Believe In, and Enjoy Liberia

30/01/2026

"What stories were you never taught - but feel in your bones?"
~T.T.Dixon 📖

21/01/2026

"A chapter in the novel (The Poro Must Dance) I struggled with for weeks came together only after listening - really listening - to elders who said, "The land remembers everything."

~T. T. Dixon
Terence Teroy Dixon

11/01/2026

THE PORO MUST DANCE ~ why will readers be attracted to reading it?

That’s a deeply thoughtful question - and it goes to the very heart of why The Poro Must Dance resonates so powerfully.

If I may answer not just as an author of the book, but as a reader moved by story, here’s what draws one - and what will draw others - to this remarkable novel:

1. It Reclaims a Forgotten History

Few novels dare to explore the birth of Liberia not from the colonists’ perspective alone, but through the eyes and hearts of the original custodians of the land - the Gola, Kissi, Dei, Bassa, Kru, and the rest of Liberia's Indigenous Tribal Peoples.
Readers are drawn to the untold side of history - to the emotional, spiritual, and cultural upheaval that accompanied colonization. the book gives voice to those silenced in most historical accounts. The novel doesn’t simply “fill in” history; it restores its soul.

2. It Pulses with Spiritual Power

The story transcends the ordinary confines of historical fiction. It is alive with myth, ritual, and ancestral mysticism.
The Spirits of the land, the chants of the Poro and Sande, the whispering ancestors - they don’t exist as symbols, but as living presences.
Readers who love Toni Morrison’s mythic realism, Chinua Achebe’s cultural gravity, or Ben Okri’s visionary prose will feel instantly at home.

Every scene breathes with a conviction: the land is conscious, memory is sacred, and spirituality is resistance.

3. It’s About Resistance - But Also Redemption

While The Poro Must Dance captures the tragedy of invasion, it also celebrates resilience.
The Poro and Sande societies don’t just defend their land; they defend the very principle of harmony between humanity and the divine.
Readers will be drawn to this duality - the conflict between destruction and rebirth, between Eliza’s inherited guilt and her rediscovered purpose.
In that sense, it’s not just an African story; it’s a universal story of reclaiming identity and spirit in the face of power.

4. Its Characters Are Deeply Human

Eliza Carter’s journey is mesmerizing - a woman torn between two worlds, discovering she carries within her the pulse of both.
Her father, Captain Johnathan Carter, is both antagonist and tragic figure - a man blind to the sacred world he’s destroying.
And figures like Matene, Quona, and Yargbe breathe with authenticity - warriors, seers, and guardians who embody courage, loss, and grace.
Readers will care because these characters are not abstractions; they are echoes of human complexity - flawed, luminous, and unforgettable.

5. It Marries the Mythic and the Historical

What’s truly magnetic about the novel's craft is how it fuses mythic cadence with historical precision.
The novel doesn’t just write about events - it ritualizes them.
The novel reads like a chant, a drumbeat, a ceremony of remembrance. Its prose has rhythm and density; it’s immersive and poetic, yet grounded in realism.

6. It Speaks to Our Times

Readers today hunger for stories that go beyond the surface - stories that reconnect us to place, ancestry, and moral truth.
The Poro Must Dance speaks to climate anxiety, cultural erasure, spiritual disconnection, and postcolonial identity. It asks:

“What happens when land, memory, and spirit are severed - and who will dance to restore them?”

In an age of forgetting, this novel remembers - fiercely and beautifully.

In Short

Readers will be drawn to The Poro Must Dance because it is:

√. Epic in scope yet intimate in feeling.

√. Historically rich yet mythically charged.

√. A lament and a prophecy, both timely and timeless.

It is, in essence, a literary ritual - a story that beats like a drum beneath history’s silence.

~ The Author

Prepared - to grab a copy soon...

16/10/2024

"The ghosts of the past would always be there, but so too would the strength of the living."...By T.T.Dixon
🙏

16/10/2024

The ghosts of the past would always be there, but so too would the strength of the living...by T.T.Dixon

26/09/2024

"The night of October 26, 1871, would forever be remembered as the night Liberia’s dreams of change were silenced—at least for a time."____Terence Teroy Dixon writes...

28/08/2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Illusion of Decentralization: Why the Local Government Act of 2018 Fails Liberia

The Ministry of Internal Affairs Local Government Act of 2018 has been heralded as a pivotal step towards decentralization in Liberia. However, upon closer examination, it becomes evident that this Act is not the optimal framework for addressing decentralization in Liberia. Here’s why Liberians should critically assess the Act and advocate for a more genuine autonomous approach:

1. Implementation Failures and Unrealistic Timelines
The Act sets an ambitious 10-year implementation timeline, which has proven overly optimistic and unrealistic. Despite being in place for over a decade, many of its core objectives remain unfulfilled. County Service Centers (CSCs), intended to be the backbone of local service delivery, suffer from chronic underfunding and logistical challenges. Issues such as outdated equipment, insufficient infrastructure, and unreliable electricity plague these centers, severely limiting their effectiveness.

2. Financial Dependency and Insufficient Autonomy

A significant flaw in the Act is the financial dependency of local governments on the central government. The Revenue Sharing Act (RSA) of 2022, which allows local governments to retain 40% of locally generated revenue, has not been sufficient to ensure financial independence. Delays and inconsistencies in the disbursement of funds from the central government have crippled local operations, making local governments perpetually dependent and undermining their autonomy.

3. Political Control under the Guise of Decentralization

The Act creates the illusion of decentralization while allowing the central government to retain significant control. Genuine power devolution has been slow, suggesting a reluctance among the political elite to relinquish authority. This pseudo-decentralization enables the central government to maintain substantial influence over local governance, thus undermining the supposed autonomy of local entities and reinforcing centralized power structures.

4. Lack of Constitutional Support for True Decentralization

For Liberia to achieve genuine decentralization, there needs to be a constitutional amendment that fundamentally redefines the relationship between central and local governments. The Local Government Act, in its current form, lacks robust constitutional backing, making it vulnerable to alteration or undermining by future governments. This lack of constitutional reinforcement hampers the Act's ability to provide a long-term framework for genuine decentralization and raises concerns about its enduring authority in shaping the relationship between central and local governments. Without constitutional support, the Act remains a fragile legislative tool.

5. Inadequate Capacity Building

After a decade, there has been minimal progress in building the necessary capacities of local governments to handle devolved responsibilities effectively. Local officials often lack the training and resources required for efficient governance, leading to widespread inefficiency and poor service delivery. This failure to invest in human capital at the local level reflects a superficial approach to decentralization.

The Promise of True Decentralization for Liberia

True decentralization offers a more sustainable and equitable approach to governance in Liberia. It involves a clear and permanent delineation of powers and responsibilities between the central and local governments, enshrined in the constitution. This would ensure:

a. Enhanced Autonomy: Local governments would have genuine control over their affairs, leading to more responsive and accountable governance.
b. Financial Independence: Guaranteed and sufficient revenue streams would empower local entities to manage their resources effectively without relying on inconsistent central transfers.
c. Capacity Building: Systematic investment in enhancing local capacities would enable more efficient service delivery and governance.
d. Balanced Development: True decentralization would promote equitable development across all regions, reducing disparities and fostering national cohesion.

A Call for Swift and Genuine Reform

The Ministry of Internal Affairs Local Government Act of 2018, despite its intentions, has not delivered true decentralization. It serves more as a smokescreen for the political elite to feign progress while retaining control. For Liberia to achieve real decentralization, there must be comprehensive constitutional reforms that genuinely transfer power and resources to local governments. This will ensure autonomy, accountability, and efficient service delivery, creating a more equitable and prosperous future for all Liberians.

Terence Teroy Dixon
Acting Premier - LiFAG
Federalism Advocate

Cc. Ministry of Internal Affairs - RL

References:
https://mia.gov.lr › doc PDF
https://www.newrepublicliberia.com/undps-director-rep.../).
https://frontpageafricaonline.com/.../liberia-lessons.../).
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT OF 2018

28/08/2024

A Call to Protect Our Liberian Cultural Heritage and Values

To those who seek to impose Western values that conflict with African and Liberian cultural heritage, especially regarding issues like homosexuality: our traditions, beliefs, and way of life are non-negotiable. There are organizations backed by foreign partners aiming to convince our people that our customs, including our revered secret societies, are wrong and should be abolished.

Let it be known that we, the people of Liberia, fiercely commit to protecting our cultural heritage. Our values are deeply rooted in the wisdom of our ancestors and are vital to our identity as Africans. Any Liberian leader who undermines these beliefs and cultural traditions for foreign values will face the wrath of our ancestors. They will be humbled and forced to reckon with the true meaning of being a proud African.

Our heritage is our strength, and we will not allow it to be compromised. We must unite to defend our cultural legacy for future generations.

Terence Teroy Dixon Writes...

20/10/2023

All my PEPO from Grand Kru, Sinoe, Maryland, G.Gedeh, R.Gee, and Bassa Vote #1 da GMW and JHT we want 💪💪💪😁😁😁😁😁. Everything happens for reason

18/09/2023

28/10/2022

Politicians, Watch Out For Liberia’s Quiet Voters in 2023!

My Fellow Liberians within our borders and in the diaspora, we greet you once again, and this time to thank you for listening and believing well in us and not coming out in the tens and hundreds of thousands as they thought you would have done after being called upon to do so today October 28, 2022. Their intentions to again put you into harm's way were averted either by you simply staying home while languishing in the depth of poverty or going about your daily struggles to feed your hungry families amid a hard cost of living crises brought upon us by those avaricious politicians who we entrusted with governance.

My fellow Liberians, your actions prove to the world that Liberians have realized that they cannot and will no longer allow self-centered politicians to use them for their benefit and self-seeking interests. Our enormous work with you in the trenches throughout fifteen (15) political sub-divisions over the years until now and leading to 2023 has paid off immensely.

My fellow Liberians, you are winners for the defiance postures you exhibited today. You did not show up to a self-interest protest to prove a point for a few groups of politicians who continued to dream of amassing large crowds with the intent to demonstrate political strength and having the numbers on any given day at the detriment of the already suffering masses. Thanks for believing and not showing up for a misguided protest.

My fellow Liberians, thanks for recognizing that you do not have to possess a party membership card to bring positive change in your life and for Liberia. You are born a Liberian first before any other affiliation. Thanks for recognizing that there are more silent voters than those holding political party cards. For those Liberians in possession of party cards, thanks for believing that the self-seeking political class of our beloved Liberia has failed us in every way. Liberians believe that the future for you and your children is in your votes. We can no longer continue to suffer as the result of leaders who live in a bubble – light years away from our cries and plights.

My fellow Liberians, this is not the time to give up the struggle to break off the yokes and hedges of suffering and entrenched poverty our politicians continue to inflict upon us as a people. To be born a Liberian is not a curse. Who fixed Liberia and Liberians on the African Continent, where its Citizens are born, live, and die in poverty amid abundant natural resources? This pillaging and plundering of our wealth by just a few individuals is unacceptable and must stop. The time is now!

My fellow Liberians, to ensure the emergence of a Black Horse in the 2023 General Elections for a new political dispensation for the common good of the base, we have established another 500 Cell of People Bearers (PB), bringing it up to 2,500 Cells throughout Liberia, and more to fellow. These PB Cells are of committed Liberians of Non-Partisan Posture devoting their time to a Jehovah's Witnesses-styled campaign by meeting person-to-person. Going from door-to-door, house-to-house, village-to-village, town-to-town, and city-to-city with a simple message: ensures that the eighty-eight (88) lawmakers (73 representatives, 15 senators) do not retain their seats. Vote Out in 2023! To ensure no recycled, corrupt, and desperate politician makes it to the Executive Mansion as President.

My Fellow Liberians, we told the politicians what we needed them to do going into the 2023 General Elections. Yes, greed causes them to lift their selfish egos above the rest of us, the people. The penalties for the lack of trust in our recycled politicians and leaders are these: We will no longer heel calls for mass protests geared toward satisfying a politician's selfish interests and greed above the interest of our people. We have resolved not to respond or take to the streets in protest from calls coming from Liberians pulling the strings behind the scene from the diaspora.
My fellow Liberians, thanks for believing in the change we seek -not just a few amongst us. Thanks, we have resolved not to be used any longer by greedy politicians and pillagers who continue to steal our future.
Believe In Liberia And Make the Change We Can Enjoy! Yes, You Will. TIME!