They Didn’t Call Us for Live Aid—So We Made History Our Own Way
Forty years ago, Live Aid rocked the world. Wembley Stadium was packed, and millions around the globe tuned in to watch the biggest stars of the day raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. It was historic. But what most people don’t know is that, around the same time, in another corner of London, something equally powerful was happening—only this time, it had reggae in its soul.
I’m talking about Brafa—British Reggae Artists Famine Appeal. You may not have heard of it, and that’s part of the story. See, Leon Leiffer, a founding member of The Blackstones, was deeply moved by the reports coming out of Ethiopia. He’d been hearing things from the Rastafarian community—friends who traveled to and from Africa—but it was the shocking BBC report by Michael Buerk that made it impossible to look away.
Inspired, Leiffer wanted to act. And like any reggae artist rooted in Africa’s cultural heartbeat, he didn’t just sing about the motherland—he decided to do something real. So when Bob Geldof and Midge Ure launched Band Aid and announced Live Aid, Leon recognized the idea. It was exactly what he’d been planning—but with more fame, more press, more money. Yet, despite charting reggae acts like Aswad, Trevor Walters, and Janet Kay, not one was invited to join Live Aid.
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That hurt. But instead of folding, Leiffer leaned in. He and fellow artist Gene Rondo wrote Let’s Make Africa Green Again , and gathered hundreds of reggae musicians and even random locals in a Hackney studio—generously offered by none other than Eddy Grant. People poured in to lend their voices. Island Records picked up the single. BBC’s Ebony gave it airtime. It cracked the top 100, and the proceeds went straight to Save the Children.
And still, no headlines. Barely a whisper in the press. While Queen and U2 lit up the stage at Wembley, Brafa was organizing its own massive benefit concert in Shoreditch Park. Over 10,000 people showed up. It wasn’t just a concert—it was a movement, one rooted in unity, identity, and dignity.
Leiffer recalls people climbing railings to get in, the legendary boxer Lloyd Honeyghan showing up before heading off to become world champion, and the joy of seeing reggae shine, even if mainstream media barely noticed. More than £8,000 was raised—no small feat. And while the reggae community didn’t get the spotlight then, Brafa’s legacy is finally getting its due.
Today, in Hackney, there's a Brafa Square, complete with plaques and art that honor this grassroots movement. The melody of Let’s Make Africa Green Again is etched in the space. It’s a reminder that even when the world doesn’t give you a seat at the table, you can still throw your own feast.
As Leon Leiffer says: “They didn’t invite us, so we did our own thing. We made ourselves proud.” And honestly? That’s a legacy worth remembering.
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