MONROVIA, Liberia – Ghanaian YouTuber Wode Maya has sparked conversation across social media after using Liberia’s 179th Independence Day celebrations to question the colonial-era borders that separate Liberia, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Standing at the historic boundary marker on Mount Nimba, where the three countries meet, the content creator, whose YouTube channel has nearly 2 million subscribers, challenged the origins of Africa’s borders and called for greater regional integration.
“Where I’m standing is where three countries meet each other,” Wode Maya said in a video shared during his visit. “You see Liberia, Guinea and La Côte d’Ivoire. But does it really make sense? Who came here to decide this is Liberia, this is Guinea, and this is Côte d’Ivoire?”
He argued that the borders were imposed during the colonial era rather than created by Africans themselves.
“Who created these borders? These are not our creation,” he said. “It’s about time for us to get rid of these borders and ensure free movement among ourselves.”
Wode Maya arrived in Liberia on July 20 as part of a partnership with the Liberia National Tourism Authority (LNTA) to promote the country’s culture, tourism destinations, and Independence Day celebrations. The tour also highlights Liberian content creators and scenic attractions to his global audience, which includes nearly 2 million YouTube subscribers and approximately 2.9 million Facebook followers.
Known for producing content that showcases positive stories from across Africa, Wode Maya was awarded a Ghanaian diplomatic passport in September 2025 in recognition of his work promoting the continent.
The location featured in his video carries deep historical significance. The current borders between Liberia, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire were established through agreements between Liberia and French colonial authorities, beginning with the Franco-Liberian Boundary Treaty of 1892 and later boundary arrangements in 1907. Boundary markers were subsequently installed around the Mount Nimba region, dividing communities that had long shared common ancestry, culture, and trade.
The colonial-era boundaries split the traditional homelands of the Mano and Dan peoples, known in Liberia as the Gio, leaving families and communities separated by international borders they played no role in creating.
Although Liberia, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire are all members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), whose 1979 Free Movement Protocol allows visa-free travel for up to 90 days among member states, travelers frequently report delays caused by checkpoints, document inspections, and unofficial fees. The three countries are also members of the Mano River Union, which was established to strengthen regional cooperation and facilitate trade across their shared borders.
Reflecting on the economic impact of those divisions, Wode Maya argued that Africa’s development depends on greater regional integration.
“They created these borders to benefit themselves, not us,” he said. “If we want to truly be independent, it’s time to remove these barriers so we can move freely, trade with one another, and develop together. We cannot fully develop while protecting borders that we did not create.”
He concluded his message by directing a question to Liberians, referencing the country’s unique history as Africa’s oldest republic.
“My final question is, if Liberia was never colonized, how did you allow these borders to be created?” he asked. “Dear Liberians, I want the answers from you all.”
As of publication, the Liberia National Tourism Authority had not publicly commented on Wode Maya’s remarks or his visit.
