Miatta Kamara

They call her ‘Lady Love’ – and for good reason. Kamara’s unconventional solution for tackling her nation’s rapidly growing addiction crisis? Reigniting addicts’ talents and dreams through their love of music. At the heart of this effort is a unique music competition—a contest open only to drug abusers. To enter the ‘ghetto musical competition’, applicants must voluntarily enroll in a rehabilitation program that includes 60 days of detox, along with creative components. Kamara’s holistic approach to the drug problem reveals that many addicts desire change, and when given the opportunity, they come forward voluntarily.

“The drug abusers have to sign up willingly to be clear for 60 days where they undergo three major components of detoxing: medicals, which comprise screening and detoxification, counseling, and finally, skills acquisition.”

In the last few years, Liberia has faced a growing issue with drug addiction, posing significant challenges to public health and social stability. Launched under Kamara’s LiBx Records Foundation, the program is off to a promising start, attracting numerous drug abusers seeking to rebuild their lives. It does more than detoxify participants; it provides them with a chance to develop their talents and reintegrate into society, combating the stigmatization that often surrounds addiction in Liberia. Many participants have successfully launched careers as performers following their time in the program, like Lady Piso, an inspiring and gifted emerging artist who had previously struggled with a prolonged dependency on marijuana. Despite these challenges, she displayed a remarkable talent, living in a difficult environment and awaiting an opportunity to channel her potential.

And much more lies ahead. What began as a simple music competition is evolving into a comprehensive program that transforms lives. As the program grows, Kamara, who is also Vice President for Operation of the Musician Union of Liberia, is hopeful that that it will provide an ever-widening path to recovery – and empowerment – for Liberia’s most vulnerable populations. She also hopes her work will help erase the stigma surrounding drug and reshape the narrative around addiction in Liberia.

“I realized that talking and begging them to leave the street in the past was not it. That is why—they are stuck in a cycle, and easy to return to the same addict life since the change never happened willingly. Therefore, when they signed up for the ghetto talent hunt, they agreed to be cleaned up.”

While Kamara’s work focuses on addiction, she recognizes that the root causes of the issue—poverty, unemployment, and insecurity—must also be addressed. Drug abuse in Liberia’s ghettos often reflects larger social and economic problems. In these ways, the foundation’s mission extends far beyond rehabilitation, offering desperate people a chance to build a better future. The program not only helps drug abusers achieve sobriety; it also gives them something to stay sober for, along with practical skills needed to succeed in life.

“The first time I met Miatta, I was sleeping in a bus,” one program participant recalled. “She told me, ‘I will come for you, and you will be rehabilitated.’ I kept praying, and by the grace of God, she came back after a few days. she took me to the rehabilitation center, and that was when my journey began.”

None of this is easy. While Kamara’s work focuses on addiction, she recognizes that the root causes of the issue—poverty, unemployment, and insecurity—must also be addressed, as drug abuse in Liberia’s ghettos often reflects larger social and economic problems. But for all of this, Kamara is undeterred. “Giving up is not an option,” she said. “There is always a way.”