On January 21st it was reported that Baba Eric Huntley, activist, author, publisher and legendary stalwart of Afrika UK had passed into the Ancestral Realm. (1)
Baba Eric bestrode the community as a colosus for six decades, for much of that time alongside his beloved queen Mama Jessica. Their work here was preceded by their involvement in the fight for self-determination in colonial Guyana (“British Guiana”). In the UK the Huntley’s are among the pioneers of the supplementary school movement, publishing (Bogle-L’Ouverture), the Black Parents Movement, advocacy of Black Arts (Keskidee Centre) and the radical the International Books Fair. (2)
In addition they were ardent supporters of pretty much of every major (and many minor) campaign within the community from the Caribbean Parents Group to the New Cross Massacre Action Committee and beyond. (3)
Mama Jessica and Baba Eric were born in Guyana in 1927 and 1929 respectively. They married in 1950 by which time they were both active in Guyana politics, principally through the People’s Progressive Party, where Baba Eric was founder member with Mama Jessica later founding the Women’s Progressive organisation. (4)
Baba Eric came to the UK in 1957 with Mama Jessica joining him the following year. Their young sons Karl and Chauncey stayed in Guyana until 1962 when they made the trip to reunite with their parents. A third child, daughter Accabre was born in London in 1967. (5)
Given their activist pedigree in Guyana, that also saw Eric spend a year of jail as a political prisoner, the young couple naturally got involved in community issues on their arrival in the UK.
They were keenly aware that it was not enough to just speak and campaign about issues affecting Afrikans locally and globally, they needed to be documented and disseminated. This led, in 1968, to the founding of Bogle-L’Ouverture Publications, with a remit to support radical writers from Africa and the Caribbean. (6) The first release, Groundings with My Brothers by compatriot Walter Rodney came out the following year. The book, a selection of speeches Rodney delivered in Jamaica where he’d just taken up a teaching post at the University of the West Indies Mona Campus, was a response (and part of the international outrage) to his banning from the island by the Shearer administration in October 1968.
In 1972 Bogle-L’Ouverture teamed up with Tanzania Publishing House for Walter Rodney’s most famous work, the seminal How Europe Underdeveloped Africa, a book that revolutionised thinking on the historical relationship between Africa and its colonisers. BLP would go on publish such luminaries as Linton Kwesi Johnson, Andrew Salkey, Valerie Bloom, Beryl Gilroy, Sam Greenlee, David Simon and ‘The Black History Man’ Robin Walker.
Bogle-L’Ouverture bookshop opened in 1974 and as is often the case with such enterprises, it became more than just a retail outlet, evolving into a veritable community hub that traded for 18 years. It was renamed the Walter Rodney Bookshop after the activist’s brutal assassination in 1980. For the Afrikan community, the Bogle-L’Ouverture/Walter Rodney Bookshop was “oasis in the desert of west London.” (7) But for others, namely the white community, it was a threat and, like many similar outlets at the time, was subjected to racist attacks that were, typically met with police indifference. This moved the Huntleys to join with other booksellers to form “Bookshop Joint Action” a campaign and lobby forum galvanising the community in defence of its bookshops and institutions of value. (8)
Another major initiative that emanated around the Bogle-L’Ouverture axis was the International Book Fair of Radical Black and Third World Books that ran from 1982 to 1995, underscoring what is now referred to as the Black Books Revolution. Mama Jessica was the first joint director of the fair alongside John la Rose of New Beacon Books.
Being so heavily involved in the written word, research and documentary evidence, it is no surprise that the Huntley’s amassed a treasure trove of archive material (letters, photos, minutes, notes, etc) that they initially stored at the Keskidee Centre, one of the first Afrikan arts centres in the UK. When the Keskidee closed they moved them to a purpose annexe at their home. Since 2005 the archives have been housed at the London Metropolitan Archives (LMA). The following year the LMA began to organise the Huntley Conferences that draw thematically from their archives. The 2006 theme was The Grounding with Bogle-L’Ouverture: A Story of Black Publishing, with Moira Stuart as guest speaker. Subsequent speakers included Kwame Kwei Armah, Marc Wadsworth, Dr Kimani Nehusi and Margaret Busby. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the event which will take place on February 21st under the theme “I Am an Archive, We Are an Archive.” (9)
Mama Jessica passed almost two months shy of her and Baba Eric’s 63rd wedding anniversary and almost two years to the day after son Karl passed in 2011.
Mama Jessica and Baba Eric lived a life of love and activism and this may well be the key to their success and longevity. As Baba Eric observed in a 2010 interview in The Whirlwind newspaper:
“The struggles gave us a common interest which grew our relationship. So it became not only a spiritual relationship of loving each other, also one of common interests, because of our involvement in the political process. This created for us a very solid material foundation.” (10)
After an evening of effusive praise at a 90th Earthstrong event held in his honour in September 2019, Baba Eric had a few words of guidance for the enthralled gathering:
“Don’t drop the baton.”
At the alotted time, may Baba Eric’s spirit rise on the wings of Ma’at after a favourable judgement in the counsel of Asar.
(1) Nadine White (21/01/26) Tributes to Eric Huntley as pioneering Black British publisher dies aged 96 https://www.blackcurrentnews.co.uk/p/eric-huntley-black-british-publishing-pioneer-dies
(2) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio -(08/10/18) Is doing nothing ever an option? https://www.mixcloud.com/AfrikaSpeaks/afrka-speaks-tribute-to-eric-and-jessica-huntley-081018/
(3) Margaret Busby (27/10/13) Jessica Huntley obituary.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/27/jessica-huntley
(4) Margaret Andrews (2013) Doing Nothing Is Not An Option: The radical lives of Eric & Jessica Huntley. Krik Krak. p. 50-2
(5) Andrews. p. vi.
(6) Peepal Tree Press (02/10/18) Bogle L’Ouverture founders Jessica and Eric Huntley given Blue Plaque. https://www.peepaltreepress.com/blog/events/bogle-l%E2%80%99ouverture-founders-jessica-and-eric-huntley-given-blue-plaque
(7) Andrews. p. 129
(8) Andrews. p. 138-9
(9) Andrews. p. 161; Friends of the Huntley Archives at LMA (13/01/26) Announcing the 20th Annual Huntley Conference (2026). https://fhalma.org/1575-2/
(10) Kwadwo Zenzele (2010) Be At One: The Power of Black Love – What makes your marriage/relationship work? Mama Jessica & Baba Eric Huntley. In The Whirlwind, Edition 8, p. 27
Remembering Baba Eric Huntley
We will reflect on the life of Baba Eric and explore how to fulfill his legacy with our special guest who knew him well. We also invite YOU the listeners to do likewise.
Our Special Guests:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and an Afrikan-Centred Education Consultant. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of over 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.
Ras Kwadwo Zenzele: is a Husband, Father, Son, Brother Born in West London 1957 Pan Afrikan, Nationalist, Afrikan Spiritualist, Rastafari Joined Organisation of Rastafari Unity in early 1980’s Has been a member of an organisation ever since Foundation member of InI Families of Rastafari Taught in Saturday Schools, Youth and Community worker Facilitated Black Fathers group during 1990s. Ras Kwadwo used to co-present the Ras Story show with Sis. Benji on Omega Radio.
Dr Michelle Yaa Asantewa: is an award-winning author, academic and community activist. Her many publications include the young adult novel, Elijah, a poetry collection The Awakening, and she is the editor of the anthology In Search of Mami Wata. Michelle is the co-founder of Way Wive Wordz Publishing, Editing and Tuition Services.
Bro. Ateinda Ausarntu: is a passionate co-founder with a love for literature and with him our independent publishing house thrives on the ethos of creativity and community. Ateinda brings a wealth of experience as a Further Education teacher, voice over artist, editor, and book designer. His commitment to excellence is evident in every aspect of our publishing process. As a workshop facilitator, he empowers writers to hone their craft and share their unique voices with the world. As a co-founder, Ateinda oversees manuscript development, ensuring that each story is carefully crafted and nurtured. He also spearheads sales, marketing, and distribution efforts, connecting our authors with their readership.
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