By Amos Harris
KAKATA, MARGIBI COUNTY – The 2026 National Kpelle Unification Day celebration was commemorated in grand style in Kakata, Margibi County, concluding with a renewed national call for peace, cultural preservation, sustainable development, and total unity among Liberians.
The colorful gathering brought together traditional leaders, elders, senior government officials, youth groups, cultural performers, and members of the National Association of Kpelle and Kpelle-speaking People from across Liberia and neighboring Guinea.
Delivering the keynote address on Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Kakata City, Margibi County, prominent Liberian scholar and environmental advocate Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo described the occasion as far more than a routine cultural festival. Instead, he framed it as a historic moment of deep reflection on indigenous identity, leadership, grassroots peacebuilding, and Liberia’s collective future.
Speaking under the theme, “Kpelle Unity for Cultural Renewal, Peace, Development, and National Progress,” Dr. Yarkpawolo praised the Kpelle people for preserving their rich cultural heritage over the decades while simultaneously encouraging a stronger, collective commitment toward national transformation and social harmony.
Dr. Yarkpawolo, who also serves as the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), emphasized that Kpelle unity should become a primary driving force for educational advancements, peace, women and youth empowerment, and sustainable national development. According to him, a fully unified Kpelle population can significantly accelerate the building of a more prosperous and cohesive Liberia.
The keynote speaker noted that the Kpelle people, recognized as Liberia’s largest ethnic group, carry a unique civic responsibility in modeling peace, discipline, social organization, and inclusive leadership across the country. He stressed that when the Kpelle community remains cohesive, Liberia as a whole benefits from increased political stability, ethnic reconciliation, and national progress.
Addressing regional dynamics, Dr. Yarkpawolo encouraged Kpelle communities spread across Bong, Margibi, Lofa, Bomi, and Gbarpolu counties, as well as those in neighboring Guinea, to rise above localized political and regional divisions. He reminded participants that despite minor differences in dialects and geographic locations, the Kpelle people remain fundamentally connected through a shared ancestry, culture, history, and a common destiny.
Highlighting the critical importance of preserving indigenous identity, Dr. Yarkpawolo issued an urgent call to parents, educational institutions, churches, media entities, and community organizations to protect and actively promote the Kpelle language. He warned that the loss of indigenous languages directly correlates with the permanent erasure of valuable historical wisdom, oral traditions, and cultural identity for future generations.
The EPA Executive Director further stressed the strategic importance of education, technical youth empowerment, and women’s leadership. He urged Kpelle professionals and leaders residing both at home and in the diaspora to invest heavily in competitive scholarship opportunities, vocational training, modernized agriculture, entrepreneurship, medicine, and environmental science programs tailored to uplift young people and rural communities.
In a passionate appeal for environmental protection, Dr. Yarkpawolo cautioned against illegal mining, deforestation, river pollution, and other harmful environmental practices threatening rural Liberia. Drawing from his extensive professional background in environmental governance, he encouraged local communities to serve as active custodians of their forests, rivers, agricultural lands, and sacred spaces for the benefit of future generations.
As a centerpiece of his address, Dr. Yarkpawolo proposed the establishment of a “Kpelle Unification Compact.” This strategic framework centers on preserving the Kpelle language, fostering regional peace, promoting responsible governance, empowering women and youth, protecting natural resources, and reinforcing Liberia’s broader national unity.
The commemorative ceremony was marked by vibrant cultural performances, traditional music, historical storytelling, and diverse dance exhibitions that showcased the rich heritage of the Kpelle people. Attendees widely praised the event as a meaningful platform for reconciliation, cultural pride, and the cultivation of a collective national vision.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Yarkpawolo urged Liberians to ensure that the spirit of brotherhood extends far beyond annual celebrations and political speeches. He challenged citizens to demonstrate true unity through daily service to their communities, deep respect for elders, tangible support for women and youth, active preservation of culture, and an unwavering commitment to Liberia’s long-term growth and development.