Editing Liberia (section)

== Culture ==
{{main|Culture of Liberia}}
[[File:Brooklyn Museum 1998.80.2 Helmet Mask for Sande Society.jpg|thumb|Bassa culture. ''Helmet Mask for [[Sande society|Sande Society]] (Ndoli Jowei)'', Liberia. 20th century. [[Brooklyn Museum]].]]
The religious practices, social customs, and cultural standards of the Americo-Liberians had their roots in the [[Antebellum era|antebellum]] [[American South]]. The settlers wore [[top hat and tails]] and modeled their homes on those of Southern slaveowners.<ref>{{cite web |first=Teresa |last=Wiltz |url=http://www.theroot.com/views/liberia-war-weary-echoes-old-dixie |title=Liberia: War-Weary, With Echoes of Old Dixie |work=The Root |date=December 2, 2010 |access-date=July 23, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110901031105/http://www.theroot.com/views/liberia-war-weary-echoes-old-dixie |archive-date=September 1, 2011 }}</ref> Most Americo-Liberian men were members of the [[Masonic Order of Liberia]], which became heavily involved in the nation's politics.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

Liberia has a rich history in textile arts and quilting, as the settlers brought with them their sewing and quilting skills. Liberia hosted National Fairs in 1857 and 1858 in which prizes were awarded for various needle arts. One of the most well-known Liberian quilters was Martha Ann Ricks,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/portrait.asp?LinkID=mp63618&rNo=0&role=sit|title=Martha Ricks|publisher=National Portrait Gallery|access-date=December 12, 2008|archive-date=May 24, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080524033138/http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/portrait.asp?LinkID=mp63618&rNo=0&role=sit|url-status=live}}</ref> who presented a quilt featuring the famed Liberian [[coffee tree]] to [[Queen Victoria]] in 1892. When President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf moved into the Executive Mansion, she reportedly had a Liberian-made quilt installed in her presidential office.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200603240593.html?page=2 |access-date=May 16, 2008 |title=Liberia: It's the Little Things{{snd}}A Reflection on Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's Journey to the Presidency |work=allAfrica.com |date=March 24, 2006 |archive-date=September 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915195122/http://allafrica.com/stories/200603240593.html?page=2 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A rich literary tradition has existed in Liberia for over a century. [[Edward Wilmot Blyden]], [[Bai T. Moore]], [[Roland T. Dempster]] and [[Wilton G. S. Sankawulo]] are among Liberia's more prominent authors.<ref>{{cite news |first=Varney |last=Kamara |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201007200709.html |title=Liberia: "Literature Must Be Given Priority" |work=The Analyst |publisher=allAfrica.com |date=July 20, 2010 |access-date=July 23, 2011 |archive-date=October 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020072418/http://allafrica.com/stories/201007200709.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Moore's novella ''[[Murder in the Cassava Patch]]'' is considered Liberia's most celebrated novel.<ref>{{cite web |first=J. Kpanneh |last=Doe |url=http://www.theperspective.org/bookreview.html |title=Baa Salaka: Sacrificial Lamb – A Book Review & Commentary |work=The Perspective |date=October 31, 2000 |access-date=July 23, 2011 |archive-date=September 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909064724/http://www.theperspective.org/bookreview.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Media ===
{{Main|Mass media in Liberia}}

=== Polygamy ===
{{Further|Polygamy in Liberia}}
One-third of married Liberian women between the ages of 15–49 are in [[polygamous marriage]]s.<ref name="Atlasof">OECD Atlas of Gender and Development: How Social Norms Affect Gender Equality in non-OECD Countries, OECD Publishing, 2010. p. 236.</ref> Customary law allows men to have up to four wives.<ref>Olukoju, Ayodeji. "Gender Roles, Marriage and Family", ''Culture and Customs of Liberia''. Westport: Greenwood Press, 2006, p. 97.</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
{{main|Liberian cuisine}}

[[File:Beachside Barbeque (6831739276).jpg|thumb|A beachside barbecue at [[Sinkor]], [[Monrovia]], Liberia]]
Liberian cuisine heavily incorporates [[rice]], the country's staple food. Other ingredients include [[cassava]], [[fish]], [[banana]]s, [[citrus fruit]], [[Cooking banana|plantains]], [[coconut]], [[okra]] and [[sweet potatoes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/liberia.php |title=Celtnet Liberian Recipes and Cookery |work=Celtnet Recipes |access-date=July 23, 2011 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903234346/http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/liberia.php |archive-date=September 3, 2011 }}</ref> Heavy [[stew]]s spiced with [[habanero]] and [[scotch bonnet]] chilies are popular and eaten with [[fufu]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foodbycountry.com/Kazakhstan-to-South-Africa/Liberia.html |title=Liberia |work=Food in Every Country |access-date=August 27, 2013 |archive-date=December 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151230134326/http://www.foodbycountry.com/Kazakhstan-to-South-Africa/Liberia.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Liberia also has a tradition of [[baking]] imported from the United States that is unique in West Africa.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gwydion.weebly.com/liberian-baking.html |title=The Baking Recipes of Liberia |work=Africa Aid |access-date=July 23, 2011 |archive-date=September 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130910175551/http://gwydion.weebly.com/liberian-baking.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Sport ===
The most popular [[sport]] in Liberia is [[association football]], with former president [[George Weah]] being the nation's most famous athlete. He is so far the only African to be named [[FIFA World Player of the Year]].<ref name="FIFA">[https://web.archive.org/web/20131020073045/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/players/player=2187/ "Iconic Weah a true great"]. FIFA.com. Retrieved November 17, 2013</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=George Weah: Ex-AC Milan, Chelsea & Man City striker elected Liberia president |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41607141 |publisher=BBC |date=June 22, 2018 |access-date=September 7, 2018 |archive-date=April 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430115039/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41607141 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Liberia national football team]] has reached the [[Africa Cup of Nations]] finals twice, in [[1996 African Cup of Nations|1996]] and [[2002 African Cup of Nations|2002]].

The second most popular sport in Liberia is [[basketball]]. The [[Liberian national basketball team]] has reached the [[AfroBasket]] twice, in [[FIBA Africa Championship 1983|1983]] and [[AfroBasket 2007|2007]].

In Liberia, the [[Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex]] serves as a multi-purpose [[stadium]]. It hosts [[FIFA World Cup]] qualifying matches in addition to international concerts and national political events.<ref>{{cite news|title=Liberia:Chaos Mars Grand Bassa and Nimba Clash|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201401211272.html|access-date=October 9, 2016|newspaper=All Africa|date=January 21, 2012|archive-date=January 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122173654/http://allafrica.com/stories/201401211272.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Measurement system ===
Liberia has not yet completely adopted the [[International System of Units]] (abbreviated as the SI, also called the metric system). The Liberian government has begun transitioning away from use of [[United States customary units]] to the metric system.<ref name=ut>
{{cite web|url = http://trend.ag.utk.edu/international/ReformingCocoaCoffeeMarketingLiberia.pdf|title = Reforming Cocoa and Coffee Marketing in Liberia|author = Wilcox, Michael D. Jr. |year = 2008|work = Presentation and Policy Brief|publisher = University of Tennessee|access-date = April 25, 2010|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100624032539/http://trend.ag.utk.edu/international/ReformingCocoaCoffeeMarketingLiberia.pdf|archive-date = June 24, 2010}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=Cited source mentions only that coffee farmers have been confused by switchover, gives no information of when or how switchover occurred.|date=February 2024}} This change has been gradual, with government reports concurrently using United States Customary and metric units.<ref>
{{cite web| url = http://www.emansion.gov.lr/content.php?sub=County%20Development%20Agendas&related=CDAs| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100114003713/http://www.emansion.gov.lr/content.php?sub=County%20Development%20Agendas&related=CDAs| archive-date = January 14, 2010| url-status = dead| title = County Development Agendas| author = Government of Liberia| year = 2008| publisher = Government of the Republic of Liberia| access-date = May 1, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.molme.gov.lr/doc/Microsoft%20Word%20-%20Annual%20Report%20Jan%201%20-%20Dec%2031%202009.pdf|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110410125217/http://www.molme.gov.lr/doc/Microsoft%20Word%20-%20Annual%20Report%20Jan%201%20-%20Dec%2031%202009.pdf|url-status = dead|archive-date = April 10, 2011|title = Annual report|author = Shannon, Eugene H.|date = December 31, 2009|publisher = Liberian Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy|access-date = May 1, 2010}}</ref> In 2018, the Liberian Commerce and Industry Minister announced that the Liberian government is committed to adopting the metric system.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.liberianobserver.com/business/govt-pledges-commitment-to-adopt-metric-system/|title=Gov't Pledges Commitment to Adopt Metric System|first=Robin|last=Dopoe|date=May 25, 2018|access-date=September 1, 2019|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109004653/https://www.liberianobserver.com/business/govt-pledges-commitment-to-adopt-metric-system/|url-status=dead}}</ref>