Nubian Jak inventor, Jak Beula, has managed to give new meaning to the phrase “Jack of All Trades.” His first job on dropping out of college was as in-house resident sound engineer at the world-renowned jazz club, Ronnie Scotts (www.ronniescotts.co.uk where he stayed for two years. He also pursued a musical career as a singer songer which eventually led to liaisons with the likes of Jazzie B, George Michael and Seal. In the summer of 1985 while working at Thames Television he came to represent Hollywood screen legend Betty Davis as an agent when he was asked to meet the news team by a friend of the Hollywood star. He is an author, columnist, former international model, and entrepreneur, although he primarily regards himself as an artist, i.e. a songwriter/producer.

It was while teaching music to unemployed people that Jak thought about a return to education. He chose social work as his course of study in the early 1990s at North London University.

Later, working with young people in care, he noticed were hardly any multi-cultural resources available within these homes. Many of the young people had adopted sub-cultural stereotypic behaviour. Jak put this down to, in part, their educational experiences, as well as a lack of positive role models in both the media and their immediate environment. With this in mind he began to devise an educational program that would try and address these points, out of which came Nubian Jak. The first edition looked at contributions by people of color to Europe. Officially released in 1995 to a UK media frenzy, it was followed a year later by a Revised World Edition, which was released in New York in 1996 to an equally ecstatic black media. By the ending of the year educational magnates like Time-Life were commenting on its innovation.

In 1998 the first edition of Nubian Jak’s Book of World Facts, was released. Coined the “the truth with proof” it was subtitled the Ultimate Reference Guide to Global Black Achievement. A few years later Jak signed a publishing deal with Harper Collins in New York to republish the book. By the time the third edition of the game came around there was an expectant buzz within the game industry. Launched in 2000 The Nu Millennium edition of the game went on to become the most popular edition to date selling in excess of 110, 000 copies in the US and UK. The brand has developed into a book series, regular staged game shows, educational workshops, merchandise, music concept, as well as a forthcoming animation series.
The fourth edition of the board game The International Anniversary Edition was previewed in Camden in October 2006, before its official 2007 launched in London and New York in January and February respectively.

Credits and brief biography

• 2007 (June) BBC2 Arena Special, ‘Bob Marley’s Exodus: 30 years on’, A 90 minute documentary featuring Nubian Jak’s commemorative plaque to Bob Marley set to the background of Marley’s pioneering Exodus album, and the world as it was in 1977.
• 2007 (May) Featured in BBC1 ‘Beat the Boss’, (with Saira Khan of The Apprentice)
• 2007 (March) Plaque to Commemorate Luton Council Bicentenary of the 2007 Abolition of the Slave Trade Act
• 2006 (October) Plaque to Commemorate Bob Marley at 34 Ridgmount Gardens, his first London address. Supported by Rita Marley and The Mayor of London
• 2006 (October) Fourth Edition of Nubian Jak game – International Anniversary Edition - previewed at Holborn Library
• 2006 (September) To celebrate London’s Olympic bid victory and the part the capital’s diversity played in the bid’s success, Nubian Jak Launches ‘On Track for Gold: The Changing Faces of London Exhibition at The Museum in Docklands which also included a London Schools and Libraries Quiz on British Gold Olympic medallist in track and field. The project was supported by Heritage Lottery Fund, with support from LOCOG and London 2012
• 2005 (December) Second Nubian Jak Celebrity Night. Charity Fundraiser involving famous celebrities from the world of entertainment, and the public services competing for the Who Knows Jak celebrity cup? 2005 winners – Ronke Phillips, Dounne Alexander Walker and Victor Romeo Evans.
• 2005 (October) Awarded ‘Best PR and Marketing Company’ by EFBWBO
• 2005 (October) Awarded the ‘Best Black Enterprise Business Innovator of the Year’
• 2005 (October) Launches Heritage Celebration 2005 project with unveiling of Mary Seacole plaque which was supported by Westminster council, Heritage Lottery Fund, London Libraries Development Agency, and 12 London boroughs
• 2005 (March) Awarded the ‘ACBN London African Caribbean Enterprise’ award
• 2004 (December) First Nubian Jak Celebrity Night. Charity Fundraiser involving famous celebrities from the world of entertainment, education and business competing for the Who Knows Jak celebrity cup? 2004 winners - Juliet Alexander, Major Lindsey Henry Bonsu.
• 2004 (October) Nubian Jak launches London Treasure Hunt of English Heritage Blue Plaques with Cabinet Minister - the ¬Rt Honourable Tessa Jowell, Broadcaster - Darcus Howe, and Dr Tracy Borman from English Heritage
• 2004 (May) Featured in the Channel 4 series SUPERHUMAN
• 2004 (Jan) Featured in the Karlene Rycard Academy “Black Role Models” Calender
• 2003 (December) Winner of the MACE Award for Best Multicultural Enterprise from Lord Heseltine at Luton University
• 2003 Nubian Jak Educational Academy founded
• 2003 Featured in Black Scientists and Inventors 2, BIS Publications
• 2001 Jak signs book deal for reprint of Book of World Facts with Harper Collins (USA)
• 2000 (Feb) Third Edition of Nubian Jak board game - Nu Millennium Edition - launched at The Jacob Javis Center New York
• Featured in Who’s Who of Black Achievers
• 1999 Featured in Black Scientists and Inventors Calender, BIS Publications
• 1998 First Edition of Book of World Facts launched
• 1998 Featured in Black Londoners 1880-1990, Susan Okokon, Sutton Publishing
• 1996 (Oct) Nubian Jak computer game (JAVA) launched world-wide at Cyberia Café, filmed by BBC News 24. Game played on the Internet simultaneously in London, New York and Japan.
• 1996 (Feb) Second Edition of Nubian Jak board game - ‘World Revised Edition’ launched at Jacob Javits Center, NY.
• 1995 (March) Winner of the Black Arts Sports Enterprise (BASE) award
• 1995 (Jan) European Edition of Nubian Jak launched at London’s Olympia
• 1994 (December) Nubian Jak sold out in London
• 1994 (16th November) 1000 First Editions of the board game Nubian Jak - European Edition - arrive at 33-37 St John’s Hill, Clapham Junction. Jak Beula immediately does month Xmas campaign with the radio station Choice FM