“Women could finally talk about what was once considered taboo.”

Elisabeth joined Talking Drums Studio on the eve of its creation in 1997. At that time, several radio shows produced by TDS were becoming more and more popular, including "Women". The weekly program, hosted only by female anchors, reached out to women in Liberia and offered them a powerful national platform. "We went directly to the field, especially in rural areas, to address the critical issues that affected women. We wanted to give them the opportunity to make their voices heard. Women could finally talk about what was once considered taboo, and they started becoming more outspoken in all aspects of society", Elisabeth says.

While traveling around the country, she had the opportunity to witness first-hand the impact of the show on the lives of women in rural areas. "I remember very well an old woman who had never been to school before. She went for the first time after listening to one of our programs encouraging women to resume their education. When I met her, she told me that when she went to the bank, she no longer signed with her fingerprints; she now knew how to spell her name. It was a real revelation for her; she was so excited!" she says.

The topics and the way they were addressed quickly made TDS a household name in Liberia. "At the time, the role of the media was only to report on the conflict. We had an approach that went beyond that", says Elisabeth. In addition to radio broadcasts, TDS also performed street dramas. The performances brought together warring factions or communities to find a solution to their conflicts. "We recorded everything and broadcast it on the radio to reach even more people," she adds.

This notoriety led TDS journalists to take initiatives that no one else could have during wartime. "We were not afraid. One day, fighters entered our compound and stole one of our cars. We went straight to talk to their commander. He managed to find our car and gave it back to us," Elisabeth recalls. Everyone across the country recognized TDS cars; each household had listened to at least one of their shows or seen one of their theatre performances. "Everyone knew us. The various ministry agencies welcomed us; everyone talked about us. ‘These are not regular journalists,’ they said. ‘They always speak about peace!’ We had friends everywhere. It was almost too good to be true," she says.

In 2004, Elisabeth passed the torch to young women journalists she had trained and embarked on a new life project. “Since our radio program “Women”, things have changed in Liberia. Women are moving forward, claiming their rights and positions of leadership. This is what motivated me to become the first elected woman of the Press Union of Liberia. In 40 years, the organization had never had a woman in its ranks,” she says.

Even today, Elisabeth still speaks with pride and nostalgia about her years with TDS. She remains convinced of the essential role of this institution, which has successfully accompanied most Liberians through the various stages of the country's transformation. "I want Liberians to realize that even if we all come from different backgrounds, we can always find something common to all of us. To do this, we need a voice that brings us all together. I believe TDS can take on this role, as it has in the past," she concludes.