Amb. Endee Hails Gov’t For Political Will

-Calls On Liberian Artists To Network, Collaborate and Think Big

Liberia’s Cultural Ambassador has hailed the government of President George Manneh Weah for demonstrated ‘political will’ Liberians are exploring to harness their professional careers, to get on par with others that have made enormous leaps in different endeavors.

Ambassador Juli Endee, who is one of Liberia’s foremost internationally recognized humanitarians and artists, perhaps the first Liberian artist and humanitarian to be recognized at the level of Hollywood, the global movie theatre, could not hide the balminess and emotion she felt about the level of recognition and openness the government accorded her that led to her international breakthrough.

She was among many internationally acclaimed performers and humanitarians recently recognized at a prestigious award ceremony in Hollywood in California, the United States of America.

Ambassador Endee walked with two different awards: the first being an International Humanitarian Award in Hollywood, California, while the 2nd is the African Music-man Award in Texas.

“There were other invited international celebrities that never walked away with award; but we are happy that we came out recognized,” she told reporters recently upon arrival from the US.

Such recognition, according to her, could not have been possible in a hot political terrain that restrains professionals from going forward.

“It is that political will our government gave that enabled us to go and shine. As you know in all the arrangements and the paper works, the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were instrumental,” Amb. Endee revealed, while at the same lauded the Consulate at the U.S. Embassy for excellent job done.

However, the Liberian Cultural Ambassador wants Liberian artists, who are still struggling to ‘break glass ceilings’, to utilize and embrace the unfolding political will of the government to explore available means that advance the industry to palpable level.

Amb. Endee who described the award she received as a phenomenal precursor to looming myriad of international opportunities, indicated that networking and collaboration amongst Liberian artists is one major way to achieving excellence and breakthrough.

“The award is an eye-opener that we should open up to other artists and collaborate because collaboration is very important in this time of our lives because we have four million people, purchasing power is very low, and marketing outlet is not there. How do we cross come to become millionaires like the rest of the artists? We must engage, we must network, and we must collaborate. We should start thinking here; we should starting thinking there and big,” she rallied Liberian artists.

“The same way others are making it to the international stage we can make only if we engage, network and collaborate.”

According to her, receiving the awards was an added experience as it enabled her rub shoulders and interacted with some of Hollywood’s greats; artists she did not envision seeing physically.

“I learned a lot because I was in the hall I saw the entire lighting system, the stage, and the organization and the kind of award we are talking about. I always say Liberia is a land of the brave and freed. We might not have skyscrapers, but we have development of the mind. So we can stand anywhere, anytime to represent Liberia. And what I have taken from there is “that good never lost, good never best, never let it rest until your good is better and your better is best,” the Liberian musical artist and cultural icon recalled.

Amb. Endee also recognized music as a universal language that has the power to rekindle the human spirit because “it speaks when the world becomes silent.”

The metamorphosing trend being witnessed in the Liberian music industry is attributable to the space the Liberia Crusaders for Peace she runs is giving young Liberian artists and other professionals to harness their dreams of becoming future leaders.

Teaming with Flavour of Nigeria and African musical stars, she has produced some mind-blowing songs of international standards, one of which was recently recognized by a body of the United Nations.