Take a deep dive into the land issues causing wahala — or trouble — in Liberia. We travel to communities across this country and bring back their stories. FPA’s Mae Azango and Anthony Stephens of Power FM/TV host this exploration of land, environment, and climate concerns and conflicts. And they interview experts and authorities for answers.
Hosts:
Mae Azango is one of the best-known reporters in Liberia. Her dedication to telling the stories of ordinary Liberians in FrontPage Africa newspaper has won her acclaim in Liberia and around the world. Since joining New Narratives as one of the first “fellows” in 2010, Mae has broken many stories and taboos. In 2012, Mae was forced to go into hiding after her report on the practice of female genital cutting by Liberia’s traditional societies brought death threats. Eventually, government ministers and traditional leaders came forward for the first time to denounce threats against journalists and female genital cutting. The practice was finally banned by President Sirleaf in 2018. Mae’s courageous reporting was rewarded with the 2012 International Press Freedom awards, from the Committee to Protect Journalists and Canadian Journalists for Free Expression. Mae is currently NN’s Africa director. She is committed to being a voice for the voiceless.
Anthony Stephens is an award-winning television and radio journalist and talk show host with Power FM/TV, where he serves as News Editor. Anthony led New Narratives’ coverage of the trial of Alieu Kosiah, convicted of war crimes in Switzerland in the first trial of a Liberian anywhere for war crimes in Liberia’s civil wars. Anthony’s work has garnered several prestigious Press Union of Liberia awards, including multiple Report of the Year awards plus awards for reporting on sports, the environment, mining, and health issues. Anthony was a 2018 finalist (the only Liberian Journalist) of the West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards, WAMECA, annually organized by the Media Foundation for West Africa. With a professional career spanning 15 years, Anthony has worked for some of his country’s powerful and acclaimed media outlets, including Star Radio and Radio Veritas.