The following is a personal e-mail from Wilton Sankawulo, former Head of State of Liberia, following a Liberian Literacy Foundation event at the Detroit Public Library. For more about this event, click here.
Dear Hannah and Katrina:
Thank you and Katrina very much for the fine gift and your friendly reception of me in Mechigan. I am sorry my stay was very brief. I could have made better acquaintance with you and many others who made me feel at home so well in your beautiful city. I could have used the opportunity to tell you much about Liberia and its peoples. But you have many Liberians there who can tell you about our country. I am sorry too I did not have copies of my books to share with you. You can get my latest novel Sundown at Dawn at DustySpark.com. It will tell you much about life in our traditional society. As for the folktales, I am trying to find an American publisher to make them available to readers in the US.
I am looking forward to copies of the pictures we took together. Some of them might appear in my next book, a memoir. I was very impressed by your enthusiasm to go to Liberia. The people are friendly and eager to learn. They love Americans and will become your friends. You will find the Kpelle people especially happy to meet you people. I hope you make Liberia your second home. I also hope your studies go on fine. One day we might meet again.
With kind regards and best wishes,
Sincerely yours,
Wilton Sankawulo Sr.
Hannah, thanks for sharing this letter with us. Professor Sankawulo is a wonderful man, and an inspiration to so many. My publishing company, Cotton Tree Press, will be releasing his latest novel (his masterpiece!), Birds Are Singing, sometime in the Summer of 2009.
Have you made it to Liberia yet? If not, I’m adding my invitation & welcome to his. It’s a very exciting time to visit as we strive to heal and rebuild.