Today will make history as Liberia’s literary landscape has prepared for a landmark moment.
The moment is to celebrate a poet, and author, F. Shelton Gonkerwon, who will officially launch his powerful new book, “Dark Freedom,” on Friday, November 21, 2025.
The event will take place at the YMCA Building on Broad Street, Monrovia
from 2: p.m. to 6: p.m.
It is expected to bring together a distinguished gathering of Liberia’s cultural, literary, and media communities.
Invitations have been extended to major media institutions, the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), the Union of Liberian Authors (ULA), the Liberian Association of Writers (LAW), as well as a wide range of government officials, diplomats, educators, and students.
The public is also encouraged to attend “a defining moment for Liberian storytelling.”
Author F. Shelton Gonkerwon, widely admired for his poetic depth and cultural insight, the release said, is poised to use the launch of “Dark Freedom” to put a smile on history’s face, and demonstrate once again that Liberia has its own storytellers, capable of shaping narratives that reflect the nation struggles, beauty, resilience and hope.
Gonkerwon’s work has long spoken of Liberia’s rich cultural heritage, and “Dark Freedom” is expected to add significantly to the national conversation about identity, memory, and the human spirit. According to the organizers, “the book stands as a testimony that Liberian voices are not just emerging; they are thriving.”
Today’s unveiling will feature readings from the book, reflections from prominent literary figures, live cultural performances, and special remarks from representatives of Liberia’s creative and academic sectors. The ceremony aims to honor, not just the author, but the larger vision of elevating Liberian literature onto the regional and global stage. The YMCA building, a historic venue long associated with youth development, civic engagement, and intellectual gatherings, is seen as an ideal location for the debut of a book that speaks to national consciousness, and the pursuit of freedom, both personal and collective. Organizers have meanwhile, called on all Liberians, including students, writers, artists and policymakers, to come out and support this unveiling. The presence of the media and the country leading literary bodies reflects a shared commitment to nurture Liberia’s creative talents.
As Gonkerwon prepares to present “Dark Freedom” to the world, he stands ready to reinforce a message that resonates with every Liberian: our stories matter, our voices matter and our literature deserves its rightful place in history.