EJ ROYE AND THE FRAGMENTED HISTORY OF THE LIBERIAN REPUBLIC.

EJ ROYE AND THE FRAGMENTED HISTORY OF THE LIBERIAN REPUBLIC

DOCUMENTARY

The complete picture as painted by some writers , bloggers

and even historians regarding Roy in Liberia, his struggle,
existence and leadership indicates that historical
information about Liberia is fragmented, unreliable,
inconsistent and incomplete. This episode is one of the most
mysterious in the records of Liberia.

The questions Many might be compelled to ask, which is

considered suitable will be who is Ej Roye?

Edward James Roye was a pure descendant of the Igbo (West

Africa, Nigeria) born on February 3, 1815, in Newark, Ohio,
USA. He was the first pure black man to become President of
Liberia. He arrived as a new immigrant in 1846, a year
before the declaration of independence. Roy became president
in 1870, but was dismissed the following year in the first
coup in Africa's oldest republic. He died a mysterious death
in Monrovia in early 1872.

President Edward Roye become deposed on October 26, 1871,

and become imprisoned and the activities that follows after
his imprisonment isn't regarded. The manner wherein, or even
the day on which he died, aren't regarded with certainty.
The demise of Ej Roye until Date is a Mystery that everybody
appears to have an account of its very own piece, According
to a few sources, it’s stated that “Roye escaped from jail
however become drowned even as he tries to escape out to a
British ship. One writer reviews that the canoe wherein Roye
attempted to make his escape with capsized and then he
drowned.

One author writes: Another author writes: "The weight of

money around his waist was the cause of his drowning while
swimming on a British ship (Banks Henrys). According to him,
Roy was brutally beaten after landing. The money he had on
the belt was robbed. Liberia's President William Tubman
(1944-71) was one of many Liberia who believed in a version
of Roy being brutally beaten after his testimony was taken.
The story was that Roy's (naked) body was dragged through
the streets of Liberia to the location of Ashmun Street,
where he is said to have died.

This allowed President Tabman to build a new building for

his party, the Whigs (Roy's Party), in the same location and
name the party headquarters after Ej Roye, the first black
president of Liberia.

Before he grew to be president of Liberia, he had beforehand

served as the 4th Chief Justice of Liberia from 1865 till
1868. He was the first member of Liberia's True Whig Party
to serve as president (Wikipedia).
 Written with Arc Studio: www.arcstudiopro.com 2.

Ej Roye’s loss of life and the controversies trailing his

story and all that went wrong with him in Liberia can’t be
farfetched from the very fact that he is a Black Man who
grew to be a president of a nation colonized through the
white colonial masters as at that very time.

And it’s necessary to note; that Colonization Societies like

(New York Colonization Society, Maryland Colonization
Society, Virgina Colonization Society all from the United
State of America dispatched African Americans Prince Hall
Masons to Africa where they founded Liberia.

FADE IN:

A MONTAGE OPENS ON THE PEOPLE OF EARLY LIBERIA AS PEOPLE

WERE MOVING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER WITH DIFFERENT
ACTIVITIES THAT PUNCTUATE THEIR CULTURE AND VALUES, OLD
BACKDATED FOOTAGES OF THE EARLY LIBERIA WILL BE PLAYED AS
WELL. AS PEOPLE GO ABOUT THEIR BASIC BUSINESSES, FROM
FARMING TO FISHING, TO MINNING DOWN TO SELLING AND BUYING AT
THE MARKET.

While the overleaf Montage displays, it will be accompanied

with Liberian old music ("MA MUSU KA YIME" - Morris Dorley,
Caesar Gator: The Bassa King of Liberia 1984)Music playing
at the minimal right at the background.

CUT TO:

FOOTAGES OF POLITICAL RALLIES AND EVENTS PROBABLY THAT WHICH

INVOLVES EJ ROYE/ OR FOOTAGES OF TOWN HALL MEETINGS DATED
BACK TO WHEN THEIR VIDEO ARCHIVES CONCERNING THE FIRST
POLITICAL MOVEMENTS IN LIBERIA WILL BE PLAYED WHILE THE
NARRATOR SPEAKS ON.

We can have Audio voice of Ej roye, probably speaking over

anything right at the background at a minimal Volume.

NARRATOR V.O
The complete picture as
painted by some writers, bloggers,
and even historians regarding Roy
in Liberia, his
struggle, existence, and leadership
 indicates that historical
information about Liberia is
fragmented, unreliable,
inconsistent, and incomplete. This
episode is one of the most
mysterious in the records of
Liberia.
 Written with Arc Studio: www.arcstudiopro.com 3.

CUT TO:

INT. AN HISTORIAN OFFICE - AFTERNOON

We see a Historian with his glasses resting right on top of

his nose, as he kind of gazes at the pages of a book that is
wide opened right in from of him. His office is cute,
decorated with large well-arranged books that smile on the
Book shelf.

CAMERA TAKES A CUT TO CLOSEUP SHOT OF SOMEONE WHO IS BUSY

READING AND FLIPING BOOKS IN AN OFFICE.

At the backgroung is a soft rythmic sound playing, at a

minimal volume, Just as the narrator speaks while the over
leave visual is been played.

HISTORIAN
(Seated on his seat
reading and making
research as he flips
books after books.)

NARRATOR V.O
The questions
Many might be compelled to ask,
which is considered suitable will
be who is Ej Roye?

CUT TO:

A STILL PICTURE OF EJ ROYE APPEARS ON THE SCREEN,

IMMEDIATELY CUTS TO FOOTAGE OF THE EARLY IGBOS WHO ARE
DANCING AND CELEBRATING GTHEIR CULTURE AND DIVERSITY,
MASQUERADES, DRUMS, FLUTES, AND MAIDEN DANCERS WILL BE
DIPLAYED ON THE SCREEN VIA FOOTAGES.

As the footages plays, The audio of the footages that

consist of drum sounds, flutes and song will be low at a
very minimal as the Narrator speaks while the above visual
play on.

NARRATOR V.O
Edward James Roye was a pure
descendant of the Igbo (West
Africa, Nigeria) born on February
3, 1815 in Newark, Ohio, USA.
 Written with Arc Studio: www.arcstudiopro.com 4.

CUT TO:

A STILL PICTURE OF EJ ROYE OR ANY FOOTAGE THAT CAPTURES HIM,

EITHER HIS INTERVIEW OR ANY VISUAL APPEARANCE WILL BE SHOWN
AS LIBERIA FOOTAGE OF WHERE A PRESIDENT IS DECORATED WILL BE
SHOWN AS WELL, COVERING A MAMMOTH CROWD.

NARRATOR V.O
He was the first pure black man to
become President of Liberia.

CUT TO:

FOOTAGES OF MEN ARRIVING THE COST OF LIBERIA, WHITES AND

MORE OF BLACKS, AS THEY DROP FROM ANY FOOTAGE OF SHIPS DATED
THIS TIME FRAME WHEN EJ EXITED OR SOMETHING CLOSER TO THAT
AGE. O A CLOSEUP SHOT OF A VIDEO BEING WATCHED ON INSTAGRAM,

As footage of immigrants who are mostly black arriving

Liberia is been displayed, a Liberian local song will be
play at the background at a minimal volume.

NARRATOR V.O
He arrived as a new immigrant in
1846, a year before the declaration
of independence.

CUT TO:

CLOSE SHOT CAPTURES EJ ROYE STILL FRAME PICTURE THAT IS

HANGING ON A WALL, AS CAMERA ZOOMS INTO THE PICTURE, FOOTAGE
OF SOLDIERS IN OLD MILITARY VEHICLE ARRIVING THE PRESENTIAL
PALACE BEEN A BIT VIOLENT WITH CIVILIANS AT THE PRESIDENTIAL
PALACE, OR BETTER ANY FOOTAGE OF A COUP AS DATED 40;S IN
AFRICA WITHOUT EXPOSING FACES IN THE FOOTAGE WILL WORK, AS
IT WILL BE DISPLAYED.

At the background, shots of guns and loud noises of

maltreated civilians will be heard as well, as NARRATOR
SPEAKS ON.

NARRATOR V.O
Roy became president in 1870, but
was dismissed the following year in
the first coup in Africa's oldest
republic.
 Written with Arc Studio: www.arcstudiopro.com 5.

CUT TO:

CAMERA CUT TO A CLOSE-UP SHOT OF CEMETERY WHERE PRESIDENTS

AND IMPORTANT PERSONALITIES ARE USUALLY BURIED IN LIBERIA.
FOOTAGE OF MONROVIA AS BACK DATED AND THE FOOTAGE OF CHAOS
AND UNREST IN MORNVIA WILL BE EXPLORED AND DISPLAYED.

A mourning song or sound with an emotional oral plays at the

background at a very minimal volume, even as Narrator speaks
on.

NARRATOR V.O
He died a mysterious death in
Monrovia in early 1872.

CUT TO:

CLOSE SHOT OF A MAN IN A LOCKED-UP CELL BACKDATED TO THE

EARLY ERA OF GOVERNMENT IN LIBERIA, THEN FOOTAGE OF A GROUP
OF PEOPLE BEEN LED INTO THE TRUCK AS THEY ARE BEEN SENT INTO
PRISON IS DISPLAYED.

NARRATOR V.O
President Edward Roye become
deposed on October 26, 1871, and
become imprisoned and the
activities that follows after his
imprisonment isn't regarded.

CUT TO:

FOOTAGE OF AN ABANDONED STREET, LIBERIA IN VIEW WITH

EVERYWHERE SCANTY, AS EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE OBSERVING A SEAT
AT HOME, AND THE WHOLE STREETS COULD BE SEEN ABANDONED, AS
PEOPLE ARE JUST IN THEIR VARIOUS HOUSES.

NARRATOR V.O
The manner wherein, or even the
day on which he died, aren't
regarded with certainty.

CUT TO:

EXT. IN FRONT OF A RESORT HOUSE- MORNING

We see a writer with his laptop sitting comfortably on the

table outside his house his glasses is seated on the small
table. As we take close up a shot of the writer's hand,
writing. on a piece. various old newspaper publications will
be flipped on the on the screen.

At the background Liberia songs will be playing softly.

 Written with Arc Studio: www.arcstudiopro.com 6.

NARRATOR V.O
The demise of Ej Roye until Date is
a Mystery that everybody appears to
have an account of its very own
piece, According to a few sources,
it’s stated that “Roye escaped from
jail however become drowned even as
he tries to escape out to a British
ship.

CUT TO:

A WIDE SHOT OF THE OCEAN AND THE SEA WILL BE CAPTURED, MAYBE
AN ANCIENT HABOUR IN VIEW AS TAKING WITH A CAMERA SHOT. THEN
FOOTAGE OF A SMALL BOAT PADDLING OUT ON THE SEA, THEN
SUDDENLY FALLS OVER WILL BE DISPLAYED.

A fast pace rhythmic Africa sound like an echoed voices will

be playing at the background.

NARRATOR V.O
One writer reviews that the canoe
wherein Roye attempted to make his
escape with capsized and then he
drowned.

CUT TO:

FOOTAGE OF A MOB IN THE BACK DAYS BESIDE THE RIVER AS IF

THERE IS A CULPRIT THEY ARE BEATING, IN DIRECTION OF THE
WHITE MATTERS

NARRATOR V.O
Another author writes; "The weight
of money around his waist was the
cause of his drowning while
swimming on a British ship (Banks
Henrys). According to him, Roy was
brutally beaten after landing.

CUT TO:

FOOTAGE OF MANY BUNDLES OF CASH AND A STILL PICTURE OF MONEY

BELTS AS USED IN EJ ROLES TIME WILL BE FLIPPED ACROSS THE
SCREEN... IF POSSIBLE ANTIQUE MONEY BELT HAS BEEN CAPTURED
IN A SHUTTER OR VISUALLY.

NARRATOR V.O
The money he had on the belt was
robbed.
 Written with Arc Studio: www.arcstudiopro.com 7.

FOOTAGES OF PRESIDENT WILLIAM TUBMAN IN AN EVENT OR

ADDRESSING THE NATION OR EVEN A TOWN MEETING OR CLIPS OF HIM
DRIVING THROUGH WILL BE USED TO ACCOMPANY THE VOICE OVER. A
CAMERA CAPTURE/FOOTAGE OF PRESIDENT WILLIAM TUBMAN
ADDRESSING HIS CABINET OR IN THE POLITICAL DUTY WILL BE
DISPLAYED TOO.“

NARRATOR V.O
Liberia's President William Tubman
(1944-71) was one of many Liberia
who believed in a version of Roy
being brutally beaten after his
testimony was taken.

CUT TO:

FOOTAGES FROM ASHMUN STREET IN THE DAYS, STILL PHOTO SHOTS

OF THE SAME STREET AND PRESENT CONDITION OF THE SAME SAID
STREET WILL BE FULLY TAKEN AND DISPLAYED AS NARRATOR SPEAKS.

At the background will be any Liberian chanting song at a

very limited volume to accompany the visual displays.

NARRATOR V.O
The story was that Roy's (naked)
body was dragged through the
streets of Liberia to the location
of Ashmun Street, where he is said
to have died.

CUT TO:

THE SCREEN OPENS WITH A PARTY FLAG OF ROYE'S PARTY OR

ANYTHING THAT SYMBOLIZES THEM, THEN FOOTAGES OF THE PARTY
BUILDING NAMED AFTER EJ ROYE WILL BE SHOWN AND THE PICTURES
OF ROYES PARTY ACTIVITIES WILL BE DISPLAYED TOO.

NARRATOR V.O
This allowed President Tabman to
build a new building for his party,
the Whigs (Roy's Party), in the
same location and name the party
headquarters after Ej Roye, the
first black president of Liberia.

CUT TO:
 Written with Arc Studio: www.arcstudiopro.com 8.

FOOTAGES OF HIS TIME AS A CHIEF JUSTICE OF LIBERIA, IF THERE

ARE NOT FOOTAGES, STILL PICTURES OF HIS DAYS IN SERVICE
SHOULD BE FLIPPED ON THE SCREEN.

A simple but compassionate sound that connotes service and

responsibility will be playing at the background as NARRATOT
SPEAKS ON.

NARRATOR V.O
Before he grew to be president of
Liberia, he had beforehand served
as the 4th Chief Justice of Liberia
from 1865 till 1868.

CUT TO:

THE FOOTAGE OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE TRUE WHIG PARTY WILL BE

DISPLAYED, ALONG WITH THEIR CAMPAIGNS AND RALLIES. AND IF
THERE IS AN AUDIO SPEACH OF EJ'S MANIFESTO OF ADDRESS LET IT
BE PLAYED AS A BACKGROUND VOICE AS THE PICTURES AND VIUSALLS
DISPLAY ON THE SCREEN. THEN HIS PICTURE AS THE FIRST PURE
BLACK PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA WILL BE FULLY DISPLAYED.

NARRATOR V.O
He was the first member of
Liberia's True Whig Party to serve
as president (Wikipedia).

CUT TO:

FOOTAGES THAT WILL BACK UP THE HATRED FROM THE WHITE

COLONIES. FOOTAGES ON SLAVERY, HARDSHIP, AND UNFAIRNESS
METED OUT TO BLACKS. SHUTTER SHOTS AND STILL PICTURES OF
BLACKS WHO HAVE CUT A NICHE AND PATHWAY FOR OTHERS WILL BE
DISPLAYED AS WELL.

NARRATOR V.O
Ej Roye’s loss of life and the
controversies trailing his story
and all that went wrong with him in
Liberia can’t be farfetched from
the very fact that he is a Black
Man who grew to be a president of
a nation colonized through the
white colonial masters as at that
very time.

CUT TO:
 Written with Arc Studio: www.arcstudiopro.com 9.

FOOTAGES OF IMMIGRANTS AND NUMBERS OF WHITE PEOPLE WHO WERE

ACCOMPANY THE BLACKS TO WEST AFRICA, AFRICA AS A WHOLE, AND
INTERESTINGLY LIBERIA AS BACKDATED AS THE HISTORY BEHIND IT.
FOOTAGES OF THOSE WHO HAVE THEIR CAR COME AROUND AND PICK
THEN.

NARRATOR V.O
And it’s necessary to note; that
Colonization Societies like (New
York Colonization Society, Maryland
Colonization Society, Virginia
Colonization Society all from the
United State of
America dispatched African
Americans Prince Hall Masons to
Africa where they founded Liberia.

FADE OUT.

THE END