Dr. Nya Kwiawon Taryor Of Liberia: A Tribute To A Fallen Great Writer And Progressive
I sadly learned the news of Dr. Nya Kwiawon Taryor’s death recently. I was shocked. He was in the U.S. for a long time, engaging in writing and publishing. He was one of the committed Liberian progressives. He was my boyhood friend; I will miss him.
Nya was born in 1947 in Nimba County, Liberia. He graduated from the College of West Africa (CWA), a secondary school, and earned a bachelor's degree from Cuttington College in Liberia. He later obtained a Ph.D from Smith University in America. His life focus was education and helping to improve the conditions of the Liberian people. He was professor emeritus at Cuttington College and president emeritus at the Gbarnga School of Theology. Nya was also a lecturer in theology, ethics, and biblical studies.
Taryor was a regular guest of the popular Focal on Liberia, a news network in the US. As the network stated in its tribute to him, “his services extended beyond academia. As a former national coordinator of the United Methodist Church in Liberia, he helped shape the moral and spiritual development of young Liberians during critical movements in our nation’s history. Even in retirement, he never truly retired from service. He devoted his later years to writing, publishing, and helping Liberians and international authors bring their works to the world –a testament to his lifelong belief that ideas have the power to transform societies.”
Before his passing, on Focal on Liberia, he narrated Liberian history from the 1920s to 1980. He divided this history into three periods: 1920-1930 marked Charles King's presidency; 1930-1944 covered Edwin Barclay’s reign; 1944-1971 covered William Tubman's administration; 1971-1980 marked William Tolbert’s regime. 1920-1980 marked the last years of the Americo-Liberian rule, which constituted the First Republic in Liberian history. He noted that Liberia made significant achievements during these periods. However, the nation had tremendous challenges, including the forced labor/slavery of native Liberians to Fernando Po by the Charles King administration, the burning and killing of Sasstown villages and people by the Edwin Barclay presidency; the suppression of multi-party democracy by the Tubman regime; and the opposition against social justice by the William Tolbert government. He advised that we should not repeat these evil past behaviors if we want to have a developed, united, and peaceful country. This discussion is on YouTube. It is one of the gifts he left us. He wanted us not to repeat the past because the bad behaviors started before the 1920s. In fact, they began since Liberia's independence in 1846, when the new Republic purposely and intentionally denied citizenship to the native people and implemented suppression and injustices against them. In other words, we should treat all our citizens justly and equally for peace.
Nya played a crucial role in the struggle for liberation of the Liberian people in the 1970s. He was a leading member of the Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA). He utilized his teaching skills to help educate the masses about their rights and the cause for justice. He was exercising “Liberation Theology”, a doctrine of mental and spiritual freedom. Advocacy for social justice led to the military's overthrow of the Tolbert regime on April 12, 1980. Nya Taryor was one of the MOJA progressives who clearly discussed its mission. His popular book, “Justice, Justice: A cry of my people,” published in 1983, addresses not only Liberia’s struggle but also MOJA. He also wrote. Liberia: Facing Mount Nimba. These publications also tell the Liberian story.
Nya did not share or seek the glory that the popular progressive icons enjoyed in Liberia during and after the revolution. He was private, effective, and down to earth. He did not see the Liberian issue as an intellectual exercise nor use big words and impressive revolutionary jargons to discuss the situation. Instead, he used simple English. Unfortunately, so far, since his demise, I have not read or heard of any tribute to him from the established progressives. I hope they will pay their last respects and honor to this great and fallen comrade.
I met Taryor in the early 1960s. We were dormitory mates at the Methodist Boys Hostel at CWA. We became good friends. He was active, though quiet, when he first came from Nimba. He was called Lawrence, and I was known as Samuel Nyanfore, affectionately called S. Malachi on campus. We were proud to have Western-given names. He was not athletic but liked sports. Lawrence was a good student academically. His classmates included current Liberian President Joseph Boakai, Johnnie Weefur, Rupel Marshall, Benjamin Dugbe, and the late Eugene Peabody. These students were also in the hostel with us. I have informed a person close to the president regarding Lawrence’s death to tell him. I hope she will do so. We need to know and care when a friend leaves us. Over 75% of us that were on campus have died. Last year we lost Sylvester Grigsby.
Let me end with a personal note. One day, while we were on campus, I thought about going to America to continue my high school education. I did not know where the thought came from, for I knew of no opportunity to go to the US. Anyway, I shared the thought with Nya. Surprisingly, he said it was a good one and possible. By his suggestion, we prayed and fasted for several days. In about three months, an opportunity came for me to go to America. “This is a miracle, we joyfully said as we hugged each other and gave thanks and glory to God.
In 1979, we met in Washington, DC, when we participated in the mass demonstration against the Tolbert government’s massacre of the April 12, 1980 rice protesters. It was a happy reunion, for after years living together at CWA, we came together again not only as old friends, but as progressive comrades in the struggle for multi-party democracy and justice in Liberia.