Rocktown, located in Maryland County on Liberia’s southeastern coast near Cape Palmas, is a settlement built on a long, intricate history intertwined with indigenous Grebo (Glebo) culture and Liberia’s colonial past. Founded in the early 18th century, originally as Taake by the Grebo people, Rocktown has witnessed the tumultuous relations between the Americo-Liberian settlers and indigenous clans, missionary activity, resistance and the assimilation of the area into Liberia as a whole.

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Rocktown’s inhabitants are historically predominantly Grebo, part of the Kru-speaking people of West Africa. The Nyanbos are a sub-clan of the larger Grebo ethnic group, who reside primarily in Rocktown and other areas of Maryland County, Liberia.

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Rocktown has endured hardships during the late 20th-century, like much of Liberia, through civil conflicts. During Liberia’s two civil wars in 1989-1997 and 1999-2003, Maryland County saw violence and dislocation. Many residents fled to the nearby Côte d’Ivoire border and lived as refugees. Not all who left have returned, leaving lasting social impacts on the community. 

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Today, Roctown, as coined in English likely due to its rocky coastal terrain, remains a small town known for its scenic beach and as a center of Grebo cultural heritage in Maryland County. It continues to elect local chiefs and maintain strong ties among Grebo clan families, including the Nyanbo family, preserving the legacy of its enduring history.

Rocktown’s inhabitants are predominantly Grebo, part of the Kru-speaking people of West Africa. The Nyanbos are a sub- clan of the larger Grebo ethnic group, who reside primarily in Rocktown and other areas of Maryland County, Liberia. The Nyanbo Family Association is dedicated to supporting members of the Nyanbo family in Maryland County, Liberia, through meaningful initiatives that address educational and community needs. These include providing academic scholarships, supporting the rebuilding of school facilities, and responding to demonstrated needs within the family and community.