African & Caribbean
Servicemen & Women In Both World Wars

Windrush Square
Brixton - LONDON
SW2 1EF

Nubian Jak

Honouring
The Past

About Us

The Nubian Jak Heritage Plaques & Memorials Commission

Entrusted with the custodianship, verification, and public recognition of historical contributions.

Established in 2006 under the vision and leadership of Dr Jak Beula, the Nubian Jak Community Trust (NJCT) is internationally recognised as the only commemorative plaque and sculpture organisation with a specific remit to memorialise the historic contributions of Black and minority ethnic individuals in Britain and throughout the global diaspora. Its work preserves and elevates significant histories, ensuring they are visibly acknowledged within the shared public realm.

Each plaque or commemorative installation undergoes a rigorous process of historical research and verification, undertaken through established heritage and institutional protocols. The Commission operates in strategic collaboration with heritage partners and institutions, ensuring the highest standards of authenticity, ethical governance, and historical and cultural integrity.

Recipients, recognised under the NJCT Plaque Fellowship, are formally acknowledged as Plaque Honourees for their demonstrable and enduring contributions to culture, public life, civic progress, intellectual advancement, or community transformation. Each installation therefore stands not merely as a symbol, but as a formal act of heritage stewardship, historical validation, and cultural remembrance.

Memorials, Sculptures, and Inscription Authorship

Since its founding, the NJCT has installed more than 120 commemorative blue and black plaques, along with a significant and growing collection of public memorials and sculptures across the United Kingdom and internationally. These works are conceived, designed, and directed by the Trust’s Founder and Chief Executive, Dr Jak Beula—a visionary heritage designer, cultural historian, and public memorial practitioner.

As part of his leadership, Dr Beula personally develops and oversees all plaque inscriptions and interpretive texts, ensuring linguistic precision, historical accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and narrative dignity. Through this authorship, he safeguards the authenticity of each commemoration and ensures that every installation communicates not only who is remembered, but why their legacy endures.

In 2017, under Dr Beula’s creative direction, the Trust inaugurated its annual Remembrance Day for African and Caribbean servicemen and women, following the unveiling of the African and Caribbean War Memorial in Windrush Square, Brixton—widely referred to as the Brixton Cenotaph. This was the first national memorial in the United Kingdom to acknowledge every regiment from Africa and the Caribbean that served alongside British and Commonwealth forces during the First and Second World Wars. The memorial was accompanied by the publication REMEMBERED – In Memoriam, expanding and contextualising the histories it honours.

Please visit our online shop to explore our accompanying books.

In 2021, the NJCT further advanced the representation of Black heritage in public space with the installation of the Windrush and Commonwealth NHS Nurses and Midwives Statue at Whittington Hospital, London. Designed by Dr Beula, this memorial honours the foundational contributions of Windrush-era nurses, midwives, and medical professionals whose service was integral to the creation and establishment of the National Health Service in 1948.

Collectively, these works constitute a profound and evolving legacy of public remembrance, cultural affirmation, and intergenerational knowledge transmission, ensuring that the stories represented are held visibly, respectfully, and with historical depth.

Under the NJCT Plaque Fellowship

The Plaque Fellowship is bestowed upon individuals of demonstrable cultural, historical, or civic significance who are formally recognised as Plaque Honourees. This Fellowship symbolises an enduring place within the shared narrative of British and global heritage, acknowledging those whose lives and legacies have contributed to progress, understanding, and the advancement of cultural history.

Official Motto

Memoria Vivat — In Honorem Legatorum
Let the memory live — In honour of the legacy-bearers.

Message from our Founder

Jak
Beula

When the groundbreaking new board game "Nubian Jak" was officially launch in 1995, it was born from a desire to share the rich, untold stories of Black history in Britain. That spark grew into the Nubian Jak Community Trust—an enduring tribute to the heroes, pioneers, and everyday changemakers who shaped our nation’s diverse legacy.

From plaques across the UK to the African and Caribbean War Memorial in Brixton and the NHS Windrush Nurses and Midwives statue, our mission has always been to make history visible, tangible, and celebrated.

None of this would be possible without the tireless dedication of our associates and volunteers. To every individual who has walked this journey with us—thank you. Your passion and commitment continue to breathe life into our vision.

Let’s keep making history.

Jak Beula

Founder & CEO,
Nubian Jak Community Trust

What we’re good at

Enriching our communities

Commemorative Plaques

Blue Plaques

Honouring icons through history, blue plaques stand as timeless tributes to the visionaries, activists, and cultural trailblazers who shaped our world. From Claudia Jones to Bob Marley and Malcolm X, each plaque marks a story worth remembering — a legacy etched into the fabric of our communities.

Green Plaques

Celebrating Local Legacy Green plaques honour the people, places, and moments that shaped our communities. From quiet changemakers to historic sites, each plaque tells a story of impact, pride, and enduring connection to the neighbourhood.

Bronze Plaques

Timeless Tributes in Bronze Bronze plaques preserve memory with elegance and permanence. Whether commemorating historic figures, marking significant places, or celebrating enduring legacies, each plaque is a crafted testament to lives that shaped our world.

Stephen Lawrence
Bob Marley
Notting Hill Carnival
Frederick Douglass
Dr. George Alfred Busby
Dennis Brown
Leslie Palmer
Malcolm X

Black Plaque Project

The Black Plaque Project, led by the Nubian Jak Community Trust, honours the legacy of Black Britons whose contributions to British society have often been excluded from mainstream recognition. With fewer than 2% of London’s official blue plaques dedicated to individuals of African or Caribbean descent, this initiative installs distinctive black plaques to spotlight trailblazers across music, politics, sports, and literature. Its long-term mission is to convert these commemorations into permanent blue plaques, reshaping how Black history is publicly remembered.

William Brown
Sarah Baartman
Robert Wedderburn
Phil Lynott
Mona Baptiste

Memorials & Statues

Our Memorials

The Nubian Jak memorials are powerful public tributes that honour the overlooked contributions of Black and minority ethnic individuals to British history. Spearheaded by the Nubian Jak Community Trust, these memorials include commemorative plaques and statues that celebrate figures in music, politics, sports, medicine, and the military. Notable installations include the African and Caribbean War Memorial in Brixton — the UK’s first national tribute to service personnel from these regions — and the Windrush and Commonwealth NHS Nurses and Midwives Statue, which recognises the vital role of Black healthcare workers in shaping the NHS. Each memorial is a step toward rewriting the public narrative and ensuring these legacies are visibly and permanently remembered.

Our Statues

The Nubian Jak Community Trust has installed two landmark statues that serve as enduring tributes to Black British history. The first is the African and Caribbean War Memorial in Windrush Square, Brixton — the UK’s only national monument dedicated to service personnel from Africa and the Caribbean who fought in both World Wars2. Locally known as the Brixton Cenotaph, it stands as a powerful symbol of sacrifice and recognition.

The second is the Windrush and Commonwealth NHS Nurses and Midwives Statue, unveiled at Whittington Hospital in North London. This statue honours the vital role of African and Caribbean healthcare workers in shaping the NHS since its founding in 19482. Both statues challenge historical omissions and ensure that these legacies are permanently etched into Britain’s public memory.

Armistice Day

Every year on Armistice Day, the Nubian Jak Community Trust holds a poignant remembrance ceremony at the African and Caribbean War Memorial in Windrush Square, Brixton — locally known as the Brixton Cenotaph. This event honours the more than two million servicemen and women from Africa and the Caribbean who fought alongside British and Commonwealth forces in both World Wars2. The ceremony includes tributes from veterans, community leaders, and dignitaries, and has featured performances and readings from the anthology Remembered – In Memoriam, which captures the stories and sacrifices of those often left out of mainstream narratives. It’s a powerful moment of reflection and recognition, ensuring these legacies are never forgotten.