In an exclusive interview with the Hot Pepper, Kennedy P. Morris spoke calmly but with unmistakable pain as he recounted the events that abruptly upended his life.
Kennedy P. Morris was born on 28 October 1986 in Monrovia. He is a Liberian of the Lorma ethnic group. Raised in the capital, he completed his education there and later worked as an IT technician with Orange Telecommunication Inc. His parents originated from Lofa County but settled permanently in Monrovia. His mother died during Liberia’s civil war in 1990, and his father passed away on 24 June 2023.
According to Kennedy, his trouble began shortly after his father’s death. As the eldest son, pressure mounted from his father’s family for him to join the Poro society. He said the push was spearheaded by his uncle, Gayflor Baigah, his late father’s younger brother. Kennedy explained that his uncle framed the demand in terms of family duty, ancestral protection, and tradition—language Kennedy later realized was meant to prepare him for forced initiation.
Kennedy stated that he had spent most of his life in Monrovia and only travelled to Lofa County occasionally during holidays or short visits. Those trips, he said, were peaceful while his father was alive. He would help on the family farm, spend time with relatives, and then return to the city without incident.
According to him, that pattern changed in September 2023 when he travelled to the village following his father’s death to visit relatives, including his elder sister. He recalled that his uncle appeared unusually tense and distant. During a conversation, the uncle told him that money had been collected for the town’s young men and that Kennedy should prepare to “go along” with them. No specific date was mentioned, but Kennedy said he immediately felt uneasy. His sister noticed his discomfort and reminded him of their eldest brother, who had disappeared years earlier after returning home from college and was never seen again.
That night, Kennedy said he was unable to sleep. In the early hours of the morning, he said he realized that the door of the hut where he was staying had been tied from the outside. Fearing for his safety, he forced open a window and escaped. While fleeing, he fell while crossing a stream and injured his left knee—an injury he said slowed him down and still troubles him intermittently.
Kennedy disclosed that he heard noises behind him and believed he was being pursued. At the edge of the town, he reached an immigration checkpoint staffed by police and immigration officers. He said he reported to them that his uncle was attempting to have him forcibly initiated into the Poro society against his will.
He said the officers allowed him to remain briefly but explained that they could not openly confront traditional elders and zoes. He stated that they later assisted him in boarding a pickup vehicle heading toward Bong County. Kennedy said he stopped in Gbarnga, where a local man treated his injured leg.
According to information, back in the village Kennedy’s disappearance caused alarm. He said word spread quickly, and his uncle travelled to Monrovia, asking relatives about his whereabouts. Days later, Kennedy said he quietly returned to his family’s home in the city. After hearing what had happened, he said his brother-in-law warned him that refusal to submit to initiation often carries serious consequences and advised him to go into hiding.
Kennedy said he began to move from place to place in Monrovia, initially staying with a friend in Paynesville. As he tried to regain strength in his injured leg, he said he learned from another friend that his uncle had been seen in the area asking questions about him.
He said he later relocated to another friend’s residence, where he remained as his leg continued to heal. This period coincided with the tense election months between December and January, when economic hardship was widespread and daily life was uncertain. Kennedy said fear became a constant presence. He said he believed that some family members were actively searching for him and questioning people within his circle.
Speaking to newsmen, Kennedy said he no longer trusted strangers and could not move freely. According to him, with a young family and a clear vision for his future he felt trapped and unsafe.
By the end of the interview, Kennedy said the events that began with his father’s death followed him from the village to the city, stripping him of any sense of security. The Hot Pepper can confirm that forced initiation into secret societies remains a serious concern in parts of Liberia.
