Statecraft & Independence
Landmark
Didwho Welleh Twe
1879 – 1961
The first Liberian of full indigenous descent to stand openly for the presidency
Landmark is level 2 of 4 in the Liberia Hall of Fame: a first that opened a door, or the pre-eminent figure of their generation in this country. See how the levels work.
Why they are here
In a republic run by the descendants of American settlers, he was the first man of wholly indigenous background to stand openly for president. They charged him with sedition and he fled to Sierra Leone.
Didwho Welleh Twe was born on 14 April 1879, became a representative in the Liberian legislature, and was an advocate of the rights of Liberia's indigenous population at a time when the republic was governed by the Americo-Liberian settler elite.
In the general election of 1951 he stood against William Tubman — the first Liberian of wholly indigenous background to seek the presidency openly. He was indicted for sedition and fled into exile at Freetown. He died in 1961.
In the general election of 1951 he stood against William Tubman — the first Liberian of wholly indigenous background to seek the presidency openly. He was indicted for sedition and fled into exile at Freetown. He died in 1961.
- Wikipedia — Didwho Welleh Twe
- US Department of State, Foreign Relations of the United States 1951 — The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Liberia
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