Benjamin Zephaniah, a poet and author, fell suddenly dead eight weeks after being diagnosed with brain cancer. He was 65 years old.
A letter that was placed on his Instagram account stated that he had gone away early on Thursday morning.
It was stated in the statement that Zephaniah’s wife “was with him throughout and was by his side when he passed away.”
The message went on to say, “We announced him to the world, and we are aware that many people will find this news shocking and upsetting.”
Family Background
His mother was a Jamaican nurse, while his father was a Barbadian postman. Zephaniah was reared in Handsworth, which is located in Birmingham. It was at the age of thirteen that he decided to stop attending school since he was dyslexic and unable to read or write.
Career
When he was 22 years old, he relocated to London, and it was in London that he released his first book, which was titled Pen Rhythm.
Early on in his career, he made use of dub poetry, a literary form that originated in Jamaica and was the source of inspiration for the name of the musical genre. He was also a member of the Benjamin Zephaniah Band, and he performed with them.
He became well-known for being a well-known television personality and for introducing dub poetry to living rooms in the United Kingdom. Zephaniah’s celebrity developed as a result of these aspects.
In addition to writing poems for youngsters, he also authored five large volumes. It was in 1994 when he published his first children’s book, Talking Turkeys, and it immediately became a huge success.
Zephaniah was a writer and actor who appeared in the BBC-produced television series Peaky Blinders from 2013 to 2022.
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Jeremiah “Jimmy” Jesus was a character that he performed in fourteen episodes over the span of six successive seasons.
It is well known that Zephaniah decided not to accept an OBE in the year 2003 because he believed that the honour was connected in any way to the history of slavery in the British Empire.
According to a remark that he made in 2020 on The Big Narstie Show, he said, “Throughout my entire life, I have been fighting against empire, fighting against slavery, and fighting against colonialism.”
“I haven’t been writing to please monarchies and governments; rather, I’ve been writing to connect with people.” If I were to obtain a title, would it be possible for it to contain the word “empire”? That would be completely illogical.
Over the course of his career, he frequently delivered talks on a wide range of topics, including education and racial abuse.
During his younger years, Zephaniah was found guilty of burglary, and he had a history of illegal behaviour.
After Bob Marley’s passing, Zephaniah collaborated with the Wailers to record for the first time. The album that resulted from this collaboration was titled Rasta and was released in 1982.
Nelson Mandela, a political prisoner who eventually became the president of South Africa, was another individual who was honoured for his achievements.
Zephaniah mentioned in an interview that he was brought up in a violent environment, which led him to feel that violence was the norm. This statement was made in 2005.
“I asked a friend of mine, ‘What do you do when your dad hits your mom?” said the older gentleman. His response was, “He does not.”
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“In response, I asked, “You’re from one of those houses, and you’re a feminist?” After then, what actions should you take in the event that your mother hits your father?
In the year 2012, he was selected to serve as a guest editor for a show on BBC Radio 4 Today.
The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah, a book by Benjamin Zephaniah, made the shortlist for the 2018 Costa Book Award and received a nomination for autobiography of the year at the National Book Awards.
In a video that was taken during the Hay Festival, Zephaniah read out one of his poems when the COVID-19 lockdown was in effect.
“Before his death, Benjamin was a true innovator and pioneer. According to a statement that was released to announce his passing, “He gave the world so much.”
“Through an amazing career including a huge body of poems, literature, music, television, and radio, Benjamin leaves us with a joyful and fantastic legacy.”
The following statement was issued by the Black Authors’ Guild, which was one of the founding members of the organisation: “Our family of writers is in deep sorrow over the loss of a giant of British writing and a highly loved friend.” Zephaniah was one of the founders of the organisation. Benjamin was an exceptional individual who served as a perfect example of moral conduct for others.
Several individuals expressed their gratitude via Twitter, one of them being the author Michael Rosen, who commented, “I’m devastated.” He imparted a great deal of knowledge to me, and I cherished and adored him. Respect and condolences to his family and friends on the passing of their loved one.
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The actress Adjoa Andoh shared the following message on social media: “Today we lost a Titan.” Theresa Zephaniah Benjamin. a remarkable poet, scholar, and advocate for love and humanity in all of their guises. I am utterly helpless. I hope you are well and that you find peace, brother.
Cillian Murphy, who plays the role of Benjamin in Peaky Blinders, revealed that Benjamin was a pretty extraordinary man.
In addition to being a poet, writer, musician, and activist, this individual spans numerous generations. One who is both a Peaky Blinder and a proud Brummie. As soon as I found out about it, I was completely crushed.
After learning of Benjamin Zephaniah’s passing, Trevor Nelson, a broadcaster, conveyed his sorrow to the television audience. In his youth, he passed away much too soon; he had a great deal more to offer. “He was endowed with a special talent.”
After that, Billy Bragg, a musician and singer-songwriter, continued by saying, “I’m sad to hear this news. Benjamin Zephaniah was the poet laureate of our time period, and he was a rebel. Greetings from the Lord, my good friend.
When Lenny Henry, a comedian, actor, and writer, learned of the demise of his buddy Benjamin Zephaniah, he conveyed his sorrow. In addition to his unwavering support for education for all people, he had an insatiable passion for poetry.
The author, Nels Abbey, was quoted as saying that “to say this is devastating news is a massive understatement.” However, despite the fact that he was too young and too brilliant, he still had a lot to offer. This loss is something that we will never be able to get over.
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Through their Twitter account, Zephaniah’s beloved Premier League team, Aston Villa, conveyed their “deep sadness” over the news.
We are thinking about his family and friends during this difficult time. Benjamin was a die-hard Aston Villa fan and one of the top fifty post-war British novelists in 2008. Also, he was an AVFCF Foundation ambassador.
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