'Let's Be Liberians And Appreciate Our Music' ---Yatta Zoe, Mother of Folk Music Urges

The NEWS (Monrovia)

September 10, 2004
Posted to the web September 10, 2004

Bobby Tapson
Monrovia

"My message is that we Liberians should appreciate our own thing, do our own music and leave other people music alone."

Yatta Zoe, considered as the mother of Liberian Folk Songs, made this passionate call Wednesday in an interview with The NEWS.

Yatta Zoe admonished her fellow countrymen to remain Liberians by "our dressed code and also loved and respect our country as other Africans loved their countries. And when we do so, we would live in peace."

She said Liberians cannot be other nationals. "We are Liberians, so we should accept ourselves as Liberians and act as such, live and behaved as responsible people in order to restore the dignity of our once cherished and respected country."

Yatta began her musical career in 1963, in New York through a dancer, Catharine Donor. In New York, Yatta said she met several international stars including the South African Zulus, Mariam Mcquaba and the late Harry Beelar Fantee.

Since then, she had produced many hits including, "You took my Lappa, All the Pocket Pickers, Don't Lie, Young Girls Stop Drinking Lisalt and Ka-Na- Weh", among others.

The Mother of Liberian Folk Songs, said in order to appreciate Liberian music, the local media, especially radio stations, must be at the vanguard in promoting Liberian efforts by providing more air time for them instead of for foreign music.

Regarding the business in the country, Yatta said local artists were facing difficulties mainly due to lack of support. However, she said the copyright people were striving to promote local music.

On a personal note, the veteran musician said her presence had not been felt for some years because she had been residing in Guinea and Holland from 1985 to 1998.

"Now that I am back, I will put up my next show in November and come up with a new cassette album within three months time", Yatta said.

Her last show was held some three weeks ago at the Holiday Inn Hotel.