Who Are the Kpelle?
The Kpelle (Guerze) are the largest ethnic group in Liberia and also inhabit neighboring Guinea, numbering approximately 1.2-1.5 million in total. They speak Kpelle, a Mande language of the Niger-Congo family. In Liberia, the Kpelle inhabit Bong, Nimba, Lofa, and Montserrado counties in the central interior. In Guinea, they are known as Guerze and live in the N'Zérékoré region. The Kpelle are primarily farmers, cultivating rice as their staple crop. Their society features the Poro (men's) and Sande (women's) secret societies, which regulate social life through initiation and education. The Kpelle have played significant roles in Liberian politics.
Cognitive Research
The Kpelle gained international academic attention through groundbreaking cognitive psychology research conducted by Michael Cole, John Gay, and others in the 1960s-70s. This research challenged Western assumptions about cognitive universality by demonstrating that Kpelle performance on logic and memory tests reflected cultural context rather than intellectual ability. The famous "sorting" experiments showed Kpelle adults categorized objects functionally (putting knife with orange, as used to cut it) rather than taxonomically (grouping all tools together)—equally valid but culturally different reasoning. This research contributed to cross-cultural psychology and critiques of biased intelligence testing, showing the Kpelle were "smart in their own way."
Secret Societies
Kpelle society is organized through the Poro (men's) and Sande (women's) secret societies, similar to neighboring Mende and other groups. Boys and girls are initiated through extended bush school periods where they learn cultural knowledge, practical skills, and sacred traditions. The societies regulate gender relations, marriage, conflict resolution, and community organization. Masked figures representing spiritual beings appear during ceremonies. The societies provided education before Western schooling and continue alongside it. Christianity and Islam have modified but not eliminated these institutions in many Kpelle communities. The Poro traditionally held political authority alongside (or above) secular chiefs.
Contemporary Kpelle
Modern Kpelle have been central to Liberian politics and conflict. As the largest ethnic group, Kpelle politicians have held major positions. However, the civil wars (1989-2003) devastated Kpelle areas, with Nimba County particularly affected. The Liberian conflict had ethnic dimensions, though cutting across simple ethnic lines. Post-war reconstruction has proceeded unevenly. Rice farming remains the economic base, supplemented by palm products, rubber, and diamond/gold mining. Many Kpelle work in Monrovia. Cross-border ties with Guinea's Guerze continue. Education has expanded, producing professionals who maintain cultural connections. How Liberia's largest group contributes to national reconciliation while preserving Kpelle identity shapes the country's future.
References
- Cole, M., Gay, J., Glick, J. A., & Sharp, D. W. (1971). The Cultural Context of Learning and Thinking
- Gibbs, J. L. Jr. (1965). "The Kpelle of Liberia" in Peoples of Africa
- Bledsoe, C. H. (1980). Women and Marriage in Kpelle Society