Liberian Community

Liberian Community in Hamilton | General Information about Liberia

Liberian Community in Hamilton

• Population in Canada:

  There are about 500 Liberians in Canada.

• Population in Ontario:

  There about 200 Liberians in the Ontario Province.

• Population in Hamilton:

  There are an estimated 185 Liberians in Hamilton.

• History of immigration:

  Landed immigrants came to Canada because of the Civil war in Liberia.

Common Foods

Liberian foods include rice, cassava, meat, okra, oils, fish, greens and seasonings.

Traditional Clothing

Women wear "lappa" and "buba" with a cotton head dress, made either of traditional or western cloths. Men wear vai shirts and trousers made of traditional cloth or western cloths. These are usually 100% cotton.Children's clothing is the same as that of the adults.

Art and Culture

• Music:

  Traditional and western music popular.

• Dance:

  The Congolese enjoy listening and dancing to live or recorded Congolese jazz.

• Visual Arts:

  Carving, Tie Dye and Batik are popular art forms.

• Architecture:

  Liberian housing varies from simple huts to houses and apartments. Rural areas are filled with huts and low houses. Urban areas have houses on spacious lots and apartments.

• Literature:

  Liberia has great writers such as Dr Guanun.

• Major Films:

  National films such as Cultural Heritage and Malawala - Balawala are very popular even in the neighboring countries.

• Museums:

  There is a National Museum in the capital city (Monrovia).

General Information about Liberia

• Country's Population:

  3 225 000

• Location:

  Liberia is located on the west coast of Africa.

• Climate:

  tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers

• Capital City:

  The capital of Liberia is Monrovia. This name was given after governor John Monroe, one of the pioneers of the American colonization society in 1822.

• Holidays:

  Christmas, New Year, Independence day, Flag day, Decoration day, Thanksgiving day, JT Robert birthday (first President)

• National Symbols:

  
  

  "All hail Liberia hail". The Flag has 11 strips, 6 red and 5 white with a blue field on a single white star.

• National anthem:

  "All hail Liberia hail"