Janka grew up with her parents in Tubmanburg, Bomi County in Gbarwu, a small village in the Konobo district.
Janka's Mother Ma Yaa sold palm nuts And cassava leave at the weyatta
market in Konobo district. Arthur Gbowee, Janka's father was a
skilled laborer in carpentry, plumbing and building construction. Mr.
Gbowee a native Of Bomi County, married Janka's mother who is from
the kpelleh tribe and Mr. Gbowee was from the Gola tribe.
A long history Of intermarriage between the two tribes stood as a remarkable bond
between them.
Gbarwu was not Only the birthplace Of Arthur Gbowee, but it was
where he was raised by His parents and his Great-grandparents lived in
the region for centuries before His birth. Janka has heard stories Of her
great grand parents and the life of her grand parents. Her paternal grand
parents passed away before her birth, her Only existing grand parent was
old ma Yartu, her Mother's Mother.
Old Ma Yartu her grandmother, was the chief mistress of the sande
society. A place where young girls were taken at a tender age for household preparations. The girls were thaught crafts like: net fishing, basket
making, trap making, hair plaiting, food preparation, crocheting, fabric
making and household preparations. Janka was 6 years old when she enrolled at the sande traditional school.
At the age of 14, Janka graduated from the Sande traditional school,
Janka's father , Arthur Gbowee held a large ceremony and a feast for her
graduation.Janka and the other graduates were adorned in white chalk rubbed
all over their bodies, and dressed in a traditional wrapper tied beneattheir waists. Well crafted palm leaves were tied vertical across their shoulders, as they marched barefooted into the feasting chamber. There were
tables well prepared in a very large thatched hut for the ceremony.
Arthur Gbowee was the orator of the ceremony and the last to break
kola nuts, as was the Gola tradition. Arthur Gbowee had graduated from
the poro society during his childhood, despite being a primary school
(third grade) drop out.
Janka's Mother Ma Yaa, did not receive a primary education.
But she was a woman favored in selling, farming and household
management. After the graduation event, there would be a marriage ceremony. Each girl will be given a suitor from the male's group (the poro
society).
The girls were positioned into straight horizontal lines as the
Head of the poro, Uncle Kunu would select a boy to be paired with
each of the girls for marriage. Janka was given a suitor named, Tarnue.But Unfortunately, there was commotion between Arthur Gbowee,
Janka's father and Uncle Kunu. Arthur Gbowee was furious about the
husband given to Janka. This argument led to an unusual uproar of
laughter, that no one could withhold their smiles.
Tarnue was grotesque looking, he had sharp long teeth stretching out
from his mouth that could quickly be noticed whenever he smiled and
his stucked posture, and weird smile was a terror for her. Janka , a beautiful , charming looking young girl was too good for the suitor she was
given.
Arthur Gbowee and Uncle Kunu were brought before the chiefs for
an investigation. When the meeting was finalized, Uncle Kunu was instructed to search again for a good looking young for Janka, because her
parents have refused the selected suitor.