Afropop: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange Season 12 Episode 3 Daddy and the Warlord

In season 12 episode 3 of Afropop: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange, titled Daddy and the Warlord, viewers are taken on a journey through the eyes of a young Liberian woman, Clarice Gargard, as she tries to reconcile with the traumatic past of her father, a former warlord and rebel leader during Liberia's civil war.

The episode starts off with Clarice returning to Liberia after spending many years abroad and off the continent. She has come back for a reason - to create a documentary that explores her country's past and present. Her father was a notorious warlord during the civil war that ravaged Liberia between 1989 and 2003. And as a result, Clarice has been estranged from him for many years.

Throughout the documentary, we see Clarice trying to piece together her father's past while also trying to understand the man he is now. The episode is centered around interviews with him, as well as many other people who were involved in the civil war - from former child soldiers to other rebel leaders.

As the story unfolds, we begin to understand the complexities of Liberia's past. We learn about how the country was founded by freed slaves and how the Americo-Liberians - the descendants of those slaves - created a class system that oppressed indigenous Liberians for many years. This ultimately led to a growing sense of resentment and division, which ultimately led to the brutal civil war.

The episode is also interspersed with scenes of Clarice exploring modern-day Liberia. We see her filming in the streets, interviewing local musicians and activists, and attending a rally for a candidate running in the presidential election. Through these scenes, we get a sense of the country's current state and how it is still grappling with the legacy of the war.

Overall, Daddy and the Warlord is a powerful and moving look at the impact of war and trauma on individuals and whole societies. It presents a nuanced and complex view of Liberia's past and present, and ultimately shows us the importance of reckoning with history in order to heal and move forward. Clarice's journey is an inspiring and highly personal one, and viewers will be left with a deep appreciation for her courage and determination.