Marie Nyenabo

Marie Nyenabo is a singer and dancer from Liberia. Since immigrating to the United States, she's used the power of traditional Liberian songs and dances to address inter-ethnic conflict and other post-war issues in Liberian immigrant communities around the country. This is a continuation of her work in her homeland, where, as a singer, dancer and recording artist, she worked for disarmament and reconciliation during and after Liberia's civil wars in the 1990s and early 2000s. In Philadelphia, Marie performs at Liberian community events as a soloist and also as part of the Liberian Women's Chorus for Change, a group that inspires dialogue and action around violence in the home and other pressing contemporary concerns.

Marie will create a music video for Tur, a song that encourages victims and perpetrators of the Liberian civil war to work toward forgiveness and reconciliation. During the war, Liberians were forced to harm one another and there is still mistrust between ethnic groups. As a singer and refugee of the civil war, Marie has committed her voice to urge Liberians to listen to one another and work together to heal and end violence. She believes it is important to sing using traditional melodies, rhythms, and dance because it reinstates the traditions that war destroys, and teaches the value of Liberian art and culture to younger generations. Marie plans to distribute the video through YouTube, so that Liberians refugees all over the world can communicate and share it via the Internet.