Liberia’s “Shakespeare” Wins a Laurel for Liberia and Africa
Dr. Joe Gbaba, Sr. from St. Joseph’s Jesuit University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U. S. A.
Courtesy of Dr. Joe Gbaba, Sr. - Email: gbaba5@aol.com
Liberia's "Shakespeare," Dr. Joe Gbaba, Sr., recently earned a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership from St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., on January 15th, 2009. Prior to that, Dr. Gbaba previously earned a Master of Science degree in Elementary and Special Education at the same institution where he was trained to work with children/learners with behavioral and learning difficulties, such as child soldiers, former combatants, children diagnosed with learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, etc. As a veteran playwright, theatre director, and actor, Dr. Gbaba also holds a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre from the University of North Carolina at Greeensboro, and a Bachelor of Arts in English and French from "Lux in Tenebris," the Univeristy of Liberia in1980 and 1983, respectively.
Hence, the renowned Liberian playwright, actor and artistic director, and scholar, is no stranger to the literary and cultural scenes of Liberia and the continent of Africa. His legacy spans more than thirty-five years, producing plays and teaching literature and English in various high schools and higher institutions in Liberia and the United States, including but not limited to: St. Patrick's High School, A. M. E. Zion Academy, College of West Africa, St. Teresa's Convent, Cuttington University, the University of Liberia, and as Principal of the Zwedru Multilateral High School, Cooke Middle School in Philadelphia, among many others.
Dr. Gbaba once served in the Liberian government as Acting Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism in the Interim Government of National Unity (IGNU) and he was credited for formally launching the reopening ceremonies of the National Museum of Liberia and the National Cultural Center after the cessation of hostilities in 1992 before he went into private practice as Founder and Artistic Director of Dehkontee Artists Theatre, Inc. (DATI). Between the years 1992-1997 before Dr. Gbaba and his family came in exile, he served as local consultant to UNICEF/Liberia and designed many of UNICEF's public information campaigns on various civic education and information topics, such as:
"Mardea" ("New woman" in the Bassa language) was based on Gender Equity and Women Empowerment in the Liberian society. "Mardea" was a radio drama that played on ELBC FM/AM to educate the Liberian people about the important roles Liberian women can play in national development. This national civic awareness project motivated Liberian women to be advocates of peace during the Liberian crisis and to become more actively involved in community-based decision-making, as well as to create civil action.
The UNICEF/DATI Kukatonon Conflict Resolution and Peace Education Project: "Kukatonon" is a Kpelle expression that means, "We are one" in the English language. It focused on educating for peace and reconciliation in Liberia and focused on the conduct of peace education and conflict resolution workshops for school teachers and educational leaders across the country. The peace education project also consisted of a children's peace theatre that performed peace songs, African dance, and dramas in schools and community centers across the country. It had a significant impact on the disarmament of child soldiers and former combatants during the Liberian civil war.
"Wheh- gba" ("Big sickness" in the Bassa language) focused on public information on HIV/AIDS and STD prevention in the Liberian society. This project was presented as a traveling theatre that performed in community centers and towns across Liberia educating the public about HIV/AIDS and STD prevention.
“Borh-fun-fuenh” (“Stop fighting” in the Kru language) was a radio drama series designed for the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission to Liberia (UNOMIL). It focused first on the disarmament process of combatants and child soldiers and then provided incentives for disarmed former combatants and child soldiers in terms of learning a trade, and acquiring skills and expertise to become self-reliant and gainfully employed, as well as preparing the general community from whence the child soldiers and former combatants were recruited, to show forgiveness for their children so they can reintegrate peacefully and respectfully into mainstream Liberian society without being molested or ridiculed as someone who took up arms against the Liberian nation and people.
Dr. Gbaba's doctoral dissertation was based on the formation of an Afrocentric literacy curriculum he termed: The Chiandeh Afrocentric Curriculum: Exploring Children's Responses to an Afrocentric Curriculum. It was a qualitative Afrocentric research project that used several postmodern theoretical lenses (i.e., constructivism, ideological literacy model, transactional theory, multiliteracies, and multicultural concepts) along with the educational and philosophical arguments of Molefi Kete Asante (1980, 1991, 1992), Carter G. Woodson (1938), W. E. B. DuBois (1908), Marcus Garvey (1977), Maulana Karenga (1990), and many others to investigate two research questions: (1) What ways do children respond to the Chiandeh project, and (2) How does the Chiandeh project shape children's cultural esteem?
The Chiandeh project centered African American children in their ancestry to enhance their cultural esteem. The study was conducted in a local elementary school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with about twelve African American children ranging from ages ten to eleven (4th and 5th graders). The study revealed that when African American children were centered in their own history and culture, they exhibited more interest in literacy projects involving Afrocentric content; they displayed awareness of certain Afrocentric values and exhibited greater affinity for their ancestry, and ultimately developed self-awareness.
Based on Dr. Gbaba's wealth of experience, Liberians in our homeland and those in the Diaspora are wondering whether or not the Sirleaf Administration will recruit such a national gem to help with the rehabilitation and reconciliation aspects of post-conflict Liberia. Also, when Dr. Joe Gbaba was approached by several of his countrymen and women, he replied, "I am willing to return home to serve my country and people if the President asks me to. However, let me inform you that I have already extended Mrs. Sirleaf an Olive Branch by writing more than three letters to President Sirleaf (that were supposedly hand-delivered to her) expressing my desire to assist with the reconstruction process but I have not received one response over the past three years now. I even recently submitted another proposal to Ambassador Barnes for onward transmission to President Sirleaf but I have also not heard from the Ambassador either. This is the type of attitude that can discourage gifted Liberians from wanting to return to their native land after training.” Dr. Gbaba explained.
In view of the foregoing, Liberian citizens at home and abroad are requesting President Sirleaf to investigate why Dr. Gbaba’s offer to help in the reconstruction process was not warmly received by her administration as she has done with other Liberian citizens, especially at this time when Dr. Gbaba’s expertise is most needed by Liberia and Liberians, as well as the African continent.
Meanwhile, Dr. Gbaba and his family would like to thank the United States government that provided the Federal Student Loans for him and three other members of his family to obtain college degrees: Dr. Gbaba’s son, Jacques, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Geographic Information System from Indiana University of Pennsylvania; his daughter, Jolynn, obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Gwynedd Mercy College in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Ariminta Gbaba obtained a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from St. Jospeh’s University in 2008, accordingly. Dr. Gbaba also extends his thanks and appreciation to the Liberian people, his American and international friends, and supporters for their love and support over the years.
