Reverend Fujo Malaika
Anna Lubelska, The Peace Building Chair of Trustees says: ‘We are honoured that Reverend Fujo Malaika has become a Patron. She is passionate about peace, justice, and community, her energy and joy are an inspiration to us all.’
Reverend Fujo Malaika is an award-winning peace activist and an Independent Minister. Malaika (her preferred name which means ‘Angel’) describes herself this way: ‘My roots are African, my heritage the Caribbean, and my experience British – as I was born in the UK.’
Malaika loves to say that she was raised by her grandma’s magic: ‘I was raised from birth by my late Guyanese grandmother who arrived here in the UK in the Windrush years of the 1950s. I grew up in a predominantly white, working class housing estate in Manchester. We were the only black family and I was called racist names on a regular basis. I would pray and ask to be shown how to teach the children to be kind to me and others.
As a teenager, Malaika attended high school and youth clubs where many of the young people were Black. Her experiences as a young Black woman and the injustices she witnessed, fuelled her passion to fight for justice and the rights of all Black people.
Always wanting to connect with people’s heart and soul, regardless of their faith or culture, Malaika gathered a ‘rainbow of friends’ – Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Rastafarian and Christian. Her passion for spirituality and diversity led her to the One Spirit Interfaith Foundation and their belief in ‘Many ways, one truth’. She felt immediately at home and realised that her life’s journey had been about becoming a Minister.
Malaika works as a celebrant, spiritual counsellor, and public speaker, promoting and celebrating the importance of peace and the fact that, ‘We are all part of a ‘human tribe’ regardless of our background’.
She is an active member of the Caribbean and interfaith community in Manchester where she teaches, tells stories, creates community cohesion and partnerships, challenges those who ‘know no better ‘and shares her life experience to create a community of peace, love, hope and great change. She leads workshops on: Peace Mala, forgiveness and personal and spiritual development. Her projects include: ‘Faith in Black Lives Matter’ events, an Anansi book club (promoting Black authors and books), the Keponya café (a safe space to discuss suicide), and the Ubuntu show – a radio platform where she interviews people about their life stories.