Ebola in Town: Creating Musical Connections in Liberian Communities during the 2014 Crisis in West Africa

Abstract

This article addresses the neglected topic of music and expres- sive performance during the outbreak of Ebola in Liberia from 2014 to 2016. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted in January and February of 2016 in Montserrado County, I explore the importance of music performance and other sonic sources that provided warning, ameliorated suffering, and promoted mental health during the outbreak. The con- clusions of this initial study document the critical role that expressive culture played in a variety of venues and empha- size the need to acknowledge and account for this dimension of life during the Ebola crisis.