Liberia: AFL Band Beauty of Liberian Army, Band Leader Says By Mae Azango, 13 March 2014 Monrovia — It is usually said that a She does it better than a He because many women around the world are doing jobs reserved for men. Since President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf ascended to the presidency, more women in Liberia are proving to do jobs men do, while others are holding higher positions in the country. One of such women, who have risen above others in her profession is Master Sergeant and Deputy Drum Masterm Gurley Merchant, the leader of the AFL Band. She leads 72 personnel in the New Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) Band. Merchant, 60, does not look at her age due to what she says is the way she swings the mace or rod with so much power during performances wowing bystanders along the way. Merchant joined the army in 1972 when she was only 21-years-old. I have been in the army for 39 years and I feel too proud commanding men, many of whom are college graduates. I have never reached that level. So, to see college students taking instructions from me, I feel good. And I want to thank God for allowing me to reach this far, because I am from a poor background. The band leader says she was a little bit depressed when she was retired because she had been in the army all of her life and because of the army, she was beaten and almost killed by Benjamin Yeaten, former commander of Charles Taylors NPFL in 2000. Merchant explains: Shortly before Taylor left Liberia, I was pointed out to Benjamin Yeaten, who beat me up, broke my tooth and demanded that I show him where the other army personnel were hiding. I was only saved by someone who knew him and told him that I was not any army woman, but that I was in the band, or I would have been dead. Merchant says she was recalled back to the band in 2006 when the new army was being restructured. They decided to look for us because they could not find anyone to do the music we do. We play international, National, and intercontinental music. Merchant, who said she used to lead the band the old way, disclosed that she now leads the band the American way, because an instructor from the White House trained her for 10 months. She teaches her new skills to the team of the AFL band. Each time the band play, she gets commendations from bystanders watching her performance in stride. Liberia Timber Company Accused of Trading Illegal Timber and Funding War Sherpa, Global Witness, Greenpeace France and Liberian NGO Green Advocates have today filed a legal complaint before the … see more »
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 11:41:48 +0000
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