The staff and Board of Africa Action today expressed deep sadness at the loss of Damu Smith, a long-time friend of the organization and former Executive Director of one of Africa Action’s predecessor groups.

Damu was remembered as an inspirational leader, who spent his life fighting for justice and human rights around the world, as well as here at home. His commitment to the struggles against apartheid and other forms of injustice was unwavering, and his contributions to the peace movement and the movement for social, political and economic justice for all people were immeasurable.

Damu was Executive Director of the Washington Office on Africa and the Washington Office on Africa Education Fund (later the Africa Policy Information Center) from 1985 to 1989. During this time, he offered powerful leadership in the struggle against racist white minority rule in South Africa and he contributed to the evolution of the organizations that would later become Africa Action.

Salih Booker, former Executive Director of Africa Action, said today: "His kind and giving presence will be sorely missed but his kind and giving spirit remains with us. Damu is still building the movement."

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