James Makor

Liberian Poet James Makor was born into a polygamous family, the first of ten children from the same mother, with other siblings from his father. His early education in Gbarnga was at St. Martin Catholics High School and the Methodist High School. Later, he attended University of Liberia, where his education was interrupted by the feared attacks of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), the beginnings of the Liberian War. After living as a refugee in La Côte d’Ivoire, he returned to the University, eventually graduating in 1998. Immediately after, Makor took employment in the Ministry of Education in the Division of Adult Education as Post Literacy Officer and in the Ministry of Commerce, Division of Industries, later transferring to Small Medium Enterprise Development (SME), where he served as an Assistant Director.

For over twenty years, as a conservationist, he has been participating in protecting Liberian resources and the environment with the Save My Future Foundation (SAMFU), serving now as Executive Director. Makor has been engaged in peace-making enterprises throughout West Africa, as well as working alongside Cynthia Travis of everyday gandhis and Denna Metzger, traveling to California in 2006 and 2007 for their annual retreat. Until 2016, Makor provided mentorship to everyday gandhi youths, who had participated in the Liberia War—these young men are known as the “Future Guardians of Peace”.

Save “Mine” Future

Save “Mine” Future: Poetic Reverberations Before, During and After the Liberian War is inspired from James Makor’s experiences of survival.

In May of 1990, during his seventh semester at the University of Liberia (Fendell Campus), studies were disrupted fearing an attack from the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL). In Monrovia, his family survived witnessing food shortages, a closure of embassies, many killings, and arsine attacks. In July, they had hoped, reaching Fendell, that this ordeal would come to an end, but this was not the safe haven promised. Though heavy rainfall and hunger, they continued their marathon walk towards Kakata. Here, they rested with relatives while waiting five days to receive ration from the NPFL. Energized after a few days of eating and resting, they resumed their journey.  After two hours of walking, a supply truck heading northwards, gave them a lift in exchange for the few canned goods. However, at Gbarnga Gate, Gbarnga appeared to be a ghost town. Panicking, they agreed to head to the village, Weinsue, where they arrived just before nightfall. At Weinsue, their travel permit was recorded and they were given rice and spent the night. Late the next day, they arrived rejoicing at their final destination, in a familiar community, his hometown, Farvay, remaining there for four months. To escape harassment, James went back to Gbarnga for two years until the “Octopus Attack” in October of 1992. During the continuous air raids and attack from all fronts, he left for the Ivorian border becoming a registered refugee in Danané, La Côte D’Ivoire. Here, he had time to focus on his writings and this book took form.