The West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, became the largest and most complex outbreak in history, devastating Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. This crisis exposed severe gaps in local and international emergency response infrastructure, leading to widespread loss of life and economic disruption. The epidemic prompted global health organizations to reevaluate and strengthen their response strategies for future outbreaks.

The West African Ebola epidemic inspired a surge of documentary poetry from local writers, who confronted Western media narratives and mourned the disruption of traditional funeral rituals. This body of work highlighted the importance of cultural practices and the resilience of communities in the face of crisis.