Liberia

Guide for dating in Liberia helps you to meet the best girls. This dating guide gives you tips how to date Liberian women. You will learn rules where and how to flirt with local Liberian girls. We advise how to move from casual dating to the relationship and find the real love. We also tell the best dating sites in Liberia. In this article below you will find more information where to meet and date girls in Liberia, Africa.

Hot girls of Liberia at the Lila brown club

Girls in Liberia:

Looks of girls: 3.5 / 5

Attitude of girls: 3 / 5

Loyalty of girls: 3 / 5

Education level of girls: 3.5 / 5

Dating in Liberia:

Chance of arranging dates: 3 / 5

Casual dating culture: 3.5 / 5

Online dating popularity: 2.5 / 5

Sex in Liberia:

Women's sexual activity: 4 / 5

One-night stands: 4 / 5

More about Liberia:

Nightlife in general: 4 / 5

Locals' English level: 4 / 5

Budget per day: US$50 - $500

Accommodation: US$20 - $200

Dating

Liberia is located on the coast of West Africa. The country borders Sierra Leone to the northwest, Guinea to the north, Ivory Coast to the East and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. Liberia is one of the oldest sovereign nations in Africa having declared its independence in 1847. Liberia was established as a colony to settle freed American slaves. As slavery was abolished in the Americas, it was felt that the emancipated slaves were better off repatriated back to Africa rather than remain where they were. This move saw over 12,000 slaves relocated back to the continent and settled in Liberia. As they settled there, they encountered and displaced some of the native tribes. The country is therefore made up of immigrants from America and the indigenous tribes.

The country occupies an area of about 110,000 square kilometers with a population of slightly less than five million people. The capital and largest city is Monrovia with a population of about one million people or 20% of the country’s population.

Dating Liberian girls is fun and easy. Whether you want to hook up with the Americo-Liberian girl who is descended from the immigrants or the indigenous girl, it should not be very challenging. Most girls in Liberia speak English and many of them are educated and intelligent. The various attractions listed provide a perfect opportunity to meet and spend time with this lady.

Dating Culture

The dating culture in Liberia, just like many African countries, is a blend of western and local cultures. With no strong religious or cultural guidance on matters of dating, many young people are open to having casual dates with many people. With Liberia having one of the highest occurrences of polygamy in the world, the younger men freely pursue many girls as they try to make up their minds on the one that they will settle with.

Sugar Dating

Sugar dating is one of the best ways to find a date in 2023. Men who are willing to buy gifts for sugar babies, will get physical or emotional pleasure for a return. Take a look of the wide selection of girls from SecretBenefits.

Online Dating

Dating in Liberia can be a bit tricky due to not knowing if you have a solid connection, so your best bet is to sign up for a dating site before you venture to the night club or bar, so you can meet a few locals ahead of time. AdultFriendFinder.com lets you meet local members in Liberia and get to know them on a personal basis before you meet in person. Take advantage of site features like live chat and member to member webcams so you can begin flirting before arranging a face-to-face meeting.

Webcam Dating

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Women

Liberia’s indigenous population is made up of 16 ethnic groups of which the Kpelle are the largest group. This is in addition to the Americo-Liberians. These are descendants of the freed slaves from the Americas who were resettled in the country in the 19th century. Although the settlers and their descendants defined the boundaries of the nation-state, made English the official language, and dominated the government and economy for almost one hundred fifty years, they have never constituted as much as 5% of the population. Christianity is the leading religion practiced by 85% of the population while Muslims form 12%.

Despite the presence of these ethnic groups, the main division in the population is between the Americo-Liberians and the native groups with the immigrants considering themselves more civilized. Civilized people, especially women, are distinguished by Western-style clothing and household furnishings. The association is so strong that native women are also known as "lappa women," a reference to the two pieces of cloth (lappas) that constitute native female dress.

In terms of politics, Liberia made history when In 2005, Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became the first elected female head of state in Africa, marking a milestone for the country and the continent. Although a woman occupied the highest elected office for twelve years, Liberian women continue to struggle to obtain leadership roles in politics. In September 2016, the Liberian House of Representatives passed the Equal Representation and Participation Act of 2016, establishing seven ‘Special Constituencies,’ among which five seats will be reserved for women.

Women in Liberia are much more likely than men to be self-employed. Today, 34% of Liberian women manage a fairly significant share of registered small and medium enterprises (SMEs). However, the majority of female entrepreneurs in Liberia continue to work informally and in low-productivity sectors, mainly in small retail and trade. Indeed, 75% of women, compared to 61% of men, worked informally in Liberia in 2010.

Among entrepreneurs, women are more likely than men to own completely informal enterprises Wholesale and retail trade, the second-most important sector for overall employment in Liberia after agriculture, employs as much as 35% of the female workforce compared to just 15% of employed men. In 2006, the majority of women in greater Monrovia worked as vendors and in petty trade (68 percent of the urban female labor force). Seven years later, although more women have registered their businesses, a majority remains in the informal sector and low-productivity sectors.

As a result of conflict, a high proportion of women lack the basic skills to conduct business successfully and often find themselves in low-productivity jobs. The prolonged years of conflict led to high rates of illiteracy, particularly among women. The current generation of women entrepreneurs lacks many of the basic skills needed to successfully operate a business. Also, the lack of technical skills due to the breakdown of the education system during the conflict has constrained women’s opportunities to develop their businesses in higher productivity areas. Gender gaps in vocational and professional training are particularly wide, and gender segregation remains high, leading women into low-productivity jobs.

Although basic education is considered a free commodity, it is still not easily accessible for young girls living in Liberia. Unfortunately, the education system in Liberia has endured years of setbacks as a result of more than fourteen years of civil war, with some level of minor improvements since the end of the civil war in 2003. However, in 2014, with the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa, the educational gains made by Liberia were harshly affected. The education system in Liberia, mainly the primary and secondary systems need to be restructured. Currently, there are numerous challenges, but there are many opportunities that have yet to be explored in Liberia.

The benefits of providing Liberian girls with education are rewarding. Educated girls help break the cycle of poverty, inequality and equal opportunities at the community level. Rural girls who attend schools are more likely to enter the workforce, earn higher incomes, delay marriage, plan their families, and seek an education for their children. When girls in developing countries receive education and earn income, they put 90 percent of their earnings into their families.

Liberian Girls (age 18 - 29)

Liberia's history has been punctuated by civil wars and unrest as various factions fought for control of the country. During these wars, many young Liberians left the villages and moved to the cities as the violence was more prescribed in the interior. As a result, many Liberian girls live in cities where some were lucky to get employment. Even for those who stayed back in the villages, many move to the cities to pursue higher education.

Liberian girls aged 19-29 years have two main backgrounds. Some of the girls have left their families in the villages and have come to the city to seek economic opportunities. These are the more conservative ones who will be less ready to get into a casual relationship with you. We also have those girls who have been born and brought up in the cities. These are slightly more liberal and are more ready to get into a relationship a lot easier, whether casual or serious.

Liberian girls are known to be very well-endowed. The girls have some of the biggest bums in the world. While they dress relatively modestly, their bums and breast are prominent features in their bodies. For the liberal ones, they dress in knee-length skirt suits or dresses whereas some wear long tight pants. One common mode of dressing for Liberian ladies is low-cut blouses which expose their cleavage. This brings out their voluptuous breasts.

For those who are able, Liberian girls at this age will move out and stay on their own. However, most ladies opt to remain at home until they move to their matrimonial homes when they meet the perfect match.

It is a popular belief in Liberia that at 30 years, a lady needs to be married, about to get married or dating. This means that the lady you will meet who is approaching 30 years will be looking to settle down, which should greatly enhance your chances of getting along.

Liberian Women (age 30 - 45)

Many Liberia girls get married between the ages of 25-35 years and so the average woman of this age you come across will have marriage in mind. As a result of this, most women make their plans around a family with a husband and later on with children. Liberia girls falling into this category already have some of their friends married and they tend to look at their friends with awe at the same time wishing that they were also at that stage.

At this stage, most women are trying to establish their career paths. Some who have the time and money go back to further their studies beyond the undergraduate level. They spend their days at work and for evening and weekend classes in the many university campuses in the city. While not all of them are ready to engage in dating, there are still many who are available to meet and interact. You just need to have a more mature approach when hitting on them as they easily rebuff anyone they deem childish.

By this time, the women have fully developed bodies and are never afraid to flaunt their curves and edges. However, these women will be less adventurous than their younger counterparts in terms of dressing. They tend to don knee-length dresses and skirts and trousers suits. Their hair will be braided conservatively or simply blow-dried. In case of going out for a night of fun, casual clothes will be donned with simple shoes such as sneakers. These women have good jobs and those in business have some level of stability and so have higher spending power. This means that they can buy expensive clothes and accessories and cosmetics.

Some women move out and put up in their own houses. Some still cohabit with their friends as this is considered to be a temporary stage leading to marriage life. Those whose families live in Liberia and have conservative parents may continue staying with their parents because like the other examples above, girls usually have their future lives centered around getting married and settling in with their husbands.

Liberian Ladies (age 45+)

By the time Liberian women are 45 years; most of them are married and have children. A third of Liberian marriages are polygamous. Most of the polygamous marriages are between indigenous Liberians as the Americo-Liberians consider it uncivilized.

According to Liberian law, a married woman has the right in respect to the property, real or personal, and the acquisition, enjoyment and disposition thereof, and to make contracts in respect thereto with any person, including her husband, and to carry on a business, trade or occupation, and to exercise all powers and enjoy all rights in respect thereto and respect to her contracts, and be liable on such contracts, as if she were unmarried.

Every trend has its exceptions and this is no exception. There exist many Liberia women who are above 45 years of age and still single. These women, including the married ones, are good for a one-night stand. This is because, at this stage, most of them are not looking for partners in long-lasting relationships. They are simply looking for a good time with no strings attached.

Foreign Girls (tourists, expats, students, etc.)

Many years of civil unrest in the country greatly affected tourism in Liberia. Before the period of instability, the country hosted many tourists who came to see the attractions in the country with a unique history. When the violence broke out, many tourists and other foreigners in the country fled. However, with the return to relative calm, the sector is slowly picking up and many foreign girls, especially from the United States, are now flocking in. With its numerous universities which are more than most countries in the region, another group of foreign girls that Liberia attracts every year are that students from the less-developed countries. Another group of foreign girls in Liberia is the group of expatriates who are slowly coming back to help rebuild the country.

Sex

Given the mixed history of the citizens of the country, having sex with Liberia girls is easy. Most girls, especially the Americo-Liberians are outgoing and easy to get for sex. While many native girls were hitherto conservative in matters of sex, many are opening up and provided that you know how to approach them, you will have sex with less resistance.

Sex Culture

Liberia has a relatively liberal sex culture. One of the most prevalent forms of sex in the country is referred to as transactional sex. This is engaging in sexual intercourse in exchange for cash, goods, services, commodities, or privileges that are perceived as needs or wants by the participant. There is a general recognition among girls that their sexuality has value on the sexual exchange market and can provide certain financial freedoms, status, and power. Although many young women reported that first sexual encounters were non-transactional, they described becoming involved in transactional sex after witnessing the financial gains and heightened social status of peers.

One-Night Stands

As mentioned above, sex in Liberia is used for other gains. This has made one-night stands rife in the city. Even when there is no motivation or gain to be accrued in the sex, many young Liberians engage in sex for the fun of it. There has been a sustained campaign by the government and other organizations against this habit due to the relatively high rate of infection of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Best Places to Meet Single Girls

Liberia, a lush, green, friendly and vibrant land, offers everything from excellent surf spots and shops selling wares by edgy local designers to days spent lolling in a comfy hammock on the edge of the rainforest while listening to tropical birds sing. It is home to one of West Africa's best national parks and still hangs on to a confident American spirit mixed with West African roots. And despite the ravages of the past, it is a fantastic place to travel, full of hope and energy.

Bars, Pubs and Nightclubs

Lila Brown’s: Lila B's is an elegant duplex bar nestled between the Mamba Point Hotel and the Atlantic in Monrovia, set in an old colonial home. Downstairs there's a food menu and a party vibe on weekend nights. Climb the wooden staircase for sea views, waiter service and relaxed tables shielded from rainy-season downpours by stylish shower curtains.

Tide’s: Wicker armchairs and loveseats line the wide veranda at the oceanfront Tides also in Monrovia, where you get views with style. Inside, find the cocktail list scribbled on a blackboard (try the bissap margarita), a pool table and a long bar beneath a safari-lodge ceiling. The kitchen, serving sandwiches, cassava fries and crispy fried plantain, known as kelewele opens after 4.30 pm.

Jamal's Boulevard Café: This Sinkor institution comes alive on weekend nights, and has drinks specials, karaoke, quiz nights and special events. There's also food, including good pizza (call ahead for delivery), and Wi-Fi. Sunday brunch includes the likes of mimosas and bloody Marys. Jamal’s is also located in the capital city, Monrovia.

Black and White: Situated in Buchanan, this nightclub bops into the wee hours with a mix of rock, pop, trance.

Oceanview: For beachside drinks which you can sip with your toes in the sand, Oceanview can't be beaten. This spot is located in Harper.

JR's Beach Bar: Take any one of the beach tracks from Mamba Point Rd and you'll stumble upon JR's Beach Bar, which serves up drinks and views with good vibes and fun. If it's full, there's a cluster of other bars nearby that deliver the same ambiance. This bar is located in Monrovia.

Déjà Vu: Join the shimmering, moneyed party people at Liberia's sleekest club, which hosts DJs and regular special nights. No shorts or sandals for men are allowed. This chic establishment is found in Monrovia. Déjà Vu is considered the hottest club in the country.

Palm Spring Resort: Friday nights at the Palm Spring Resort in Congo Town herald live music in the bar, before the mass exodus into the casino, where the younger generations of Liberia's political elite mingle with Russian businessmen. The casino is found in the capital city, Monrovia.

Scarlet: Scarlet is new to the Monrovia nightlife scene, but has made its mark. This classy lounge is sure to please any date with its regal lighting, plush couches, and signature cocktails. Scarlet is located in Mamba Point in Monrovia.

Exodus: This club is found in the city center of Monrovia. Exodus is a good place to start and is a local hangout with a well-sized bar serving cheap drinks in a vibrant atmosphere.

Shopping Malls

Some of the popular malls in Liberia include:

TM Mall, Monrovia

Total Mall, Monrovia

Zara Mall, Monrovia

Naresh Mall, Monrovia

Cape Palmas, Harper

Mukesh Shopping Center, Monrovia

SC & G Shopping Center

City Builders, Monrovia

Otis Spot, Buchanan

Outdoors

Mt. Nimba is Liberia's tallest peak, 1362m above sea level, and you can feasibly climb it if you have a few days on your hands. You can camp along the way if you have your equipment, hiking along the peaks. Bring a GPS and warm clothing as it can get misty and very cool at night. The jumping-off point is Yekepa town, a 10-hour drive from Monrovia. The road to Mt Nimba is paved for almost three-quarters of the way to the top; alternatively, you can drive to the peak using a 4WD. Monkey Island is a small archipelago that is home to chimpanzees that were evacuated from a hepatitis research lab during the war. Enquire in town about the most up-to-date options for viewing the island and chimps from a canoe– it can be hit or miss, but there will usually be someone around who can take you.

On the site of the old Africana Museum, which once had a 3000-piece collection, Cuttington is one of West Africa's oldest universities. The campus consists of one white structure and is worth a visit to pay tribute to university victims of the Ebola outbreak. One exterior wall lists the 21 faculty and graduates who perished during the crisis.

CeeCee Beach is a fantastic spot to swim in a lagoon sheltered by rocks and is a quieter option than other Monrovia area beaches. It lies in the shadow of the now-skeletal Hotel Africa, 62km west of Monrovia.

Firestone Rubber Plantation is the world's largest rubber plantation, which is leased from the government on a controversial 99-year plan. You can view how rubber is processed (no official tours, just ask at the entrance and they will normally oblige), or play around at the 18-hole golf course. The only way to get here from Marshall is by car. The journey takes roughly an hour.

Liberia National Museum’s collection was depleted during the war years, but renovations (always ongoing) have created space for photo and art exhibitions as well as the ethnic and historical exhibits. Check out founding father JJ Roberts' dining table – a gift from England's Queen Victoria – as well as paintings and items representing Liberian tribal cultures. The building was the former legislature. It is located in the capital, Monrovia.

Cape Palmas Lighthouse can be climbed for an outstanding panoramic view of the cape. Although no longer functional, it's on a UN base, so get permission first, and don't attempt to scale the small, slippery steps during the rainy season. Don't miss the stunning, palm-lined beach at nearby Fish Town (not to be confused with the larger town of the same name), but take care with the currents if you swim.

Sapo, Liberia's only national park is a lush 1808-sq-km tract containing some of West Africa's last remaining primary rainforest. Within it lurk forest elephants, pygmy hippos, chimpanzees, antelopes and other wildlife, although these populations suffered greatly during the war. It's located in the Sinoe Province; you'll need to take a 4WD from Monrovia to Greenville, then head north to Juarzon and then southeast to Jalay's Town. You'll need to allow at least a full day's travel to here from the capital.

Waterside Market in Liberia offers almost everything for sale, including colorful textiles, shoes, leather goods and pottery, all with a dose of foul smells and lots of noise. Haggle hard, smile, and embrace raw Liberian energy to its fullest.

Universities and Colleges

Some of the universities and colleges found in Liberia include:

University of Liberia, Monrovia

African Methodist Episcopal University, Monrovia

Cuttington University, Suakoko

William V.S. Tubman University, Cape Palmas

Smythe Institute of Management and Technology, Monrovia

United Methodist University, Monrovia

Liberia International Christian College, Ganta

Barshell University, Paynesville

Booker Washington Institute, Kakata

Adventist University of West Africa, Marshall

Stella Maris Polytechnic, Monrovia

St. Clement University, Paynesville

Relationship

Having recorded the different places where you can run over Liberia young ladies, you should make your move the correct way. It can't be overemphasized that Liberia is a blend of societies and conduct so as you hit on a young lady; you are best encouraged to be cautious with uncovering yourself a lot at the beginning. Be that as it may, Liberia is loaded with acceptable young ladies who are searching for the opportune individual to get into a relationship with.

Holiday Romance

For your stay in Liberia to be enjoyable as you spend time with your girl, you may want to have a prior understanding of the country, its people, nice places to visit, the different costs to be incurred and even the local delicacies. This will save you from getting into activities without the knowledge and also from spending on things you had not planned for. As a tourist coming into the country for the first time or even if you have been to Liberia before and you are looking for a Liberia girl to spend your holiday with, you should take time to find out about the kind of girl you would want to spend the holiday with and how far you would want to go with the relationship.

Tips for Successful Relationship

As the months and years roll on, we tend to slink into our proverbial sweatpants and get lazy in our relationship. We lose our patience, gentleness, thoughtfulness, understanding, and the general effort we once made toward our mate. Think back to the first year of your relationship and write down all the things you used to do for your partner then start doing them again.

Over time, we assume that our partner knows us so well that we don't need to ask for what we want. What happens when we make this assumption? Expectations are set, and just as quickly, they get deflated. Those unmet expectations can leave us questioning the viability of our partnership and connection. Keep in mind that "asking for what you want" extends to everything from emotional to sexual wants.

Create a weekly ritual to check in with each other. This can be short or long, but it begins by asking each other what worked and didn't work about the previous week and what can be done to improve things this coming week. Additionally, use this opportunity to get on the same page with your schedules, plan a date night, and talk about what you would like to see happen in the coming days, weeks, and months in your relationship.

Unless you have committed to an asexual partnership, sex and touch such as kissing, holding hands, and cuddling are vital components of a romantic relationship. How much sex a couple has is, of course, up to the particular pair of individuals, so you must discuss your ideas about it to manage any desire discrepancy.

Life and work distractions can become paramount in our minds, and that leaves little time or energy for our partner. Barring any emergencies or deadlines, we should be fully present when we are with our mate. We truly hear what they are saying (instead of pretending to listen), we leave our distractions behind, and we don't pick them up again until the sun comes up and we walk out the door.

When conflicts inevitably come up, remember to approach them thoughtfully and with a lot of kindness toward your partner and yourself. If you see the stress beginning to escalate during a conversation about a conflict, one or both of you can call a break so that cooler heads can prevail.

In most disagreements, we communicate from the obvious emotions such as anger, annoyance, and the like. Leading from this place can create confusion and defensiveness, and it can ultimately distract from the real issue. Start communicating from the bottom layer which is the feelings that are driving your reactions, such as disappointment, rejection, loneliness, or disrespect.

Conversations quickly turn to arguments when we're invested in hearing our partner admit that we were right or when we are intent on changing their opinion. Choose to approach a conversation as an opportunity to understand your significant other's perspective as opposed to waiting for them to concede. From this perspective, you will have an interesting dialogue and prevent a blowout or lingering frustration.

Love

You should not be in a hurry to rush into a relationship or even push her into a relationship, rather, take time to get to know the lady you’re interested in because she certainly will need time before even hinting that she might be interested in you.

Remember that, when she is interested, she’ll be looking for a full-time relationship with you, not just a casual fling. And you can be sure that your woman won’t sleep around, she won’t drink too much and she more than likely won’t smoke. Remember and try to understand the cultural differences, preferably before going out on your first date. Patience is an important virtue, especially one when meeting someone from another culture. Be open, be aware, be considerate and be happy; and, when you find your special dream girl, she will love you and stay with you and bring you all the pleasures that it’s possible to receive

How to Make Sure She Is the One

Being consistent is a valuable virtue because it lets your partner know that you are who you are. You haven't sent your "representative" to get to know them during the first couple of months of dating, but then suddenly transform once they have committed themselves to you. Consistency is the opposite of volatility. If someone is unpredictable and volatile, it’s difficult to know how they will be acting towards you on a certain day, and that gets old no matter how aesthetically pleasing she is.

If you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you must find that person intellectually challenging. Looks are fleeting but personality is forever—your conversations together should be interesting, insightful and full of depth. Your partner should be able to challenge your opinions, opening up your mind to new ideas and concepts.

An ideal wife is someone who will do good things, not just because other men's wives do them too, but because they are the right things to do. She surpasses other women, not because she competes with them, but because she competes with herself and tries to improve every day a little bit more.

Before marrying a woman, you must be sure that she will always support you in any situation, especially in the presence of other people. If she is very considerate, then you won’t have to worry that she somehow will disgrace you. For example, a tactless woman may make a toxic comment to your relatives or may comment on your shortcomings in front of the guests. It doesn’t mean that she should always agree with you. She just has to know how to gently tell you about your problems.

Marriage

The minimum legal age of marriage in Liberia is 18 years.

Under Liberian law, there are two types of marriages; Traditional/customary and statutory. A man under the traditional laws may contract multiple marriages according to traditions and customs. These marriages are legitimate and solemn under Liberian law. Presently, there is ambiguity on which law takes precedence.

A traditional marriage ceremony includes the presentment of dowry to the bride’s family. In most Liberian traditional marriages, the dowry includes money and the breaking of kola nut. This has made many traditionalists wrongfully conclude that it is actual payment for the woman, and therefore, consider the woman as their property in marriage. Traditional marriages last until death or divorce. The requirement for divorce follows prescribed traditions.

According to the customs and traditions, it is the bride's uncle's responsibility to give his niece's hand in marriage; on the other hand, the uncle of the groom is responsible to find a wife for his nephew. During the day of the ceremony the uncle of the groom makes the proposal to the family of the bride for her hand in marriage on behalf of his nephew who he refers to as his son during the dialogue, the bride’s uncle will reply on behalf of the family asking which of the daughters of the family is being referred to asking the groom’s uncle to specify which person he is referring to exactly.

Thereafter, a small display is then made for the groom's family bringing out young ladies dressed with a variety of plenty clothes to not make them easily recognizable parading them one after the other in front of the groom, his family and the guests. During this parade money is charged on the grooms family and friends for the removal of various clothes they put on the person and when all the clothes have been removed and they see the lady isn't the bride the crowd usually laughs and request the real bride be brought forward, this process repeats itself until the real bride is revealed and identified causing a joyful uproar from the guests.

While polygamous unions are unlawful under Liberian civil code, such marriages are perfectly permissible under Liberia's customary law. According to reports, polygamous marriages make up about one-third of all Liberian marriages. One-third of married women in the age group 15-49 are in polygamous marriages. Customary law allows men to have up to 4 wives. Customary law restricts a married woman's rights to inherit property from her spouse. When widowed, women are at the mercy of the customary laws that are not subject to the civil courts.

In the statutory marriage, parties may contract a marriage before a registrar, in the presence of two witnesses the registrar's office. The registrar then completes and the parties and witnesses then sign the certificate of the marriage in duplicate, and the registrar as in the case of a marriage by a minister delivers one certificate to the parties and files the other in his or her office. The marriage process requires signatures from two witnesses and an officiant but does not require any secondary proof of relationship. A person who is married under the statutory law of Liberia cannot legally marry another spouse under any law anywhere in the world, without first obtaining a statutory divorce.

Wedding

More than 80% of Liberians are Christians and many weddings are done following Christian traditions. In most cases, couples combine the customary wedding and the statutory wedding.

The statutory (white/church) wedding usually takes place at a church. The day typically begins with both the bride's and groom's families gathering at the home of the bride's parents along with some good friends. The wedding party is kept at a different location so that they may be well-rested and ready on time. Most statutory wedding ceremonies start around noon to give guests enough time to prepare for the wedding.

The ceremony follows the same order as some Westernized ceremonies, including the bridal party wearing matching attire; the bride being escorted into the church by her father or a father figure; a pastor’s sermon; the exchanging of vows; lighting of the candle; kissing of the bride; and finally, pronouncing the two as husband and wife. The bridal party exits the church either to take pictures directly outside or to climb into a limousine and drive elsewhere if there’s a specific location for pictures.

After the wedding ceremony is the reception. The format is very structured. First is the entrance of the bridal party dancing to their favorite music, usually a list of hot, trendy afro beats. Second is the spreading of lappas for the bride and groom to walk on. This is an indication that these two are the most important people of the day, and their feet must not touch the bare ground. After spreading the lappas, family and friends rush to receive the bride and groom, escorting them into the reception hall through dancing. This is their way of celebrating the newlyweds, and the celebration leads into the first dance.

Once the bridal party is seated at the "high table," the event continues with opening prayers, speeches, and toasts, eating of traditional and continental dishes, throwing of the bouquet and the removal of garter, gifts presentations, and performances, if any. The dancing starts with the "Grand March," where everyone lines up then dance in a circle. The Grand March opens up the dance floor for family and friends to dance the night away.

Family Life

The Liberian household consists of members of the immediate and extended family. The number of people living in a typical household varies according to the family’s income. There is an average of four to five children per family and in some rural areas, where it is common for men to take on more than one wife, there will be significantly more. Children live with their parents until they are financially independent and move out when they get married. In rural areas, it is common for women to marry as young as 14 or 15, in urban areas it is illegal before the age of 18.

Family roles are quite traditional in Liberia. Men are expected to be the main financial providers and maintain primary authority over the household and family. Women are expected to handle all childcare and household duties. The kitchen is solely the domain of the women. In urban areas, it is becoming more common to have a woman work outside of the home. Rural women are often encouraged to engage in farming and become a housewife early on in life.

The community in Liberia is seen as an extension of the family. It is considered normal for children to be disciplined by people outside of the family group. Corporal punishment is an acceptable and common form of punishment. Elders are highly-regarded and well respected in Liberian communities. Younger people are not allowed to offer a handshake to their elders; rather they bow their heads and slightly bend their knees as a sign of respect.

Regions

Liberia map

Northern Liberia
the area between the St Paul River and the borders with Guinea and Sierra Leone

Central Liberia (Monrovia, Paynesville, Buchanan)
the capital Monrovia and the main population centre

Southern Liberia (Greenville, Harper, Sapo National Park)
some beautiful Atlantic beaches and the country's only national park

Cities

Monrovia - the capital and with a population of around one million people is Liberia's largest city.

Monrovia

Robertsport - Coastal town with excellent surfing opportunities, a comfortable holiday lodge, and a beachside campsite.

Robertsport

Greenville

Harper - Located at the southeast of the country, Harper is the former capital of Maryland. It is known for its beautiful beaches and beach houses. Now, these houses are dilapidated, but it is still possible to get a sense of the glory of the past.

Harper

Paynesville - interesting for BASE-Jumpers