By Dr. Syrulwah Somah

The Gbe-tu is one of the most beautiful and powerful dancing spirits of Liberia.

It appears in full regalia—raffia, sacred cloth, and the presence of tradition made visible. When the drums begin, it moves with wonder. It rises with a commanding grace, stretches to a towering height, then draws back again—high, then low—until the whole village feels the rhythm in its bones. It turns and somersaults with lightness and force, as the people rejoice in the unfolding spirit of the dance.

When the Gbe-tu reaches its greatest height, the form carries meaning beyond spectacle. Its tall head symbolizes the life-giving force of reproduction, fertility, and continuity—the promise that families will grow, that life will return, and that community will remain strong. In this way, the dance becomes a prayer: not only spoken, but seen.

A Correction of the Name:

The Gbe-tu is not a devil. It was never a devil.

Calling our spirits “country devil” or “bush devil” was a misnaming—one that came from outsiders who did not understand our spirituality. Out of fear or misunderstanding, anything powerful was labeled as evil, and the truth of our traditions was replaced with a foreign word.

Over time, some people—especially those shaped by Western education and pressured to fit in—also began to repeat the same labels. In doing so, they dismissed their own heritage and borrowed a false name to appear more “civilized.”

But in our true tradition, there is no devil. The Gbe-tu is a Spirit: a custodian of ancestral knowledge, a bringer of joy, a symbol of life, and a unifier of the people.

Congratulations and deep respect to all Liberians who are keeping our culture alive. Because of you, the true name and true beauty of the Gbe-tu Spirit endure—and it will never die