In the 1990s it continued to develop through the civil wars, and today stands as a definitive mark of Liberian culture.

As of 2017, it was the popular music genre of Liberia, "serving as the medium through which rappers speak against societal ills, including injustice and corruption.

Kolokwa is 99 percent an oral language — as yet, there is not a single full book in the dialect — and it is all but incomprehensible to the American ear.

Which means that when Hipco artists inject a few choice snatches of Kolokwa into otherwise English lyrics, their words have political zing.

The artists released the song in order to raise awareness about Covid-19 and encourage Liberians to practice good hygiene.