Order of the Star of Africa

Not to be confused with Order of the African Star or Africa Star.

The Order of the Star of Africa is an order presented by the government of Liberia.

Order of the Star of Africa
Awarded for	Distinguished service to the Republic of Liberia or to Africa in public service or in the arts or sciences
Country	Liberia
Eligibility	Liberian and foreign citizens
Established	1920
Ribbon of the order
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of the Pioneers of Liberia
Next (lower)	Military Merit Order

Criteria

The Order of the Star of Africa is presented in five grades, Knight, Officer, Grand Commander, Grand Officer, and Grand Cross. Liberian and foreign citizens may be invested with the order for distinguished service to the Republic of Liberia or to Africa in public service or in the arts and sciences.^[1]

Appearance

The badge and star of the Order of the Star of Africa is a nine-pointed white enamel and silver gilded star. Between the arms of the star are gilt rays with a five-pointed pale blue star superimposed on the rays. On the obverse of the insignia, in the center, is a circular gilded medallion bearing the intertwined letters LR above the date 1920, surrounded by a pale blue enamel ring. On the ring are the gold letters The Love of Liberty Brought Us Here. The reverse of the badge is identical to the obverse except for the central medallion, which bears an allegorical female figure reaching for a shining star surrounded by a red enamel ring. The ring is inscribed in gold letters Light in Darkness.^[1]

Recipients

Wulf Gatter, a German environmentralist, is awarded the Order of the Star of Africa in the rank of "Grand Commander" by Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Monrovia, Liberia, 2016.

• Akihito
• Charles Taylor
• Gustaf Adolf Boltenstern Jr.
• Mary Broh^[2]
• Benjamin O. Davis Sr., United States Army^[3]
• John Warren Davis (college president)
• Luther H. Foster Jr.
• Piet de Jong
• Moshe Mayer
• Isaac Michaelson
• Ambassador Chigozie Obi-Nnadozie
• Salim Ahmed Salim
• Tzvi Tzur
• Ambassador George Wallace
• George Werner, former Minister of Education

Knights Grand Band

• Elizabeth II
• Juliana of the Netherlands
• Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
• Ambassador Lorenzo Llewellyn Witherspoon
• Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Grand Commander

• Wulf Gatter, German environmentalist and ornithologist
• Fatima Massaquoi, writer and academic
• Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine ^[4]
• Joseph Boayue, former Secretary of Public Works

Grand Cross

• Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis

References

1. "Medal-Medaille, Orders, decorations and medals of the world for sale online".
2. "Liberia's President Confers Distinction on Several Citizens and Distinguished Personalities". mofa.gov.lr, website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Government of the Republic of Liberia. Archived from the original on 19 December 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
3. "Benjamin Oliver Davis, Sr". African Americans in the U.S. Army. Center of Military History, U.S. Army. January 31, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
4. https://analystliberiaonline.com/thanks-for-standing-by-us-ukrainian-foreign-minister-praises-liberia/ ^{[bare URL]}