Bai T. Moore

Bai Tamia Johnson Moore (October 12, 1916 – January 10, 1988), commonly known by his pen name Bai T. Moore, was a Liberian poet, novelist, folklorist and essayist. He held various cultural, educational and tourism posts both for the Liberian government and for UNESCO.

Quotes

Murder in the Cassava Patch (1968)

• You see eh, when we old people tell you children to listen to your parents, you say this is a new age.

• Gortokai, you have done so much for my old parents, we owe it to you to give you a wife. If I had a husband with money.
  • Kema reflecting and thanking Gortokai for his help

• ....times are changing. It’s hard to depend on people these days.

• I can see why Gotorkai has been killing himself to make enough money to pay your dowry.
  • The landlady admiring the beauty of Tene

• You think I have just been eating rice for nothing eh? I am an old kuba, Kema.

• If you are a professional palm wine drinker, that is, a habitude, or a connoisseur, the most sensible thing to do when you arrive in a strange town is to associate yourself with a palm wine circle. By so doing you get to know all the current gossip of that town.

• My advice to you as a friend is, never contemplate such a major undertaking without it being looked into.

• Gortokai, when you have reached my age, you will agree that good rum, delicious food and some money, not too much, to keep you worrying, are to be desired more than a beautiful unfaithful woman.
  • Old man Bleng's talk with Gortokai

• Many men before us have been through it, and those who will come after us too, will go through it. It’s one of those evils God put on earth. You know now what I mean when I say the secrets of a woman are deeper than the bottom of hell.

• Some people who pretend to be your friends are the very ones who help to spoil your palava.

• I feel that a girl should be given a chance to look around before she decides on one man.

External links

• Murder in the Cassava Patch