Brother Boko

I met Boko Abar the very first time I came to Los Angeles in 1994. During my short visit to the city I was invited to attend a meeting of the recently formed New African American Vanguard Movement (NAAVM). I was officially a representative of the Panther organization in the United Kingdom and as I dialogued with the NAAVM brothers and sisters we felt an immediate affinity in the work we were doing on both sides of the Atlantic. Boko was one of the people at that  meeting and I was quickly struck by his deep commitment to the work he began when he first joined the Black Panther Party many years before.

As I began to volunteer with the NAAVM in Los Angeles Boko was one of the people I worked alongside. I was new to LA and had moved to the city with two young children. I will never forget how incredibly kind Boko was, he accepted me for who I was with a curiosity and openness that made for an easy and genuine friendship. I was with my daughter Sarika when I got news that Boko had passed. She was still quite young when he eventually moved away from Los Angeles but had spent time as a youngster with him and his then partner, Kizzy. Sarika told me “the thing I most remember about Boko is that he was always really gentle and calm”. My son on the other hand was a ten year old when we moved to LA and has many fond memories of Boko. He spent time with Boko and his sons Germaine and Chioke into their teens. He told me “Even when Boko completely disagreed with someone he had a way of talking to them that was very gentle and compassionate. He was very dedicated to the movement, and he was one of those rare guys who genuinely never expected anything from anyone. In all the time I spent at his place with Germaine and Chioke, with all the things that teenage boys get up to – Boko was always such a very calm presence. In many years, I only ever heard him even raise his voice once.”

Article about Carl Hampton in the Black Panther Intercommunal News Service

One of the things Boko and I worked on together was the Black Panther Intercommunal News Service. In doing this work I learned so much from him, not so much about the technicality of laying out or producing the newspaper, but more about having patience, knowing when to let go and being gentle, mostly with oneself. It was hard to be around this extraordinary human being and not be infected by his dedication, compassion and humility. Anytime I ever tried to interview Boko about his movement building or about his art, he would always laugh gently and ask me if I could find something more worthwhile to do. I was delighted when he decided to hold the commemoration for his fallen comrade Carl Hampton and he wrote a lengthy piece about this important history for the Black Panther Intercommunal News Service. It was also wonderful that a full van load of us travelled from LA to Houston to join and support Boko for this wonderful celebration.

Brother Boko’s energy for the movement was unfaltering and was driven by his desire to serve, best described by the Indian word sevah, being in service to those in need with no desire for reward. Boko was an embodiment of revolutionary love for the people. He was one of the thousands of Black Panthers who were the life blood of the party’s deep connection to community, place and people. A largely unsung hero. And in all this Boko had the most marvelous sense of humor that often had me roaring with laughter. In all our years of work and friendship Boko was never less than forthright and sincere. He never took himself too seriously and never gave less than his most serious attention to others. Boko was part of a generation we are losing all too rapidly, thankfully he has left incredible art work expressed mostly in murals and a legacy of exemplary struggle to connect to and learn from.

Tender Heart
Gentle Soul
Resolute Yet, Open Mind

Black Panther
Uncompromising Revolutionary
Learned Yet, Ready to Learn

Loving Father
Committed Comrade
Proud Yet, Humility Personified

Sevah Driven
Fun Loving
Exceptional Yet, Everyday People

Eye Catching
Thought Provoking
Contemporary Yet, Historical Artist

Missed Light
Journey Onwards
Gone Yet, Always With Us

by Neelam Sharma – 07/20/20