He and his followers were killed at the residential home which served as the headquarters of MOVE, in a fire after the Philadelphia Police Department bombed the house with C4-explosive, and deliberately let the fire rage until it was out of control following a standoff and firefight between MOVE and police.

Lennie Mae died suddenly in her early 40s, and Africa would later blame the hospital for her death.

[2] In 1971 he moved his family to Powelton, a polyglot neighborhood in West Philadelphia, close to the University of Pennsylvania.

After parting ways with Glassey due to differing ideology, Africa made "The Guidelines" the primary source for his teachings and the principles of MOVE, founded in 1972 as Christian Movement for Life.

[2] MOVE accepted members regardless of their past and taught lessons on corruption, racism, and the need for individuality in an increasingly technological society.

[2] Further, the organization protested animal cruelty in zoos, the education system, and police brutality.

[5] On August 8, 1978, the Philadelphia police attempted to evict the MOVE organization from their home on Pearl Street.

A standoff occurred, resulting in an eventual shootout, and the death of one police officer, James J. Ramp, as well as several injuries.

[7] Eleven MOVE members, including John Africa, five other adults and five children died in the resulting fire.

His teachings emphasized the importance of all life and the ways in which capitalism, war, racism, and other social forces serve as direct opposition to this reality.

[10] Philadelphia activist Mumia Abu-Jamal has followed the teachings of John Africa,[11] and was a supporter of the MOVE organization.