Ace African-American Actor John Amos Finds a Home in Liberia; Says Celebrating 200 Years of Freedom is a ‘Blessing’
By Lennart Dodoo, FrontPageAfrica
MONROVIA – John Amos, the famous African-American actor, could not vividly describe what it means to blacks in the United States the quest of their fore-fathers to find liberty and what it means for Liberia to celebrate 200 years of the actualization of that quest.
In a very emotional voice, he told FrontPageAfrica, “I don’t know if I can accurately describe what it means to come home after being deprived of your history, after being deprived of everything that you love and you know and you’ve been told all your life that you have no country, you have no roots.”
He spoke to FrontPageAfrica upon arrival at the Roberts International Airport over the weekend for the kickoff of the Bicentennial Celebration. The celebration marks 200 years since freed slaves in the United States of America in their pursuit for absolute liberty and a true identity chose to find a new home in Africa – and Providence Island became their new settlement. Their settlement on the Providence Island in 1821 later led to the political establishment of Liberia as a sovereign nation in 1847.
For Mr. Amos, a frequent visitor to Liberia since the ’70s, this country is his home. “When I did the program Roots, I used my Liberian experience, I used my Liberian love for the food, for the people, for everything that happened to me to build the character,” he said.
He said though the director of the miniseries tried to stop him from using Liberian accent during the making of the miniseries, he insisted that Liberia is a country that truly identifies with the history of freed slaves and had given him a personal experience, increased his love for Africa and helped him rediscover himself.
“It’s hard for me to describe how grateful I am, I’m appreciative that God has seen it fit for me to come home once again… I’m so glad to be part of the celebration, to be able to see it – 200 years of freedom, thank God,” he said.
The American actor who also starred in Coming to America 1 & 2 said, he is the first in his family to come back to Africa to identify with Africans. He has been coming to Liberia since ’70s and ’80s before the coup.
“I’m the first in my family to make it back to Africa – the very first one. All these generations of my family, I’m the first one to make it back and I intend to come back time and time again and to bring my children and grandchildren so that they’ll know they have a country where they have roots, where they have connections and people that love them for themselves,” he said.
The Liberian accent trouble
Sharing a hilarious experience that brought him close to death in Liberia back in the ’80s, Mr. Amos said during his stay in the country at the time, he spoke like a typical Liberian so that he could better blend with the indigenous people.
He said, while out with a friend having beer, a gentleman walked to him with a machete, mistaking him for a security guard who had once mistreated him.
“He said to me, ‘I know you, you’re the same guy who mistreated me at Bomi Hills, now, I’m coming for your head.’” According to Amos, he immediately dropped his Liberian accent and began to speak like an American, “No you got the wrong guy”.
He then identified himself using his California Driver’s License and identified himself as an actor. The machete man immediately recognized him and offered him more beer, he said.
So, who is John Amos?
John Allen Amos Jr. (born December 27, 1939) is an American actor known for his role as James Evans, Sr., on the CBS television series Good Times and for his portrayal of the adult Kunta Kinte/Toby in the 1977 miniseries Roots, for which he received an Emmy nomination. Amos’s other television work includes The Mary Tyler Moore Show, a recurring role as Admiral Percy Fitzwallace on The West Wing, and the role of Washington, D.C., Mayor Ethan Baker in the series The District. Amos has appeared on Broadway and in numerous films in his five-decade career. He has been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Award. On film, he has played numerous supporting roles in movies such as The Beastmaster (1982), Coming to America (1988), Die Hard 2 (1990) and Coming 2 America (2021).
The Bicentennial Celebration
The Year of the Diaspora, Reunion 2021-2022 in collaboration with the Government of Liberia’s Bicentennial Commemoration, aims to celebrate 200 years of that movement. After 40 years of a slow-down, Liberia is excited to welcome Africans in the Diaspora home again. Situated on prime real estate along 360 miles of unbroken coastline and the largest remaining portion of the upper Guinea rainforest, Liberia will host the Bi-Centennial Celebration by inviting Africans in the Diaspora to the greatest reunion ever. This is also an invitation to join in the rebuilding of the only nation in Africa founded as a haven for freed blacks from all around the world.
Comedian Michael Blackson, who recently starred in Eddie Murphy’s Coming to America II is also expected to perform while Rep. Naqueta Ricks, a Liberian representing the US State of Colorado in the state legislature and Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, former AU Ambassador and CEO of African Diaspora Development Institute (ADDI). Dr. Chihombori-Ouao is a diaspora affairs guru and responsible for Wakanda 1 City being built in Ghana.
Rep. Ricks says the Year of the Diaspora commemorates Liberia’s rich history and significance. “It is also a time to reimagine Liberia’s next 200 years and the investments required to build and establish the Liberia we desire.”
From December of 2021 to December of 2022, the African Diaspora from America, the Caribbean, Europe, and other countries and continents around the world will storm Liberia for the cultural experience of a lifetime as we celebrate Liberia’s bi centennial. The group will be greeted at the airport with a welcoming like none other. Cultural dancers, drummers, and traditional activities will be the center of their welcome. The next morning will begin with a one hour service at the Providence Baptist Church (the first church build in Liberia, founded by Lott Carey) and a welcome Prayer Breakfast at Providence Island. After praying for the nation, we will have a traditional Liberian breakfast, followed by a reenactment of the coming of the African Americans to Liberia and their first meeting with the people local to the land.
This will be followed by week-long tours to exciting destinations (original settlements and beach concerts featuring top local artists, shopping in select locations, food tasting, etc.) that are sure to sell Liberia to the world as the tourist destination of 2021/2022. Amazing activities will include the Heritage Ball where we celebrate the history and culture of Liberia, highlighting the 15 counties and their ethnic groups, a nationwide Christmas party for the Children in each county, an investment summit, film screening of “Providence” movie with a panel discussion on bridging the gap between Africans and African-Americas, Liberians, etc, meet/greet comedy night with Comedian Blackson, a traditional naming ceremony, etc. Other events presented by other groups include Runway Liberia Fashion Show, Idol Talent Competition, Family Beach Day at Libassa, and a host of others. The major activities will culminate with an old fashioned barbecue/cookout at Wulki Farms with horseback riding, swimming, storytelling, golfing, and most importantly, some good, old fashion meat on the grill.
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