The British Reggae Artists Famine Appeal Team: Let's Make Africa Green Again 12" single
Object
Record
Production date
04/1985
Object number
2021.8
Physical Description
12" vinyl record in paper cardboard sleeve 'Let's Make Africa Green Again' by The British Reggae Artists Famine Appeal Team (BRAFA). The front of the record sleeve features a children's illustration in yellow, blue, and green against a white background, and the text 'All profits from the sale of this record will be paid by Island / BRAFA to Save the Children for long term development in Africa'. The back sleeve and vinyl labels feature 3 photographs of the BRAFA team, another children's illustration, and the text 'A Brafa Production Co-ordinated by Leon Lieffer & Gene Rondo'.
Associated Organisation
The British Reggae Artists Famine Appeal Team (Performed by)
Associated Person
Leiffer, Leon (Founder)
Rondo, Gene (Founder)
Rondo, Gene (Founder)
Associated Place
Material
Vinyl
Paper
Dimension
Height: 305mm
Width: 309mm
Width: 309mm
Exhibition Label
From BRAFA Pillar (in BRAFA Square)
BRAFA SQUARE
BRAFA: the public square
BRAFA Square is named in recognition of The British Reggae Artists Famine Appeal Team (BRAFA); an inspirational part of Hackney’s rich African and Caribbean history.
During the mid-1980s BRAFA raised thousands of pounds for Ethiopian famine relief by recording a charity song Let’s Make Africa Green Again, and holding a benefit concert in Shoreditch Park.
BRAFA was registered at co-organiser Gene Rondo’s home address, which was close to this public square. After research carried out by Hackney Archives and local people, the public voted for it to be called ‘BRAFA Square’ and it opened in 2021.
The back story
In the 1980s, Ethiopia was devastated by famine. Musicians led global fundraising activities, such as Band Aid and Live Aid, to raise money for famine relief.
Hackney reggae artists Leon Leiffer and Gene Rondo came together in January 1985 to form The British Reggae Artists Famine Appeal Team (BRAFA) with fellow musicians including Courtney Carr, Raymond Dangarembizi, Ras Elroy Bailey, Jah Bunny, Tony Douglas, Ken Kendricks and Fay Addison.
Frustrated by the lack of African and Caribbean heritage artists on the Band Aid charity song recorded in November 1984, BRAFA decided to release its own charity record.
BRAFA: the charity record
On 24 February 1985 over 200 singers, musicians, local residents, and school children joined the BRAFA team at Hive Studio in Stoke Newington to record the charity song Let's Make Africa Green Again. The recording session featured many leading reggae artists including Aswad, Dennis Brown, Janet Kay and Trevor Walters.
Released by Island Records in April 1985, all profits from the record went to the charity Save the Children Fund for long-term development projects in famine-affected areas of Africa.
“People are starving
There must be something we can do ...
Let us give what we have
And just that little bit more
To make it a rich and fertile land
One love is our goal
Let's make Africa green again
We can do it if we try
Rain food for Africa”
Lyrics by Leon Leiffer, Tony Douglas, Gene Rondo and Fay Addison.
The benefit concert
Following the Let’s Make Africa Green Again charity record, BRAFA organised a benefit concert, Hackney’s answer to Live Aid.
BRAFA’s hugely successful benefit concert was held in Shoreditch Park on Bank Holiday Monday, 26 May 1986. Over 10,000 people watched top reggae and soul performers, including many of those featured on the BRAFA charity record.
BRAFA raised thousands of pounds for Save the Children Fund’s Ethiopian famine appeal.
“The crowd was excellent but with the amount of people who did turn up it should have been held in a place like Wembley Stadium.”
Gene Rondo on the BRAFA benefit concert, Hackney Gazette, 30 May 1986
BRAFA SQUARE
BRAFA: the public square
BRAFA Square is named in recognition of The British Reggae Artists Famine Appeal Team (BRAFA); an inspirational part of Hackney’s rich African and Caribbean history.
During the mid-1980s BRAFA raised thousands of pounds for Ethiopian famine relief by recording a charity song Let’s Make Africa Green Again, and holding a benefit concert in Shoreditch Park.
BRAFA was registered at co-organiser Gene Rondo’s home address, which was close to this public square. After research carried out by Hackney Archives and local people, the public voted for it to be called ‘BRAFA Square’ and it opened in 2021.
The back story
In the 1980s, Ethiopia was devastated by famine. Musicians led global fundraising activities, such as Band Aid and Live Aid, to raise money for famine relief.
Hackney reggae artists Leon Leiffer and Gene Rondo came together in January 1985 to form The British Reggae Artists Famine Appeal Team (BRAFA) with fellow musicians including Courtney Carr, Raymond Dangarembizi, Ras Elroy Bailey, Jah Bunny, Tony Douglas, Ken Kendricks and Fay Addison.
Frustrated by the lack of African and Caribbean heritage artists on the Band Aid charity song recorded in November 1984, BRAFA decided to release its own charity record.
BRAFA: the charity record
On 24 February 1985 over 200 singers, musicians, local residents, and school children joined the BRAFA team at Hive Studio in Stoke Newington to record the charity song Let's Make Africa Green Again. The recording session featured many leading reggae artists including Aswad, Dennis Brown, Janet Kay and Trevor Walters.
Released by Island Records in April 1985, all profits from the record went to the charity Save the Children Fund for long-term development projects in famine-affected areas of Africa.
“People are starving
There must be something we can do ...
Let us give what we have
And just that little bit more
To make it a rich and fertile land
One love is our goal
Let's make Africa green again
We can do it if we try
Rain food for Africa”
Lyrics by Leon Leiffer, Tony Douglas, Gene Rondo and Fay Addison.
The benefit concert
Following the Let’s Make Africa Green Again charity record, BRAFA organised a benefit concert, Hackney’s answer to Live Aid.
BRAFA’s hugely successful benefit concert was held in Shoreditch Park on Bank Holiday Monday, 26 May 1986. Over 10,000 people watched top reggae and soul performers, including many of those featured on the BRAFA charity record.
BRAFA raised thousands of pounds for Save the Children Fund’s Ethiopian famine appeal.
“The crowd was excellent but with the amount of people who did turn up it should have been held in a place like Wembley Stadium.”
Gene Rondo on the BRAFA benefit concert, Hackney Gazette, 30 May 1986
Credit line
Copyright BRAFA
On display?
No
Inscription
LET'S MAKE AFRICA GREEN AGAIN
The British Reggae Artists Famine Appeal Team
All profits from the sale of this record will be paid by Island / BRAFA to Save the Children for long term development in Africa
Side One LET’S MAKE AFRICA GREEN AGAIN
(T. Douglas - G. Rondo-L. Lieffer)
Side Two SUSTAIN THE SUSTENANCE
(L. Douglas - G. Rondo - L. Lieffer)
A Brafa Production Co-ordinated by LEON LIEFFER & GENE RONDO
LEAD SINGERS
TREVOR WALTERS - BLACKSTONES - WINSTON REEDY - DENNIS BROWN -
ASWAD - CHRISTINE MACNAB & PAULINE (BROWN SUGAR) - PIONEERS -
GENE RONDO - JANET KAY - KEN PARKER - TREVOR HARTLEY -
KEITH DRUMMOND - BYRON OTIS - JUNIOR ENGLISH -
OVER 200 ARTISTS SANG CHORUS “LET’S MAKE AFRICA GREEN AGAIN”
COURTNEY CARR (LA-FAMILLE) - B.B. SEATON - MIKE BROOKS - CHOSEN FEW -
BEVAN MATUMBI - NEVILLE BLACKSTONES - DANNY RAY - MIKEY DREAD -
JOY MACK - GINGER WILLIAMS - ME & YOU - GLEN SOLEY - HONEY BOY -
WINSTON CURTIS - WINSTON FERGUS - GORDON BATISTE -
PANCHITA (LA’TOUCHE) - ZIVANAYI DANGAREMBIZI - JAH WARRIOR -
UNDIVIDED ROOTS - SWEET DISTORTION - JOHN BAILEY (AMAZULU) -
FRANKIE DAVIS - OWEN ISAACS - CLIFF ST. LOUIS - MANY MORE -
MUSICIANS:
Bass: RAS ELROY BAILEY - (BLACK SLATE) - Drums: JAH BUNNY (MUST DANCE
POSSEE) - Piano: PAGET KING (THE DUB BAND) - Rhythm Guitar: KEN KENDRICK
(BLACKSTONES) - Lead Guitar: STANLEY - Emulator African Effect: TONY GAD
(ASWAD) - Alto Sax: LLOYD CLARKE (JAH WARRIOR) - Trombone: TREVOR JONES
(JAH WARRIOR) - Trumpet: TAN-TAN (ASWAD) - Tenor Sax: MICHAEL “BAMI”
ROSE (ASWAD)
PERCUSSION
BONZO - SONNY - SATCH DIXON - KEN (LA-FAMILLE) - LENNY (LA-FAMILLE) -
TYRONE SIMEON - FLUXY (INSTIGATOR) - TYE - DRUMMIE ZEB - WINSTON FERGUS
OVER DUB HARMONIES: BLACKSTONES AND CHOSEN FEW -
Recorded at: HIVE RECORDING STUDIO 24th FEBRUARY 1985.
Engineer: ROGER WILSON Assistants PAUL BROWN - GENE RONDO.
Over Dubbing: ISLAND STUDIO - Engineers PAUL SMYKLE - MICHAEL SMITH -
Assistant: GENE RONDO
Mixed at: MARCUS MUSIC & ISLAND’S FALLOUT SHELTER by MICHAEL “ REUBEN”
CAMPBELL. Assisted by DRUMMIE ZEB & GENE RONDO.
ALL PROFITS FROM THE SALE OF THIS RECORD WILL BE PAID BY ISLAND/BRAFA TO “THE SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND” FOR LONG TERM DEVELOPMENT IN
FAMINE AREAS OF AFRICA
FURTHER DONATIONS MAY BE SENT TO “THE SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND” MARY DATCHELOR HOUSE, 17 GROVE LANE, CAMBERWELL, LONDON SE5 8RD
ORGANISERS OF BRAFA
LEON LIEFFER - GENE RONDO - RAY DAGAREMBIZI - COURTNEY CARR - RAS ELROY
Many thanks to the following for donations of time, effort and facilities:- the Grants of the Hive Recording Studio, Marcus at Marcus Music, Trevor at Island Studios’ Fallout Shelter, John Dent at the Sound Clinic, Audio Rents, Mikey Campbell, the West Indian World, The Caribbean Times, The African Times, The Asian Times, West Indian Digest, The Voice, Blackbeat International, Black Echoes, Jamaican Gleaner, Body Music, Carl Palmer and everybody at Jet Star, Greensleeves Records, John McGilvray of Fashion Records, Sonny Roberts of Orbitone, Hackney Race Relations Dept, Roger Wilson, Jah Scorcher, Carpus, Sir “Video” Collins, Sarah Wingfield of the Save the Children Fund, Fay Addison, Naomi Houghton, Tony Seddon, Ruddy Isaacs, Stephanie Nash, Rob Partridge, Pete Johnson, Chris Smith, John Butcher of R&B Litho, James Uptons, CRS, Robert Stace, Rema, Broadcrest pressing plant, Cousins, Mark Kimbley, John Williams, Normans Fruit & Veg, Roots Pools Development, Painter, Elaine Davis, SDA, Time Out, Record Mirror, The Beat, The Face, Blues + Soul, Just 17, N.M.E., No. 1, Melody Maker, Smash Hits, Peter Headford, EMI pressing plant, Graphic Unit, St Peters Primary School Hammersmith & St Nicholas School Elstree & of course all the artists and musicians who contributed.
Save the Children
The British Reggae Artists Famine Appeal Team
All profits from the sale of this record will be paid by Island / BRAFA to Save the Children for long term development in Africa
Side One LET’S MAKE AFRICA GREEN AGAIN
(T. Douglas - G. Rondo-L. Lieffer)
Side Two SUSTAIN THE SUSTENANCE
(L. Douglas - G. Rondo - L. Lieffer)
A Brafa Production Co-ordinated by LEON LIEFFER & GENE RONDO
LEAD SINGERS
TREVOR WALTERS - BLACKSTONES - WINSTON REEDY - DENNIS BROWN -
ASWAD - CHRISTINE MACNAB & PAULINE (BROWN SUGAR) - PIONEERS -
GENE RONDO - JANET KAY - KEN PARKER - TREVOR HARTLEY -
KEITH DRUMMOND - BYRON OTIS - JUNIOR ENGLISH -
OVER 200 ARTISTS SANG CHORUS “LET’S MAKE AFRICA GREEN AGAIN”
COURTNEY CARR (LA-FAMILLE) - B.B. SEATON - MIKE BROOKS - CHOSEN FEW -
BEVAN MATUMBI - NEVILLE BLACKSTONES - DANNY RAY - MIKEY DREAD -
JOY MACK - GINGER WILLIAMS - ME & YOU - GLEN SOLEY - HONEY BOY -
WINSTON CURTIS - WINSTON FERGUS - GORDON BATISTE -
PANCHITA (LA’TOUCHE) - ZIVANAYI DANGAREMBIZI - JAH WARRIOR -
UNDIVIDED ROOTS - SWEET DISTORTION - JOHN BAILEY (AMAZULU) -
FRANKIE DAVIS - OWEN ISAACS - CLIFF ST. LOUIS - MANY MORE -
MUSICIANS:
Bass: RAS ELROY BAILEY - (BLACK SLATE) - Drums: JAH BUNNY (MUST DANCE
POSSEE) - Piano: PAGET KING (THE DUB BAND) - Rhythm Guitar: KEN KENDRICK
(BLACKSTONES) - Lead Guitar: STANLEY - Emulator African Effect: TONY GAD
(ASWAD) - Alto Sax: LLOYD CLARKE (JAH WARRIOR) - Trombone: TREVOR JONES
(JAH WARRIOR) - Trumpet: TAN-TAN (ASWAD) - Tenor Sax: MICHAEL “BAMI”
ROSE (ASWAD)
PERCUSSION
BONZO - SONNY - SATCH DIXON - KEN (LA-FAMILLE) - LENNY (LA-FAMILLE) -
TYRONE SIMEON - FLUXY (INSTIGATOR) - TYE - DRUMMIE ZEB - WINSTON FERGUS
OVER DUB HARMONIES: BLACKSTONES AND CHOSEN FEW -
Recorded at: HIVE RECORDING STUDIO 24th FEBRUARY 1985.
Engineer: ROGER WILSON Assistants PAUL BROWN - GENE RONDO.
Over Dubbing: ISLAND STUDIO - Engineers PAUL SMYKLE - MICHAEL SMITH -
Assistant: GENE RONDO
Mixed at: MARCUS MUSIC & ISLAND’S FALLOUT SHELTER by MICHAEL “ REUBEN”
CAMPBELL. Assisted by DRUMMIE ZEB & GENE RONDO.
ALL PROFITS FROM THE SALE OF THIS RECORD WILL BE PAID BY ISLAND/BRAFA TO “THE SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND” FOR LONG TERM DEVELOPMENT IN
FAMINE AREAS OF AFRICA
FURTHER DONATIONS MAY BE SENT TO “THE SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND” MARY DATCHELOR HOUSE, 17 GROVE LANE, CAMBERWELL, LONDON SE5 8RD
ORGANISERS OF BRAFA
LEON LIEFFER - GENE RONDO - RAY DAGAREMBIZI - COURTNEY CARR - RAS ELROY
Many thanks to the following for donations of time, effort and facilities:- the Grants of the Hive Recording Studio, Marcus at Marcus Music, Trevor at Island Studios’ Fallout Shelter, John Dent at the Sound Clinic, Audio Rents, Mikey Campbell, the West Indian World, The Caribbean Times, The African Times, The Asian Times, West Indian Digest, The Voice, Blackbeat International, Black Echoes, Jamaican Gleaner, Body Music, Carl Palmer and everybody at Jet Star, Greensleeves Records, John McGilvray of Fashion Records, Sonny Roberts of Orbitone, Hackney Race Relations Dept, Roger Wilson, Jah Scorcher, Carpus, Sir “Video” Collins, Sarah Wingfield of the Save the Children Fund, Fay Addison, Naomi Houghton, Tony Seddon, Ruddy Isaacs, Stephanie Nash, Rob Partridge, Pete Johnson, Chris Smith, John Butcher of R&B Litho, James Uptons, CRS, Robert Stace, Rema, Broadcrest pressing plant, Cousins, Mark Kimbley, John Williams, Normans Fruit & Veg, Roots Pools Development, Painter, Elaine Davis, SDA, Time Out, Record Mirror, The Beat, The Face, Blues + Soul, Just 17, N.M.E., No. 1, Melody Maker, Smash Hits, Peter Headford, EMI pressing plant, Graphic Unit, St Peters Primary School Hammersmith & St Nicholas School Elstree & of course all the artists and musicians who contributed.
Save the Children
