International African Friends of Abyssinia

The International African Friends of Abyssinia (IAFA), also known as the International African Friends of Ethiopia, was an organisation established in London, England, in 1935 to protest against Italian aggression against Abyssinia (see Second Italo-Ethiopian War). Its membership was composed of many important Pan-African figures, several of whom later formed the International African Service Bureau.

History

IAFA's first public meeting was held on 23 July 1935, with another public meeting taking place on Sunday, 28 July at Memorial Hall in Farringdon Street, London, and was widely reported in newspapers.[1][2][3][4] Throughout the summer of 1935, the IAFA passed resolutions urging all Africans and people of African descent to help Abyssinia and called upon the League of Nations and the British Government to protect Abyssinia.[1] On 26 August, the IAFA organised a rally in Trafalgar Square which drew a crowd of nearly five hundred supporters.[5]

Notable members

Members of the initial executive committee of the International African Friends of Abyssinia included:[6]

Other leading members came to include George Padmore, Chris Braithwaite and T. Ras Makonnen.

References
  1. The Manchester Guardian, 29 July 1935.
  2. The Times, 29 July 1935.
  3. "A London diary" and "Africans and Abyssinia: Meeting of London sympathisers", West Africa, 3 August 1935.
  4. Daniel James Whittall, "Creolising London: Black West Indian activism and the politics of race and empire in Britain, 1931-1948". Thesis, Royal Holloway, University of London, p. 225.
  5. The Manchester Guardian. 26 August 1935.
  6. Hogsbjerg, Christian (2014). C. L. R. James in Imperial Britain. London. p. 91.

Further reading
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