Benjamin Zephaniah

About Author

Benjamin Zephaniah (1958 - 2023): Poet, Musician, Campaigner

Benjamin Zephaniah was a performer, musician, actor, and remains one of the UK's best-known poets. Born in Handsworth, Birmingham, Benjamin began writing and performing at the age of 11, and had his first collection of poetry published when he was 22. He wrote more than 30 books for adults and children and is known all over the world for his powerful writing and performances.

Benjamin was a founding member of Artists Against Apartheid, and in 1996 he hosted the President's Two Nations Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in London, at the request of Nelson Mandela. On August 29th 2007 he was the Master of Ceremonies at the unveiling of the statue of Nelson Mandela, again at his request, in Parliament Square.

Benjamin was also a musician and was the first person to record with the Wailers after the death of Bob Marley. As well as writing poetry, novels, screenplays and stage plays, Benjamin has also written and presented documentaries for television and radio. His poetry show Life & Rhymes won a BAFTA for 'best entertainment programme' in 2021. He has been awarded 13 honorary doctorates in recognition of his work and a wing at The Ealing Hospital in West London was named after him. He remained passionate about politics and poetry throughout his adult life.

Author link

www.benjaminzephaniah.com

Interview

Interviewed in 2000

Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah was born in Birmingham in 1958. He spent some of his early years in Jamaica and absorbed much of the island culture which was later to have a dramatic effect on his work.

"I think I have the world record for going to different schools. I went to about 15 or more. I went to one school in London for just two days". At the age of 12, he was taken out of comprehensive school and sent to an approved school on the grounds that he was uncontrollable, rebellious and, as the teacher put it, "a born failure". Later, he would find out that he was dyslexic. He was a troubled teenager and after approved school ended up in a couple of Her Majesty's institutions.

Going to prison proved, Benjamin said, a significant turning point. "It was when I was a young prisoner that I decided 'I'm going to use this energy differently. I've got the talent to be a poet.' I realised that not all white people hated us, not all teachers were the enemy. I wanted to educate myself, be a bit more spiritual, a bit more political. I wasn't sure how to go about it, but I started to collect books on black consciousness and different religions."

After prison, aged 22, Benjamin moved to London. His first book for adults, Pen Rhythm, was published soon after. There was a long gap before his second book as, he said, "I wanted to reach people who didn't read books, so I started performing with bands." Later, adult collections include The Dread Affair, In A Liverpool, Rasta Time in Palestine, City Psalms and Propa Propaganda.

Benjamin's first collection for children, Talking Turkeys, was published in 1994. It had such an immediate impact that it was reprinted after just six weeks. Funky Chickens followed in 1996. Both books changed perceptions of what poetry for children might be. Wicked World!, published in August 2000, was a similarly rich and challenging collection of PWA Poetry With Attitude!

Millions of people know Benjamin's voice. He has given readings around the world, from Palestine to Argentina, as well as throughout Britain in schools, colleges, youth clubs, prisons, theatres and music venues. A master of oral and performance art, he has released several records, including one with the Wailers.

Benjamin wrote plays for radio, TV and theatre. In Dread Poets Society, broadcast on BBC TV, he imagined himself in a series of encounters with Mary Shelley, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron and Keats.

He presented, appeared in or been the subject of numerous TV programmes ranging from The South Bank Show to Eastenders; from The Tube to The Bill.

In 1989, he was nominated for Oxford Professor of Poetry but was pipped to the post by Seamus Heaney.

Benjamin was actively involved in numerous organisations, including the Hackney Empire Theatre, Umoja Housing Co-Op, the Irie Dance Company, VIVA (Vegetarians International Voice for Animals), Market Nursery - Hackney, Newham Young People's Theatre Scheme, the Chinese Women's Refuge Group, Musicworks - Brixton, SARI (Soccer Against Racism in Ireland), SHOP (Self-Help Organisation for ex-Prisoners) and the Central Park Girls Football Team. When asked how he found the time for all this, he said, "I care about all these things passionately".

In 1999, Benjamin's first novel, Face, was published. In the novel, Benjamin explored the issue of prejudice from an unusual and powerful angle. Writing the book was a new challenge for Benjamin who confessed, "I haven't read that many novels; I had an idea in my mind what I wanted to do and I did it. Sometimes I broke the rules, and if it worked, it worked". It worked. Face has received rave reviews and was shortlisted for the Children's Book Award 2000.

One of Benjamin's most famous fans is Nelson Mandela. "While he was in prison, he read some of my work," Benjamin said, "then someone gave him some tapes of mine. When he came out of prison he invited me to host a concert at the Albert Hall in his name. Then he invited me over to South Africa to work with some returning refugees and township children."

Benjamin was a vegan and said that 'it was the poet in me that made me a vegetarian. Hearing people talk lyrically about the birds in the air and the fish in the sea inspired me. I believe passionately in leaving animals alone and poetry enables me to get the message over creatively, without preaching."

Benjamin's passions included collecting money ("not money that's in use! I collect banknotes from around the world"), tai chi, kung fu and renovating old English sports cars. He owned a 'mixed race' TR7 'The engine is from the racing version of a Dolomite Sprint, the running gear is from a Rover V8 and the interior is done out in the Ferrari Boxer style'. 'When I really feel like freaking people out,' Benjamin said, 'I take the car down Green Street in East London, where there are gangs of guys posing with their BMWs playing heavy dub, and I blast out George Formby.'

About Author

Author link

Interview

Author's Titles