Liberia
The Republic of Liberia with a population of about 3.5 million people is located on Africa’s western Coast . It has an equatorial climate with a distinct rainy season as well as a dry season known for its harsh winds.
Liberia’s economy was devastated by polical instability resulting from ongoing civil wars from the 1980s. This impacted the coffee and cocoa production. Formerly, Liberia produced as much as 5% of the world’s coffee, reaching as high as 10 000 metric tons per annum but now is a mere 3 000 metric tons.
Both Robusta and Liberica coffee plant varietals are cultivated commercially in Liberia along the coast. Demand for Robusta and Arabica worldwide has seen the demand for Liberica decline and thus Liberia exports only Robusta.
As a result of the civil war from 1991-2003, as well as the cultivation of the more profitable rubber trees and cocoa, many former coffee farms are now wild coffee due to long periods of neglect. Various other difficulties, including lack of infrastructure and investment in new planting have hindered the growth of the coffee industry. The wild forest coffee plants have reproduced spontaneously with coffee seedlings around the main plant . These long neglected forest coffees have revealed that the plants grow well in the fertile soils without the need for chemical fertilizers. This has resulted in a niche organic coffee production market.
Languages
Liberian English refers to the varieties of English spoken in Liberia. There are five such varieties:
Standard Liberian English or Liberian Settler English (similar to American English)
Kru Pidgin English
Liberian Kreyol language (Vernacular Liberian English) from African American Vernacular English
Merico language (Americo-Liberian settlers from the United States of America)
Caribbean English (ex-Caribbean slaves settlers from the Caribbean islands)
I am visiting this neck of the woods ahead of the InniKloof camping weekend starting later today, so please come and join me for a chat or a quick cuppa or even a take-away or a full breakfast. You don't need to spend anything, but if you do, it will be for your own account.
Date: Friday, 15 March2019
Time: From 06:50 to approx. 08:30
Place: Brioche, 181 Main Rd, Walmer
I look forward to seeing you there!
Logging in Liberian English would be great.