A Homecoming Written in Joy: Vamba Sherif's Liberia Book Launch

On Saturday, January 31,2026, the Main Auditorium at the University of Liberia became more than avenue—it became a gathering place for memory, pride, and literary possibility. Liberians came out in droves for Vamba Sherif's first-ever book launch in his home country, celebrating The Emperor's Son with the kind of warmth that only homecoming can inspire.

"It was a dream book launch," Sherif reflects, his words carrying the weight of a moment long imagined, finally lived.

A Room Full of Roots

The red carpet rolled out at 4 PM, but what unfolded was far more than ceremony. It was reunion. Family members traveled from the north. Childhood friends arrived, carrying decades of shared history. His brother, Vamadu Sherif, flew in from the United States. Fellow writers—Nvasekie Konneh, James Dwalu, and Saah Millimono—stood beside him, a chorus of Liberian literary voices

And then there was the youth. Their overwhelming presence sent a message louder than applause: literature has a great future in Liberia.

Witnesses to the Journey

The occasion drew leaders whose presence underscored the cultural significance of the moment:

• Honorable Madam Mamaka Bility, Minister Without Portfolio
• Honorable Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Minister of Finance and poet
• Sekou Hussein Dukuly, Sherif's uncle and Managing Director of the National Port Authority
• Justice Kabinneh Janneh
• Dr. Andrew Cole, the man whose influence shaped Sherif's childhood imagination

These weren't just dignitaries at a book launch. They were witnesses to what happens when a writer's work circles back to its origin.

The Country That Gave Birth to the Stories

"This book launch felt very special," Sherif says, "because it was connecting me with the country that gave birth to me and that continues to shape my writing."

The Emperor's Son—with its sweeping narrative and richly drawn world—carries the DNA of Liberia in its pages. And on that Saturday evening at the University of Liberia, the country claimed its son and his stories as its own.

"Thank you, Liberia, for uplifting me! You made me proud! I'm grateful!"

What This Moment Means

Organized by Forte & Kpoto Bookstore and Iskanchi Press, this launch was more than a book event. It was a declaration: African stories, told by African writers, celebrated on African soil, matter deeply.

When young Liberians fill an auditorium to celebrate literature, they're writing the future. When ministers and poets and childhood friends gather in the same room, they're honoring the power of storytelling to connect generations, geographies, and dreams.

Vamba Sherif came home. And Liberia reminded him—and all of us—why that matters.

Have you experienced a homecoming that changed you? Share your story in the comments.