (2020). Liberia Education Sector Analysis. Ministry of Education.
UK Home Office. (n.d.). List of Majority English-Speaking Countries. https://www.gov.uk
Memorial University of Newfoundland. (n.d.). English Language Requirements. https://www.mun.ca
University of Edinburgh. (n.d.). English language requirements. https://www.ed.ac.uk
About the Author:J. Rudolph Teh Mentroe is a Liberian MBA student currently studying at the New York Institute of Technology in Vancouver, Canada. He writes about education equity, cultural representation, investment, and the financial journeys of African diaspora communities navigating global academic systems. His work blends personal insight with policy critique to challenge institutional blind spots and advocate for more inclusive educational frameworks.
