The Bulk Challenge Experience. I. Ezax Smith
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REVIEW
“The Bulk Challenge Experience is emotionally illuminating, intellectually constructed, and skillfully cataloged the carnage and terror when rival rebel groups besieged the Liberian capital Monrovia, on April 6, 1996. Indeed, it is a story in search of survival, and Ezax faced the options of getting murdered in Monrovia or fleeing on an overcrowded ship to Ghana. Ezax took one critical choice - to journey into the uncertainties in exile.
The Bulk Challenge is a book of resilience that propelled Ezax to return home to a bleak future in Monrovia. It is a must-read, it is the story of endurance, and it is the testimony of resistance. Undeniably, the book is immensely enlightening and therapeutic.”
Kai Gerald Wleh Editor-In-Chief, African Star Newspaper
APPRAISAL
“I fled Liberia during the fracas of the April 6, 1996 warring fictions conflict in Monrovia because, in my mind, it was one of the most fearful moments of the Liberian Civil War. I have mentally overcome the occurrences of this episode, but I find it difficult to ignore or dismiss the memories of the journey on the Bulk Challenge.
Fleeing the danger ashore, the journey to safety became a nightmare at sea that threatened the survival of evacuees. Nights of torrential rainfall flooded and worsened the condition of the already ill-fated vessel. Fear of disaster heightened with every new day that we were rejected by neighboring countries. But as fearful and uncertain as the entire journey was, our faith in God to see us through increased even more – day after day.
This Book captures the shared experiences of real people including me, whose lives have forever been imparted by that frightful journey. Ezax is an excellent communicator and a master recorder of chronological events. It is a good read with real life lessons recommended for all ages. He has captured the experiences of this voyage like none other could, and I hope you will find the story as intriguing as it is to me.”
LT Solomon O. Lloyd, CHC, USN. US Marine Corps/California, USA
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to all peoples of the world who experience calamities, natural disasters, differences and diversities; and, particularly, to the people I refer to as “The CHALLENGERS”—the men, women, boys, girls, children, and the elderly—who survived the horrific 10-day sail from Liberia to Ghana, on the ill-fated Nigerian vessel, Bulk Challenge. The spirit of unity and selfless love exhibited on that dreadful journey will forever be a reminder that as Liberians, and as people in our common world – in spite of our differences – we can be better; that we can work together to reach the dreams we’ve always held for ourselves and our countries; and make the world a better place.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Writing this book took some time and intentional effort, and I am thankful to God for the endurance He gave me to see it to the end. During this process, I have had to compare notes with few fellow travelers. In addition, I have had to use specific names of others. For these various groups and individuals, I’m forever grateful.
For reading earlier manuscripts of this book and offering important suggestions, I would like to thank my friend, Timothy Lincoln Reeves; for providing a professional touch of editorial and structural content to the final manuscript, I am grateful to Prof. Dr. K. Moses Nagbe; and for writing the forward to this book, I am thankful to my friend, Professor Welma Mashinini Redd.
Furthermore, I like to thank Ms. Sherae Davis for sketching the original interior graphic illustrations, and Pradip Chakraborty for the final interior graphics and book cover illustrations. To a special group of people, I call the “enabler” – your moral, spiritual and other support to the completion of this project is highly appreciated. You helped put this book in the hands of readers. Thanks to Solomon O. Lloyd, Josephine Hutchinson, Satta Grice-Nyemah, Julius Goundor, Lydia & Lavie Smith, Annabea Paegar, Jonathan Mason, Abraham H. Teah, Calvin Freeman, James Lee and Tommy Sharrow.
To Eric Weah Collins, Kadiatu Konteh-Borajhi, Charles Tieh Bropleh, Rev. Dr. J. Edwin Lloyd, Sr., Alston Wolo, Feona Johnson-Togba, Prince Jallabah, Claudia Spiller-Jargbah, Dr. Pearl Banks-Williams, Mr. & Mrs. Sam Weedor, Karmanieh Charlene Reeves, Theophylus During, II, C. Wallace Williams, Grant Martin, Fatu Barduae, Doctor Michel Dioubate and Hon. Gayah Fahnbulleh, I thank you for joyfully accepting my invite to participate in the sharing of your experiences. By this, you validate the story of the Bulk Challenge Experience, and I am grateful.
This book would not have been completed without the support of my family who allowed me the privacy to think and write – especially my grand-son, Lemel Samukai, who spent many nights with me in the basement, while I worked on the materials for my manuscript, and to my grand-daughter, Mandisa Bestman, for keeping me company while I worked. Thank you all very much.
Finally, I would like to thank my publisher for accepting to publish my work. And to all of you who are reading through these pages, I thank you and welcome you to journey with us.
GLOSSARY
"Across the Bridge" - all areas beyond the two bridges that connect to the City of Monrovia.
Bazzam — a local Liberian term for a type of fabric used for clothing.
Banku — a part of Ghanaian diet prepared from fermented corn. It is also processed and eaten with a variety of soups.
Charlie – a common name referred to any male. Whether the name a known or unknown, many Ghanaians calls all men, Charlie.
Chop Bar — a Ghanaian term for makeshift spots at street corners where cheap food is sold.
Cook Shop — a Liberian term for makeshift spots where cheap food is sold.
Five-Fingers — a kind of plant that looks like the leaves of potatoes grown in Liberia. The plant grows as wild vines in bushes in many places around the country. It had not been eaten as food prior to the Liberian civil war. However, when food became very scarce, risk-takers began experimenting with the plant. Soon, many more people began cutting and cooking “five-fingers,” which derived its name from being shaped like the human hand when opened with fingers spread.
Fula Bread – a long bread made in several sizes: 6 inches or 12 inches long, and sometimes, 24 inches. It got its name from the Fulanis from Guinea residing in Liberia, and who known for making them.
Fufu — a part of West African diet prepared from cassava tubers. It is often gritted, stored in bags until it ferments. And it is processed and eaten with a variety of soups.
Grad — Ghanaian local use of the word “glad.”
Lappa — a local Liberian term for wrapping cloth. The term may be used to make generic reference to any fabric for clothing.
Okaaay — suggests a response of uncertainty. When a Ghanaian is not sure of some information, he/she usually begins with the word “Okaaay.” Anyone accustomed to that will make a tacit acceptance of the response. For example, if you ask, “Where can I find the ABC Store?” Answer: “Okaaay, if you go this way and turn left, it will be right there to your left.” Perhaps, the desire to simply offer an answer is the sign that Ghanaians generally do not want to disappoint. They apparently do not know how to say “I don’t know.”
Palm Cabbage — a Liberian dish prepared from the buds of oil palm and coconut trees. Harvesting such a bud leads to the death of the tree. During the Liberian civil war, many oil palm and coconut trees were destroyed in that way. But with the scarcity of food, scavenging for palm cabbage became inevitable. In that process, oil palm and coconut trees, which normally have more economic and health values in terms of fresh air, shade, oil, brooms, etc., were destroyed.
Par – a local Ghanaian expression which suggests that something is far away.
Prace — Ghanaian local use of the word “place.”
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