A public space named after Hackney’s grassroots answer to Live Aid was opened in October 2021. Brafa Square, at the entrance to Britannia Leisure Centre in Shoreditch, is named after a fascinating, yet sadly often forgotten, part of Hackney’s African Caribbean history.
In 1984 the British Reggae Artists Famine Appeal (BRAFA) was created when Hackney resident and lead singer of The Blackstones, Leon Leiffer, became frustrated by the lack of African and Caribbean artist representation in Band Aid, the charity supergroup formed to raise money for anti-famine efforts in Ethiopia.
Leon recruited local musicians and famous reggae artists of the day to record and perform an alternative charity single ‘Let’s Make Africa Green Again’, which was produced in February 1985 at Hive Studios in Stoke Newington. The song was released by Island Records and performed at an open air concert in Shoreditch Park raising thousands of pounds for the Save the Children Ethiopian famine appeal.
BRAFA founder Leon Leiffer said: “As a young boy leaving the Caribbean and coming to England I would never envision something like this. Now, 35 years later, the name BRAFA is coming back alive and will be there for the rest of time, in history, in Hackney. It’s more than winning the lottery, it’s a mega honour for myself, the people who coordinated and for each and every musician and singer that took part for the good and great reason of helping the famine in Ethiopia. I’m proud that Hackney has taken it upon themselves to recognise this name is worthy of making history.”
Full article on Hackney Council’s website at https://news.hackney.gov.uk/new-square-is-named-after-hackneys-hidden-history/
Brafa Square – words from the band
THE BLACKSTONES & The BRAFA TEAM aka BRITISH REGGAE ARTISTS FAMMINE APPEAL TEAM aka BRAFA SQUARE on location BBC
Antique Roadshow due shortly on BBC, so look out, watch out,
Nuff, nuff respect to Emma winch and full CREW.
Click/tap here to see the Episode on iPlayer (Starts around 20 minutes in)
