Thug Life Army

Lester Lewis (Prince Ntum ba Azah) founder of the Hackney Black Peoples Association, Pan Afrikan activist, indefatigable organizer, historian and writer has joined the ancestors in the country of his Birth, St Vincent & the Grenadines. He was diagnosed with Cancer.

Lester was a councilor in Hackney Council with special responsibility for education. He was also a Race Equality Officer in Reading where members of his family still live. He was instrumental in the establishment of ‘Black History Month’ in the UK and in getting Afrikan Labour party activists late Bernie Grant, Paul Boateng (current UK Ambassador to South Afrika) and Diane Abbott elected to the UK parliament in 1987.

Lester Lewis was a source of knowledge and inspiration to Afrikans in the UK for over three decades. He was at the forefront of a number of community-based and international campaigns, including the New Cross Fire Campaign, Colin Roach Campaign, Lift The Ban on Farrakhan Campaign, Campaign to Reclaim Land in Zimbabwe & the Caribbean Banana Campaign.

Lester Lewis was also chair-person of Hackney Black People Association. HBPA was a first point of contact for Afrikans visiting London and was used for Afrikan commemorations, weddings, church services, community activities and public meetings. It was renowned for hosting national and international speakers. He was a tireless organizer and a believer in connecting the local to the global & vice versa. HBPA played host to various groups & personalities from all over the Continent and Diaspora.

Indeed he was equally well known amongst activists on both sides of the Atlantic. He was a mentor to the next generation of Pan Afrikan activists in the UK and was always available as a political and historical resource person. He was a writer, commentator & an extra-ordinary net-worker.

He is survived by his siblings in St Vincent and his family in Reading, UK. Members of his political family will celebrate his life as one who fulfilled his destiny as a fighter for Afrikan liberation.

May his soul rest in peace with the Creator.  Ase.

Celebration of Life

(Prince Ntum ba Azah)

Elder Lester Lewis

Sunrise; 28th January 1945.  Sunset; 13th December 2007

Memorial Ceremony:

In line with tradition, we will gather to pay respect to the memory of our departed brother with a traditional Afrikan ceremony to guide his spirit on the journey back home to its Owner.

Presiding IFA Priest;

Babalawo (Chief) Adeyela Adelekan

The Alatunse Awo Agbaye of ILE-IFE (Nigeria)

Guests seated @ 3.30pm. Event starts & 4pm Saturday 2nd February 2008, Claudia Jones Hall, 103 Stoke Newington Road, London N16, Hall entrance on 6-8 Palatine Road, N16, Stations; Dalston & Kingsland BR and Seven Sisters (victoria line) Buses; 67, 76, 149, 243

Sisters & Brothers outside the UK are welcome to send tributes for the occasion: c/o Sis Nzingha; anzingha(at)hotmail.com

There will be a reception after the ceremony.

Traditional Ceremony……..Tributes………Culture……..

Reception……Bring your Drums…..Spread the Word!

Info; Sis Njeri; 07757 060 313, Lady Leo; 07946 670949

Restricted parking, call Sis Hazel for info; 0207 241 1646