-Amb. Juli Endee Clarifies
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia, Liberia – Reports circulating early Monday, March 3, 2025, regarding the death of Chief Zanzan Karwor, Liberia’s former Chairman of the National Council of Chiefs and Elders (NACCEL), have been refuted by Ambassador Juli Endee, Liberia’s immediate past Culture Ambassador and a close associate of the revered traditional leader.
Ambassador Endee, who is widely regarded as a daughter to Chief Karwor, dismissed the rumors as false. “It is not true,” she stated unequivocally in a WhatsApp response to inquiries made by this publication. She further noted when asked about his health status: “He is well in Jesus name.”
Chief Zanzan Karwor, a prominent figure in Liberia’s cultural and traditional landscape, served as Chairman of NACCEL for nearly two decades after his election in June 2006. However, he lost his position to Chief Arthur W. Dowah during an election held on August 9, 2024, in Ganta City, Nimba County. Despite stepping down from his leadership role, Chief Karwor remains a respected elder and a key voice in Liberia’s traditional community.
Both Chief Karwor and Ambassador Endee have been instrumental in advocating for social change in Liberia, particularly in the fight against female genital mutilation (FGM). Their efforts contributed significantly to the eventual ban on the practice, marking a pivotal moment in Liberia’s cultural evolution. Ambassador Endee, who was named Liberia’s honorary Culture Ambassador in 1995, has continued to champion cultural preservation and social reform alongside Chief Karwor.
