LEON LEIFFER
Poet • Writer • Publisher
A lifelong resident and lead singer of the British reggae group, The Blackstones, Leon Leiffer is a central figure in Hackney’s rich history of creative resistance. By carving out an independent pathway for grassroots fundraising with the landmark 1985 single 'Let's Make Africa Green Again' for the Ethiopian famine, he permanently reshaped the UK’s musical landscape around Black identity, solidarity, and community action.
Why Hackney Matters
Hackney has been a consistent backdrop to Leon Leiffer’s work and a community he has consciously collaborated with. This is reflected in the 1985 recording, featuring over 200 residents and leading reggae artists like Dennis Brown and Trevor Waters, followed by a benefit concert at Shoreditch Park in 1986, with a whopping attendance of 10,000 people. It wasn’t just an act of charity but a spiritual contribution to their ancestral home, while connecting with Black community newspapers, The Voice to promote and facilitate the project. A beautiful example of creativity and collaboration for meaningful change. These connections extend beyond Hackney, demonstrating how the borough’s community spirit can reach lives across the globe.
Did You Know?
Leon Leiffer’s BRAFA campaign became part of Hackney’s permanent heritage when BRAFA Square was named in Shoreditch in 2021, commemorating the borough’s African-Caribbean history and the grassroots community-led effort to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia.