-As they gift her LRD30,000, 15 chickens
By Jerromie S. Walters
Branded by well respected Traditional women of Grand Cape Mount County, as “Queen of peace” and “Queen of pride”, Liberia’s Traditional Queen, Amb. Juli Endee, was recently venerated , and concomitantly presented $LRD30,000 (Thirty thousand), along with 15 chickens by traditional female gurus of Cape Mount, as they say it’s a sign of the establishment of a genuine friendship.
For bringing them to the limelight, the traditional women saw no other appropriate way to prove to Amb. Juli Endee that they recognize how her strives have significantly impacted their lives, than through a genuine traditional manner, Friday, December 22, 2023, at the Sinje Youth Resource Centers, Sinje Town, Garwula District, Grand Cape Mount County.
At the said event- the traditional women bestowed blessings upon the Traditional Queen: “Let God forgive us, let God bless our daughter. Our Chiefs are here. This is just a small portion of it, but after the season we the Zoes and the chairman we will invite you because something that never happened for the women is happening for us.”
Amongst several others, they say through Amb. Endee’s gesture, women’s voices have been lifted and their participation has been vividly seen. “Grand Cape Mount County love you,” the Traditional women rained blessings on Amb. Endee.
They characterized their gesture as an appreciation for her commitment to their lives, as they believe that their recognition today was greatly influenced by the traditional queen. “Zoes used to be in the corner, but because of her, they can now be seen.”
Moreover, the women articulated that their decision to venerate the Culture Ambassador is also backed by her role in providing the necessary awareness and education about the essentiality of educating girls and children.
An elder: “The reason we are calling to honor you because you people have given our women the power. That has caused us to stand and build the house. Besides, previously we didn’t consult the women. Now when you are doing anything good, if you don’t consult your wife then you are not doing anything good.”
Despite the appreciation in cash and kind, the traditional women have scheduled a formal honoring ceremony for the Traditional Queen, following the conduct of the January 22,2023, inaugural ceremony of Amb. Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
Embracing initiation without mutilation
As she along with the government and her partners has repeatedly echoed, Amb. Endee, encouraged the traditional women to remain committed to positive traditional practices, and abstain from the harmful aspects.
Amb. Endee: “The name they called Zoe, it’s God that gave you the power, Zoes don’t go after people, Zoes honor and respect people. “With this, she encouraged the need for initiation without mutilation.
As many have joined the campaign to end female genital mutilation (FGM), Amb. Endee urged campaigners to exhibit cultural dignity and respect for the traditional people. “We must keep our culture, and in keeping our culture, we must respect our elders.”
Unity
The Traditional Queen also encouraged the need for unity to exist amongst Liberians, this she says is prompted by her fear of instability (war). “We are divided, this other person calling themself that, when we suppose to be calling ourselves Liberians.
As it is, she says she’s committed to enhancing Women’s ability to be peace makers. “We should start peace and reconciliation today, we should love one another today, we should not allow elections to divide us, the elections finished, that’s what they called democracy.”
If peace is to exist, she’s says the need for fair Justice can’t be overemphasized. “Justice comes with peace, so you must respect me and I respect you. Let’s stay from the lies.”
The Traditional Queen frowned at lies, and encouraged the women to be honest about people and what they do. “I have come to wish President Weah thank you, she believes if he had greed, Liberians would have been in a different state. Because of this, she says the LCP will continue the George Weah peace initiative.
Encouraging the President elect
Amb. Juli Endee, is confident that Mr. Boakai will regard the traditional women, because she believes he’s a man of tradition. “I’m convinced that he will be fast sighted to know, as he stated in his letter that he’s president for Liberia, and not one people, and as he said that, we will look up, we look down, we will look right, we will look left and put our hand behind him.”
She admonished the President elect Joseph Nyuma Boakai: “You can not do agriculture without the women, when the agriculture program starts, he should remember the women.”
Her Cape Mount experience
During the war, she recorded that while many were escaping the country, she organized the LCP and went to Cape Mount, in a bid to resolve conflict through a peace program at Bo-Water side and across the Sierra Leonean border. “I’m not new to Cape Mount. Before I became traditional queen, I knew grand cape Mount county. My aunty, Musu Dudu Tucker, she’s from cape mount, I have cousins from Cape Mount,” she records her connection with the county.
Considering her experience, she says it is not good. “War is not good.” “I’m not a stranger to Sinje,” she tells the women, both during the war, the Ebola outbreak and several other wars even throughout the county. She recalled her parents commitment toward ensuring that she acquired traditional knowledge, and subsequently turned over to the current Chairman of the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia (NCCEL).
