-Honoring Liberian Resilience and Storytelling
Accra, Ghana – The British Council Auditorium in Accra came alive on Friday as dignitaries, thought leaders, creatives, and members of the diplomatic corps gathered to celebrate the official launch of The Light I Carried Through the Storm, a deeply personal and nationally resonant memoir written by Liberian diplomat, author, and women’s rights advocate, Lady Leelai M. Kpukuyou.
With the soft warmth of a live saxophonist welcoming guests, the event unfolded as more than just a book launch—it became a celebration of the Liberian story, told truthfully, unapologetically, and with the kind of grace that only comes from surviving the storm.
The book traces Kpukuyou’s journey as a 12-year-old girl escaping civil war, carrying the trauma of displacement and survival, and eventually transforming that pain into a lifetime of purpose, leadership, and healing. Her story is not just her own, it mirrors the journey of countless Liberians who endured conflict, lost loved ones, and still found a way to rise.
In her keynote address, Lady Leelai shared why she chose Ghana for her first launch: “Ghana gave me room to breathe again. When I had nowhere else to go, Ghana embraced me. This is my thank-you to a country that helped me find myself again.” Her gratitude extended to Liberia’s Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Musu J Ruhle, and the entire Embassy team for their unwavering support.
But this launch wasn’t just about one woman’s story. It was about Liberia.
As Lady Leelai emphasized, The Light I Carried Through the Storm is an assertion that the Liberian narrative must be told by Liberians, from our lived experiences, not filtered through foreign interpretations or reductive headlines. “There is beauty in our survival. There is strength in our truth. And the world needs to hear it.”
The memoir also speaks to the evolution of the nation itself, referencing Liberia’s landmark history as the first African country to elect a female president and its continued democratic maturity with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai now at the helm. These reflections are woven throughout the book, inspiring a new generation to believe in what Liberia can become.
Importantly, Kpukuyou hopes the book finds its way into classrooms across the country. “Our children need stories they can see themselves in. Stories that affirm their resilience, guide their growth, and remind them they are not alone.” And also in the hands of every Liberian home and abroad.
The book is now available for purchase on Amazon, making it accessible to Liberians in the diaspora and readers around the world. Physical copies will be available in Liberia during the official launch and at select key locations across the country.
The Ghana launch was a success not just in turnout but in tone. It set the stage for the Liberia launch, which is currently being planned. For a country often misrepresented, this moment marks a powerful counter-narrative, one of pride, authorship, and intentional storytelling.
Lady Leelai M. Kpukuyou is one of the many Liberians putting the nation’s name on the global literary and diplomatic map, not for its past struggles, but for the strength we’ve drawn from them.
As she said during her closing remarks: “If what you want to read doesn’t exist, write it yourself. That’s what I did.”
