MONROVIA – A president’s life has been recast as a teaching text aimed squarely at Liberia’s young. The relaunch of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s biography, From Foya to the Capitol, doubled as the launch of a wider ambition. Its organizers want the life stories of Liberia’s leaders carried into classrooms and, eventually, the curriculum. Boakai insisted the evening was not about him but about one life and its lessons. He wove together faith, survival, and the dignity of ordinary work. Behind the ceremony, however, sits a delicate question about national memory. Where does honest civic education end and the burnishing of a sitting leader begin? That distinction now defines the initiative’s promise, as THE ANALYST reports.
The extraordinary journey of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai from the rural community of Foya in Lofa County to the presidency of Liberia has been reintroduced to the public through the relaunch of his biography, “From Foya to the Capitol,” with the President, author Dr. Sakui Malakpa, senior government officials and young Liberian students emphasizing the book’s potential to inspire a new generation through lessons of perseverance, education, faith, humility, honesty, patriotism and service.
At the relaunch ceremony held at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Monrovia, President Boakai made clear that he did not view the publication simply as a celebration of his personal achievements, but as a record of one life from which others—particularly young people—can draw lessons.
“It’s not so much about the book, it’s not so much about me. It’s about one life,” President Boakai told the gathering.
He said his journey was not carefully planned from childhood with the expectation that he would eventually become president, recalling that some of the most difficult experiences of his early life were simply about survival and the pursuit of education.
“I didn’t think about walking for it to come to Monrovia,” he said, recalling the difficult journeys he undertook as a young person. “When I had to walk in the bushes, thinking about a snake… there was no road. It was about survival.”
For President Boakai, however, surviving those difficult circumstances ultimately carried a deeper purpose.
“But you know, survival for a reason. God had kept,” he said, linking his journey to his strong belief in God and the conviction that human beings are called to live not only for themselves but also for others.
From Foya to the Presidency
President Boakai said his story demonstrates that a person’s starting point does not necessarily determine the destination.
He recalled the difficult circumstances of his youth and the opportunities that eventually allowed him to move from Foya into broader national service.
His journey included public service at several levels, including work with the Liberia Produce Marketing Corporation, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company before serving as Vice President and eventually becoming President of Liberia.
The President said the achievement should not be attributed to him alone, emphasizing the role of people who believed in him and supported him along the way.
“It is not about the people who say, ‘I voted for you. I never got a job.’ It’s for those who believe in you,” he said. “And through them, you are doing what you’re doing.”
He recalled a particularly meaningful encounter with a former schoolmate who had known him since their days at the College of West Africa.
According to President Boakai, the former classmate recently told him that although he had always known him as a good person, he had never imagined that he would accomplish what he has achieved over the years.
The President described the observation from someone who knew him as a student as one of the greatest tributes he could receive.
For him, it reinforced the importance of faith, trust and the support of others in determining the course of a person’s life.
“God can use any of us… for any purpose,” he said. “It is God working with us.”
Boakai: Life Is About the Contribution of People
The President also used the occasion to emphasize a philosophy that has characterized his public statements: that every person has value and that national progress depends on the contribution of people at every level of society.
He questioned what society would look like without people performing seemingly ordinary but essential duties.
“What if there were not people like you? What if there were not people that play music? People that sweep the street. People that cook for us to eat?” he asked.
He said people sometimes look down on others because of the jobs they perform, but argued that every contribution has importance.
To illustrate the point, he humorously observed that a person could understand the importance of a cleaner by entering a restroom and discovering that basic necessities had not been provided.
The message, however, was serious: Liberia’s development requires respect for every citizen and recognition of the dignity of work.
Kwabo: Biography Project to Help Liberians Know Their Presidents
Adding a broader national and historical dimension to the ceremony, Nathaniel Kwabo, Director of Cabinet at the Executive Mansion, who conducted the program, said the relaunch of “From Foya to the Capitol” should be viewed as the beginning of a much larger effort to document and preserve the lives of Liberia’s presidents.
Kwabo said very few Liberians have access to comprehensive biographies of the country’s former presidents, making the initiative particularly important for national education and historical preservation.
He disclosed that plans are underway to develop a comprehensive collection of presidential biographies, potentially covering the men and women who have occupied Liberia’s highest office.
“This relaunch is the beginning of that project,” Kwabo said, explaining that the biography of President Boakai would form part of a broader effort to ensure that Liberians understand the lives and contributions of their national leaders.
Kwabo also used the occasion to introduce Dr. Sakui Malakpa, whom he described as a distinguished Liberian intellectual with whom he had worked previously.
Recalling their professional relationship between 2010 and 2011, Kwabo said he had the opportunity to work directly with Malakpa on the Vision 2030 project in the United States.
He praised Malakpa’s intellect, brilliance, eloquence and depth of knowledge of Liberian society.
Kwabo highlighted Malakpa’s extensive academic background, noting that he holds degrees from Florida State University, Howard University and the University of Toledo, including a law degree.
He also pointed to Malakpa’s decision to return to Liberia after years of academic work in the United States, noting that he had since taken up leadership of a university in Liberia.
For Kwabo, Malakpa’s return represented another example of the importance of Liberians bringing their knowledge and expertise home to contribute to national development.
‘Know Your President’ Initiative Targets Students
Kwabo further explained the educational purpose behind the “Know Your President” initiative, saying the project seeks to bridge presidential biographies into accessible versions that can eventually be read and taught in Liberian schools.
He said the initiative is based on the belief that students should understand how national leaders emerged from different backgrounds, overcame challenges and contributed to society.
The biographies, he said, would eventually be abridged and developed into versions that could be used as educational materials and potentially incorporated into the Liberian curriculum.
“We think it is important to see how former presidents have inspired society and how students can learn from them and how they can be role models to students,” Kwabo explained.
He said President Boakai’s life offers particularly important lessons for young Liberians because of the values associated with his journey, including love for country, commitment to education, service and determination.
Kwabo said the initiative would not stop with President Boakai but would seek to document the lives of other Liberian presidents as additional biographies become available.
He subsequently invited students who had read an abridged version of “From Foya to the Capitol” to share their reflections, creating one of the most significant moments of the ceremony.
The Author: The Biography Was Built on Extensive Research
For Dr. Sakui Malakpa, the author of “From Foya to the Capitol,” the book was the product of years of research, interviews and personal investigation.
Malakpa said his interest in documenting President Boakai’s life developed after an interview with the then Vice President.
After hearing about Boakai’s humble beginnings and remarkable rise, he approached him with a proposal to write his biography.
“I said, ‘Uncle, you’ve got to do something about this. I would like to write your biography,'” Malakpa recalled.
President Boakai agreed, and the research began.
Malakpa said Boakai supported the research process by facilitating travel and telephone contacts, enabling him to reach people connected to the President’s life in Foya, Bomi Hills, Monrovia and elsewhere.
The author said the research extended beyond Liberia.
He contacted people in Asia, Europe, Africa and the United States who had known President Boakai at different stages of his life.
Importantly, Malakpa said he deliberately sought perspectives from people who did not support Boakai politically.
“I did not want to talk to people who supported him,” he explained. “I also talked with people who opposed him.”
According to Malakpa, even people who had been in opposition to Boakai during his vice presidency expressed admiration for aspects of his character.
For the author, that was significant because it allowed him to examine the President’s life beyond political loyalty.
‘You Are Telling Me Things About Me That I Did Not Know’
Malakpa said his research included lengthy conversations with President Boakai and First Lady Kartuma Boakai, as well as their children, siblings, relatives, former schoolmates and other associates.
He said he would send chapters to President Boakai for review as the work progressed.
The President, according to Malakpa, sometimes responded by telling him that the research had revealed aspects of his own life that he had forgotten or had not fully considered.
“He said, ‘Nephew, you are telling me things about me that I did not know,'” Malakpa recalled.
“I said, ‘That’s what they call research.'”
The author said the research eventually produced a biography that went beyond personal recollection and attempted to document the different stages of Boakai’s life through multiple sources.
Malakpa said the first publication became difficult to obtain after the original publisher went out of business, prompting the effort to produce a new edition.
The project eventually found a local publisher in Alpha Book Collins Publishing Company.
Character, Not Just Reputation
Malakpa said one of his major objectives is to ensure that young people understand not simply the President’s political career but his character.
“We want to make sure that not only do you know this President, but you know his character,” he said.
He described Boakai as someone who came from a humble background, struggled through school and faced difficult circumstances while pursuing education.
Malakpa said the biography documents a young Boakai who sometimes had to fetch water before going to school, causing him to arrive late, while still remaining determined to obtain an education.
He said those experiences ultimately formed part of the character that carried Boakai through years of public service.
“This is the man whose character I want students, adults, everyone to know about,” Malakpa said.
“This is a man who has a strong faith in God. This is a man who has character. Not just reputation. But character.”
‘Know Your President’ Initiative
The biography is also being positioned as a foundation for the “Know Your President” initiative, which seeks to expose Liberian students to the lives and experiences of the country’s leaders.
Malakpa said the intention is to place copies of abridged biographies in the hands of high school students and eventually expand the project to include biographies of other Liberian presidents.
He disclosed that support had already been received from institutions including SAAR Insurance, NICON and the Central Bank of Liberia to help make copies available to students.
The initiative, he said, is not simply about knowing who occupied the presidency, but understanding the character, struggles, values and experiences that shaped those individuals.
Malakpa said President Boakai’s biography is currently among the few completed presidential biographies available for the initiative, with work also progressing on the biography of former President Edwin James Barclay.
He said he intends to produce a sequel covering President Boakai’s presidency because, in his view, documenting the current chapter of Boakai’s life is necessary to complete the historical record.
“I’m looking forward to doing the sequel which will cover President Boakai’s presidency,” he said. “That’s the legacy I think he should leave behind.”
Students Turn Biography Into Lessons for Their Generation
The impact of the book was perhaps most evident when young students who had read it took the stage to share their reflections.
Their testimonies showed that the story had resonated with them beyond the historical details of President Boakai’s life.
They spoke about education, determination, humility, service, patriotism, honesty, faith and the importance of refusing to allow difficult circumstances to determine one’s future.
Brenda S. Morris said the biography taught her that one’s circumstances can shape a person without limiting his or her destiny.
“For us as young people, this story is more than the biography of one man,” she said. “It is a reminder that where you begin does not have to determine where you end.”
Abraham B. Kollie Jr. said his greatest lesson was that leadership is rooted in service rather than power.
“Three things I learned from the President are: serve where you are, stay humble and be faithful,” he said.
“What inspired me about the President is he showed greatness is based on service, not power.”
Jamestina said President Boakai’s determination to obtain an education despite poverty and difficult circumstances particularly inspired her.
“Education was indeed the tool that moved him from Foya to the Capitol Building,” she said.
She said the President’s life taught her that resilience, discipline, education and faith can help individuals overcome difficult beginnings.
Catherine J. Mahn focused on President Boakai’s love for Liberia, saying his decades of public service demonstrated a form of patriotism that young people could emulate.
She said his journey showed that true leadership is about helping others and making a meaningful difference rather than simply exercising authority.
The students’ reflections collectively transformed the biography from a historical account into a lesson in character development and citizenship.
Tantan Boakai Adds Family Dimension With Tribute Song
Author Dr. Sakui Malakpa
The ceremony also took an emotional and personal turn when President Boakai’s son, Tantan Boakai, paid tribute to his parents through music.
Tantan said that while much had been said about his father’s journey from Foya to Monrovia in pursuit of education and his eventual rise to the presidency, another important part of the story had not received enough attention—how President Boakai met his wife, First Lady Kartuma Boakai.
He noted that his parents had recently celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary, describing their enduring relationship as another important part of the family’s story.
Tantan, who said he has known his parents for more than 46 years, told the audience that he was therefore well positioned to tell part of their story.
He then revealed that he had composed a special song for their anniversary entitled “Country-Country Love.”
“I wrote a song for the 54th anniversary called ‘Country-Country Love.’ It is a story about them,” he said.
The song portrayed President Boakai as a “country boy” from far away who was trying to make his way in life before love brought him together with the woman who would become his wife.
Tantan’s performance added a warm family dimension to an event otherwise centered on the President’s public life, providing the audience with a glimpse into the personal story behind the statesman.
Boakai: ‘Think Liberia, Love Liberia and Build Liberia’
For President Boakai, however, the broader meaning of the book remained firmly connected to Liberia.
He said he had never been interested in using the publication to promote himself personally, emphasizing that his focus remained on the country.
“I have never been in that position to promote myself. I don’t even think about myself,” he said. “It is Liberia. Our country.”
He recalled how he developed the phrase “Think Liberia, Love Liberia and Build Liberia,” saying it reflected his concern about the country’s development and future.
He urged Liberians to examine the nation’s progress honestly and ask whether the country is where it should be.
“Let’s ask ourselves: Are we where we should be? Are we satisfied with where we are?” he said.
He described Liberia as a country endowed with talent and friendly people and urged citizens to take responsibility for building it.
“This is the time to build this country,” he declared.
He also reminded young people of the importance of faith and moral values, warning that education without proper moral grounding can be dangerous.
“Train a child without God, he can become a very clever devil,” the President said, adding that the knowledge of God is the beginning of wisdom.
A Biography With a Broader National Purpose
The relaunch of “From Foya to the Capitol” has therefore evolved beyond the reproduction of a book.
It has become a vehicle for conversations about Liberia’s history, leadership, education, character and the responsibilities of the next generation.
For Dr. Malakpa, the immediate task is to ensure that President Boakai’s presidency is eventually documented in a sequel.
For Nathaniel Kwabo and the organizers of the “Know Your President” initiative, the larger objective is to ensure that students learn from the experiences of Liberia’s leaders and understand how those experiences can shape responsible citizenship.
For the students themselves, the biography has already provided a powerful set of lessons: work hard, pursue education, remain humble, be honest, have faith, serve others and love Liberia.
And for President Boakai, the most important legacy of the book may not be the story of how he reached the presidency, but what the story inspires young Liberians to become.
“It’s about one life,” he reminded his audience.
That one life—from the difficult roads of Foya to the Capitol—has now become a lesson that organizers hope will inspire many more Liberian lives.