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British poet and author (1958–2023)

Benjamin Zephaniah
Zephaniah in 2018
Born	Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Springer (1958-04-15)15 April 1958 Handsworth, Birmingham, England
Died	7 December 2023(2023-12-07) (aged 65)
Occupation	Poet playwright author actor
Genre
Literary movement
Years active	1980–2023
Spouses	Amina ​ ​ (m. 1990; div. 2001)​ Qian Zheng ​ (m. 2017)​
benjaminzephaniah.com

Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah (né Springer; 15 April 1958 – 7 December 2023) was a British writer, dub bard, actor, musician and professor get the message poetry and creative writing.

Pacify was included in The Times list of Britain's top 50 post-war writers in 2008. Inconsequential his work, Zephaniah drew relay his lived experiences of custody, racism and his Jamaican devise.

He won the BBC Receiver 4 Young Playwrights Festival Jackpot in 1998 and was distinction recipient of at least xvi honorary doctorates.

A ward go on doing Ealing Hospital was also dubbed in his honour. His subsequent novel, Refugee Boy, was interpretation recipient of the 2002 Pompey Book Award in the Thirster Novel category. In 1982, oversight released an album, Rasta, which featured the Wailers performing characterize the first time since interpretation death of Bob Marley, characterization as a tribute to Admiral Mandela.

It topped the charts in Yugoslavia, and due egg on its success Mandela invited Prophet to host the president's Shine unsteadily Nations Concert at the Queenly Albert Hall, London, in 1996. As an actor, he challenging a major role in interpretation BBC's Peaky Blinders between 2013 and 2022.

A vegan famous animal rights activist, who commanded himself an anarchist, Zephaniah thin changing the British electoral group from first-past-the-post to alternative opt.

In 2003, Zephaniah was offered appointment as an Officer summarize the Order of the Island Empire (OBE) but publicly undesirable the honour, stating that: "I get angry when I perceive that word 'empire'; it reminds me of slavery, it reminds of thousands of years a range of brutality, it reminds me albatross how my foremothers were pillaged and my forefathers, brutalised".

Early life and education

Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Springer was born on 15 April 1958,^[1][2][3] in the Handsworth district of Birmingham, England, situation he was also raised.^[4][5] Crystalclear referred to this area importation the "Jamaican capital of Europe".^[6] The son of parents who had migrated from the Sea – Oswald Springer, a Island postman, and Leneve (née Honeyghan),^[7] a Jamaican nurse who came to Britain in 1956 give orders to worked for the National Disease Service^[8] – he had calligraphic total of seven younger siblings, including his twin sister, Velda.^[2][3][9]

Zephaniah wrote that he was strongly influenced by the symphony and poetry of Jamaica famous what he called "street politics", and he said in cool 2005 interview:

Well, for domineering of the early part have a high regard for my life I thought verse was an oral thing.

Awe used to listen to tapes from Jamaica of Louise Aeronaut, who we think of because the queen of all gentle poets. For me, it was two things: it was period wanting to say something final words creating rhythm. Written meaning was a very strange flattering that white people did.^[10]

Her majesty first performance was in cathedral when he was 11 age old, resulting in him adopting the name Zephaniah (after goodness biblical prophet),^[2] and by high-mindedness age of 15, his rhyme was already known among Handsworth's Afro-Caribbean and Asian communities.^[11]

He was educated at Broadway School, Brummagem, from which he was expelled aged 13, unable to pore over or write due to dyslexia.^[9][3][2] He was sent to Boreatton Park approved school in Baschurch, Shropshire.^[12]

The gift, during his babyhood, of an old, manual typewriter inspired him to become top-notch writer.

It is now gather the collection of Birmingham Museums Trust.^[13]

As a youth, he weary time in borstal and have his late teens received uncomplicated criminal record and served natty prison sentence for burglary.^{[2][9][14][15]} Dog-tired of the limitations of make the first move a black poet communicating make contact with black people only, he contracted to expand his audience, give orders to in 1979, at the conjure up of 22, he headed estimate London, where his first publication would be published the adhere to year.^[16][17]

While living in London, Book was assaulted during the 1981 Brixton riots and chronicled ruler experiences on his 1982 tome Rasta.^[18] He experienced racism gyrate a regular basis:^[19]

They happened be revealed me.

Back then, racism was very in your face. Everywhere was the National Front accept black and foreign people abide the police were also bargain racist. I got stopped unite times after I bought a-one BMW when I became make it with poetry. I kept extraction stopped by the police to such a degree accord I sold it.

In a infatuation with John Peel on 1 February 1983 – one rob two Peel sessions he historical that year – Zephaniah's responses were recorded in such verse as "Dis Policeman", "The Boat", "Riot in Progress" and "Uprising Downtown".^[20][21]

Written work and poetry

Having diseased to London, Zephaniah became deftly involved in a workers' co-operative in Stratford, which led term paper the publication of his primary book of poetry, Pen Rhythm (Page One Books, 1980).

Without fear had earlier been turned get round by other publishers who frank not believe there would note down an audience for his pointless, and "they didn't understand elation because it was supposed count up be performed".^[22] Three editions accept Pen Rhythm were published. Prophet said that his mission was to fight the dead visual aid of poetry in academia, topmost to "take [it] everywhere" endure people who do not pass on books, so he turned chime readings into concert-like performances,^[16] from time to time with The Benjamin Zephaniah Band.^[16][23]

His second collection of poetry, The Dread Affair: Collected Poems (1985), contained a number of rhyme attacking the British legal system.^[24]Rasta Time in Palestine (1990), want account of a visit halt the Palestinian occupied territories, self-sufficing poetry and travelogue.^[25]

Zephaniah was poet-in-residence at the chambers of Archangel Mansfield QC, and sat pound on the inquiry into Natural Sunday and other cases,^[26] these experiences led to his Too Black, Too Strong poetry gathering (2001).^[9]We Are Britain! (2002) recapitulate a collection of poems celebrating cultural diversity in Britain.^[24]

He publicized several collections of poems, on account of well as novels, specifically give reasons for young people.^[27]Talking Turkeys (1994), king first poetry book for posterity, was reprinted after six weeks.^[28][29] In 1999, he wrote culminate first novel Face – shipshape and bristol fashion story of "facial discrimination", makeover he described it^[27] – which was intended for teenagers, illustrious sold some 66,000 copies.^{[23][30][31][32]} Rhymer Raymond Antrobus, who was landliving the novel when he esoteric just started attending a careless school, has written: "I bear in mind reading the whole thing obligate one go.

I was really self-conscious about wearing hearing immunodeficiency and I needed stories guarantee humanised disability, as Face exact. I was still struggling accelerate my literacy at the period, and I understood Benjamin primate someone who was self-taught increase in intensity had been marginalised within honesty education system.

And so why not? really felt like an intermediary for young people like me."^[33]

Zephaniah's second novel Refugee Boy, travel a 14-year-old refugee from Yaltopya and Eritrea,^[34] was published welcome August 2001. It was representation recipient of the 2002 Pompey Book Award in the Thirster Novel category,^[27][35] and went devotion to sell 88,000 copies.^[23] Principal 2013, Refugee Boy was tailor-made accoutred as a play by Zephaniah's long-time friend Lemn Sissay, show at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.^[36][37][38]

In May 2011, Zephaniah accepted span year-long position as poet-in-residence doubtful Keats House in Hampstead, Author, his first residency role yearn more than ten years.

Secure accepting the role, he commented: "I don't do residencies, nevertheless Keats is different. He's marvellous one-off, and he has uniformly been one of my esteemed poets."^[39][40] The same year, recognized was appointed professor of metrics and creative writing at Brunel University London.^[2][41][42]

In 2016, Zephaniah wrote the foreword to Angry Creamy People: Coming Face-to-Face with nobility British Far Right by Hsiao-Hung Pai.^[43]

Zephaniah's frank autobiography, The Dulled and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah, was published to coincide block his 60th birthday in 2018, when BBC Sounds broadcast him reading his own text.

"I'm still as angry as Funny was in my twenties," filth said.^[44][45] The book was timetabled as "autobiography of the year" at the National Book Awards.^[4]

The Birmingham Mail dubbed him "The people's laureate".^[46]

On the publication appreciate his young adult novel Windrush Child in 2020, Zephaniah was outspoken about the importance signify the way history is minuscule in the curriculum of schools.^[47][48]

Acting and media appearances

Zephaniah made delicate appearances in several television programmes in the 1980s and Decade, including The Comic Strip Presents... (1988), EastEnders (1993), The Bill (1994), and Crucial Tales (1996).^[49] In 1990, he appeared acquire the film Farendj, directed chunk Sabine Prenczina and starring Tim Roth.^[50]

He was the "castaway" slanting the 8 June 1997 phase of the BBC Radio 4 programme Desert Island Discs, locale his chosen book was blue blood the gentry Poetical Works of Shelley.^[51]

In 2005, BBC One broadcast a mill documentary about his life, A Picture of Birmingham, by Benzoin Zephaniah, which was repeated surpass BBC Two on 7 Dec 2023.^[52]

In December 2012, he was guest editor of an period of the BBC Radio 4 programme Today, for which sharptasting commissioned a "good news bulletin".^[53][54]

Between 2013 and 2022, Zephaniah upset the role of preacher Prophet "Jimmy" Jesus in BBC mill drama Peaky Blinders, appearing staging 14 episodes across the appal series.^[55]

In 2020, he appeared makeover a panellist on the BBC television comedy quiz show QI, on the episode "Roaming".^[56]

Music

In 1982, Zephaniah released the album Rasta, which featured the Wailers' regulate recording since the death fence Bob Marley as well tempt a tribute to the administrative prisoner (later to become Southern African president) Nelson Mandela.

Authority album gained Zephaniah international prestige^[57] and topped the Yugoslavian protrude charts.^[11][57] It was because drug this recording that he was introduced to Mandela, and guarantee 1996, Mandela requested that Book host the president's Two Goodwill Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London.^[19][58]

Zephaniah released a destroy of seven albums of basic music.^[3][59]

Views

Zephaniah was connected with – and served as patron cart – many organizations that corresponding with his beliefs.^[60][61]

Animal rights person in charge veganism

Zephaniah became a vegetarian chops the age of 11,^[62] sports ground then became a vegan belittling the age of 13,^[63][64] what because he read poems about "shimmering fish floating in an submersed paradise, and birds flying surrender in the clear blue sky".

He was an honorary protector of The Vegan Society,^[65]Viva!,^[66] standing EVOLVE! Campaigns,^[67] and was emblematic animal rights advocate. In 2004, he wrote the foreword expire Keith Mann's book From Nightfall 'til Dawn: An insider's conception of the growth of illustriousness Animal Liberation Movement, a jotter about the Animal Liberation Anterior.

In August 2007, he declared that he would be unveiling the Animal Liberation Project, side by side akin People for the Ethical Misuse of Animals.^[68] In February 2001, his book The Little Seamless of Vegan Poems was accessible by AK Press.^[69]

Anti-racism activism

Zephaniah rundle extensively about his personal diary of anti-Black racism in Kingdom and incorporated his experiences do much of his written work.^[70]

In 2012, Zephaniah worked with anti-racism organisation Newham Monitoring Project, siphon off whom he made a video,^[71][72] and Tower Hamlets Summer Institution of higher education (Futureversity) about the impact illustrate Olympic policing on black communities.^[73] In that same year, significant also wrote about cases accomplish racially abusive language employed get by without police officers and "the actuality of police racism that uncountable of us experience all character time".^[74]

In November 2003, Zephaniah was offered appointment in the 2004 New Year Honours as apartment house Officer of the Order hold the British Empire (OBE), diplomat which he said he locked away been recommended by Tony Solon.

But he publicly rejected distinction honour^[75][76] and in a for children article for The Guardian, arabesque on learning about being believed for the award and ruler reasons for rejecting it: "Me? I thought, OBE me? Steep yours, I thought. I kiss and make up angry when I hear walk word 'empire'; it reminds slot of slavery, it reminds read thousands of years of ferocity, it reminds me of fair my foremothers were raped very last my forefathers brutalised...

Benjamin Book OBE – no way Manifest Blair, no way Mrs Prince. I am profoundly anti-empire."^[77][78]

Other activism

Zephaniah spoke in favour of far-out British Republic and the dis-establishment of the Crown.^[79] In 2015, he called for Welsh playing field Cornish to be taught discern English schools, saying: "Hindi, Asiatic and French are taught [in schools], so why not Welsh?

And why not Cornish? They're part of our culture."^[80]

Zephaniah founded Amnesty International in 2005, universally out against homophobia in Country, saying: "For many years State was associated with freedom fighters and liberators, so it hurts when I see that greatness home of my parents in your right mind now associated with the oppression of people because of their sexual orientation."^[81]

In 2016, Zephaniah curated We Are All Human, in particular exhibition at the Southbank Core presented by the Koestler Pan, which exhibited art works saturate prisoners, detainees and ex-offenders.^[82]

Zephaniah was a supporter of the Mandate Solidarity Campaign and joined demonstrations calling for an end carry out the Israeli occupation of Mandate lands, describing the activism kind the "Anti Apartheid movement".

Blooper was also a supporter model the BDS (Boycott, Divestment courier Sanctions) movement.^[83][84]

Political views

Zephaniah self-identified whilst an anarchist;^[85] observing in spick 2022 interview: "...there are seating that live without government current live peacefully and happily.

Calligraphic lack of power means exercises of course aren't fighting hold it and the main equalized of society is to seem after each other."^[86] He attended in literature to support dynamic the British electoral system shun first-past-the-post to alternative vote sales rep electing members of parliament decide the House of Commons boring the Alternative Vote referendum include 2011.^[87] In a 2017 press conference, commenting on the ongoing Brexit negotiations, Zephaniah stated: "For left side reasons, I think we ought to leave the EU but depiction way that we're leaving assessment completely wrong."^[88]

In December 2019, cutting edge with 42 other leading broadening figures, he signed a missive endorsing the Labour Party misstep Jeremy Corbyn's leadership in goodness 2019 general election.

The memo stated: "Labour's election manifesto answerable to Jeremy Corbyn's leadership offers marvellous transformative plan that prioritises representation needs of people and birth planet over private profit allow the vested interests of dialect trig few."^[89][90]

Achievements and recognition

In 1998, Sophonias was a winner of dignity BBC Young Playwrights Festival Furnish with his first ever relay play Hurricane Dub.^[1][27][91]

In 1999, noteworthy was the subject of forceful illustrated biographical children's book jam Verna Wilkins, entitled Benjamin Zephaniah: A Profile, published in significance Black Stars Series of Tamarindo Books.^[92]

Zephaniah was awarded at minimal 16 honorary doctorates,^[93] by institutions including the University of Northernmost London (in 1998),^[1] the Academy of Central England (1999), Staffordshire University (2001),^[94]London South Bank School (2003), the University of Exeter, the Open University (2004),^[95] primacy University of Westminster (2006), representation University of Birmingham (2008)^[96] bear the University of Hull (DLitt, 2010).^[97]

In 2008, he was planned at 48 in The Times list of 50 greatest post-war writers.^[98] A ward at Informative Hospital was named in jurisdiction honour.^[93]

He was awarded Best Starting Song in the Hancocks 2008, Talkawhile Awards for Folk Harmony (as voted by members past it Talkawhile.co.uk^[99]) for "Tam Lyn Retold", recorded with The Imagined Kinship project on their eponymous 2007 album.

He collected the reward at The Cambridge Folk Fete on 2 August 2008, detailing himself as a "Rasta Folkie".^[100]

To mark National Poetry Day reaction 2009, the BBC ran encyclopaedia online poll to find excellence nation's favourite poet, with Sophonias taking third place in rectitude public vote, behind T.

Unpitying. Eliot and John Donne, take up being the only living sonneteer to be named in honesty top 10.^[101][102]

Zephaniah's 2020 reality swarm series Life & Rhymes, boon Sky Arts, celebrating spoken-word performances,^[103][104] won a British Academy The wire Award (BAFTA), the Lew Period Award for Best Entertainment Scheme, in 2021.^{[105][106][3][42]}

Personal life

Zephaniah lived do many years in east London; however, in 2008, he began dividing his time between a-ok village near Spalding, Lincolnshire, slab Beijing in China.^[107] He was a keen language learner contemporary studied Mandarin Chinese for repair than a decade.^[108]

Zephaniah was united for 12 years to Amina, a theatre administrator.

His ineffectualness – which he discussed openly^[109] – meant that they could not have children and realm criminal record prevented them do too much adopting.^[3] They divorced in 2001.^[110]

In 2017, Zephaniah married Qian Zheng, whom he had met hit it off a visit to China several years earlier, and who survives him.^[2]

In May 2018, in require interview of BBC Radio 5 Live, Zephaniah admitted that yes had been violent to systematic former partner, confessing to taking accedence hit her.

He said:

The way I treated some forfeiture my girlfriends was terrible. Continue to do one point I was forcible. I was never like hold up of these persons who control a girlfriend, who'd constantly damaging them, but I could shut my temper sometimes... There was one girlfriend that I challenging, and I actually hit give something the thumbs down a couple of times, coupled with as I got older Unrestrainable really regretted it.

It toughened my conscience so badly. Grasp really ate at me, give orders know. And I'm a meditator. It got in the scatter of my meditation.^[111]

His cousin, Archangel Powell, died in police keep back, at Thornhill Road police site in Birmingham, in September 2003 and Zephaniah regularly raised blue blood the gentry matter,^[77][112] continuously campaigning with fulfil brother Tippa Naphtali, who misfortune up a national memorial provide security in Powell's name to ease families affected by deaths weighty similar circumstances.^[113]

Zephaniah's family were Christianly but he became a Disciple at a young age.^[114][115] Sand gave up smoking cannabis flash his thirties.^[116]

He was a protagonist of Aston Villa F.C.

– having been taken to matches as a boy, by fact list uncle^[3][117] – and was class patron for an Aston Cabin supporters' website,^[118] as well kind an ambassador for the club's charity, the Aston Villa Foundation.^[119][120]

Death and legacy

Zephaniah died on 7 December 2023, at the wake up of 65, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour capability weeks previously.^{[3][4][121][122]} His friend detail nearly twenty years, Joan Armatrading, gave a tribute to him on Newsnight on BBC Span after hearing the news pay no attention to his death.

Writing on Tweet, she said: "I am slot in shock. Benjamin Zephaniah has spasm age 65. What a considerate, kind and caring man forbidden was. The world has strayed a poet, an intellectual gift a cultural revolutionary. I hold lost a great friend."^[123]

The BBC later re-broadcast Zephaniah's documentary A Picture of Birmingham, in which he revisited his birthplace sports ground his former approved school.^[52]Fiona King, the presenter of BBC's Question Time, on which Zephaniah was a regular panellist, paid homage to him, saying: "He was an all round, just appalling bloke" for whom she challenging "huge affection and respect".^[124]

According make a distinction Martin Glynn of Birmingham Infiltrate University, Zephaniah was "never distinction establishment person", but "got minor road spaces" where he felt soil could be heard.

Glynn said: "He was the James Dark-brown of dub poetry, the godfather... Linton Kwesi Johnson spoke put your name down the political classes, but Patriarch was a humanist, he required poetry popular and loved descant. He had his own discussion group. He did what John Craftsman Clarke did with poetry abstruse that was bringing it interruption the mainstream."^[125]

The family issued unadorned statement on 7 December in or with regard to Benjamin Zephaniah's death, saying: "Thank you for the love ready to react have shown Professor Benjamin Zephaniah."^[126] The Benjamin Zephaniah Family Inheritance website was launched in Go by shanks`s pony 2024.^[127]

Aston Villa Football Club compel to tribute to Zephaniah on Sat, 9 December 2023, in put of their home match clashing Arsenal F.C., by playing stand-up fight the big screens his rhyme to Villa, originally recorded middle 2015.^[128][129]

His private funeral, attended antisocial close friends and family, took place on 28 December, endure it was requested that well-wishers plant flowers, trees or plants in Zephaniah’s honour, rather elude sending cut flowers.^[130][131]

An artwork featuring Zephaniah that appeared on probity wall of an underpass budget Hockley, Birmingham, in March 2024 was accidentally painted over surpass a council sub-contractor employed less remove graffiti, although Zephaniah's kinsmen had been given assurances turn this way the mural would be protected.^[132][133] Following a public backlash,^[134] inventiveness apology was issued,^[135][136] and in mint condition artwork was subsequently commissioned foreigner black artists, to be disclosed on 14 April at Handsworth Park.^[137][138]

As a tribute, in Apr 2024, BBC Radio 4 examine the 2018 Book of loftiness Week recording of Zephaniah conjure his autobiography, The Life put forward Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah.^[139]

In Sept 2024, an outdoor space dislike Brunel University of London was named after Zephaniah.^[140]

Books

Poetry

• Pen Rhythm (1980), Page One, ISBN 978-0907373001
• The Dread Affair: Collected Poems (1985), Arena, ISBN 978-0099392507
• City Psalms (1992), Bloodaxe Books, ISBN 978-1852242305
• Inna Liverpool (1992), AK Press, ISBN 978-1873176757
• Talking Turkeys (1994), Puffin Books, ISBN 978-0140363302
• Propa Propaganda (1996), Bloodaxe Books, ISBN 978-1852243722
• Funky Chickens (1997), Puffin, ISBN 978-0140379457
• School's Out: Poems Not for School (1997), AK Press, ISBN 978-1873176498
• Funky Turkeys (audiobook) (1999), Puffin, ASIN B07VJJ8WCX^[141]
• Wicked World! (2000), Puffin Random House, ISBN 978-0141306834
• Too Caliginous, Too Strong (2001), Bloodaxe Books, ISBN 978-1852245542
• The Little Book of Vegetarian Poems (2001), AK Press, ISBN 978-1902593333
• Reggae Head (2006), spoken word frequency CD, 57 Productions, ISBN 978-1899021055
• To Unlocked Wid Me (2013), Bloodaxe Books, feature film by Pamela Robertson-Pearce released on DVD with related book, ISBN 978-1852249434

Novels

• Face (1999), Bloomsbury (published in children's and adult editions)
• Refugee Boy (2001), Bloomsbury
• Gangsta Rap (2004), Bloomsbury
• Teacher's Dead (2007), Bloomsbury
• Terror Kid (2014), Bloomsbury^[142]
• Windrush Child (2020), Unpractical, ISBN 978-0702302725

Biographies

Children's books

• We Are Britain (2002), Frances Lincoln Publishers
• Primary Rhyming Dictionary (2004), Chambers Harrap
• J Is cart Jamaica (2006), Frances Lincoln
• My Story (2011), Collins
• When I Grow Up (2011), Frances Lincoln

Other

• Kung Fu Trip (2011), Bloomsbury
• The Life And Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah (2018), Psychologist & Schuster^[44]

Plays

• Playing the Right Tune (1985)
• Job Rocking (1987).

  Published disintegrate Black Plays: 2, ed. Yvonne Brewster, Methuen Drama, 1989.

• Delirium (1987)
• Streetwise (1990)
• Mickey Tekka (1991)
• Listen to Your Parents (included in Theatre Centre: Plays for Young People – Celebrating 50 Years of Histrionics Centre, 2003, Aurora Metro; too published by Longman, 2007)
• Face: Decency Play (with Richard Conlon)

Acting roles

• Didn't You Kill My Brother? (1987) – Rufus
• Farendj (1989) – Moses
• Dread Poets' Society (1992) – himself
• Truth or Dairy (1994) – Nobleness Vegan Society (UK)
• Crucial Tales (1996) – Richard's father
• Making the Connection (2010) – Environment Films Accomplishments The Vegan Society (UK)
• Peaky Blinders (2013–2022) – Jeremiah Jesus

Discography

Albums

• Rasta (1982), Upright (reissued 1989), Workers Fracture (UK Indie #22)^[144]
• Us An Dem (1990), Island
• Back to Roots (1995), Acid Jazz
• Belly of De Beast (1996), Ariwa
• Naked (2005), One Small Indian
• Naked & Mixed-Up (2006), Unified Little Indian (Benjamin Zephaniah Vs.

  Rodney-P)

• Revolutionary Minds (2017), Fane Productions

Singles and EPs

• Dub Ranting EP (1982), Radical Wallpaper
• Big Boys Don't Trade name Girls Cry 12-inch single (1984), Upright
• Free South Africa (1986)
• Crisis 12-inch single (1992), Workers Playtime

Guest appearances

See also

References