Skip to content
  • About us
  • Music
  • Celebrities
  • TV and Movies
  • Fashion
  • Entertaiment
  • Life Style
  • Travel and Health
Style Focus

Style Focus

  • About us
  • Music
  • Celebrities
  • TV and Movies
  • Fashion
  • Entertaiment
  • Life Style
  • Travel and Health
  • Toggle search form
  • Beverly Hills 90210 star Shannen Doherty dead at 53 Uncategorised
  • ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes’ Premiere Red Carpet Arrivals Uncategorised
  • Pontus controversy: Greece’s Klavdia says “Asteromata” is not specific to the Pontic genocide Uncategorised
  • Dame Prue’s parachute dress and Romeo Beckham’s runway debut – London Fashion week in pictures Uncategorised
  • New music this week: Songs from Ronela Hajati, Mustii, Vesna and more Uncategorised
  • Armenia confirms Eurovision 2025 return with Depi Evratesil as national selection Uncategorised
  • EBU unveils “development areas” for Eurovision’s future direction following review of 2024 contest Uncategorised
  • Rina Sawayama: Therapy made me realise I was groomed at 17 Uncategorised

Benjamin Zephaniah: Writer and poet dies aged 65

Posted on 7 December 2023 By Admin No Comments on Benjamin Zephaniah: Writer and poet dies aged 65
Benjamin Zephaniah
By Steven McIntosh
Entertainment reporter

Writer and poet Benjamin Zephaniah has died aged 65, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour eight weeks ago.

A statement posted on his Instagram account confirmed he died in the early hours of Thursday.

The statement said Zephaniah’s wife “was with him throughout and was by his side when he passed”.

“We shared him with the world and we know many will be shocked and saddened by this news,” it added.

Zephaniah was born and raised in Handsworth, Birmingham, the son of a Barbadian postman and a Jamaican nurse. He was dyslexic and left school aged 13, unable to read or write.

Zephaniah moved to London aged 22 and published his first book, Pen Rhythm.

His early work used dub poetry, a Jamaican style of work that has evolved into the music genre of the same name, and he would also perform with the group The Benjamin Zephaniah Band.

As Zephaniah’s profile grew, he became a familiar face on television and was credited with bringing Dub Poetry into British living rooms.

He also wrote five novels as well as poetry for children, and his first book for younger readers, Talking Turkeys, was a huge success upon its publication in 1994.

File photo dated 15/3/2003 of Benjamin Zephaniah performing on stage during the One Big No anti-war concert, at Shepherd's Bush Empire in London.

PA Media

On top of his writing work, Zephaniah was an actor and appeared in the BBC drama series Peaky Blinders between 2013 and 2022.

He played Jeremiah “Jimmy” Jesus, appearing in 14 episodes across the six series.

Zephaniah famously rejected an OBE in 2003 due to the association of such an honour with the British Empire and its history of slavery.

“I’ve been fighting against empire all my life, fighting against slavery and colonialism all my life,” he told The Big Narstie Show in 2020.

“I’ve been writing to connect with people, not to impress governments and monarchy. So I could I then accept an honour that puts the word Empire on to my name? That would be hypocritical.

He often spoke out about issues such as racial abuse and education.

When he was younger, Zephaniah served a prison sentence for burglary and received a criminal record.

In 1982, Zephaniah released an album called Rasta, which featured the Wailers’ first recording since the death of Bob Marley.

It also included a tribute to the then-political prisoner Nelson Mandela, who would later become South African president.

Picture shows poet Benjamin Zephaniah reciting the poem Talking Turkeys on the BBC's Parkinson at Christmas in 2002

In 2012, he was chosen to guest edit an edition of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

Zephaniah was nominated for autobiography of the year at the National Book Awards for his work, The Life And Rhymes Of Benjamin Zephaniah, which was also shortlisted for the Costa Book Award in 2018.

During a Covid-19 lockdown, Zephaniah recited one of his poems in a video for the Hay Festival.

“Benjamin was a true pioneer and innovator. He gave the world so much,” the statement announcing his death said.

“Through an amazing career including a huge body of poems, literature, music, television and radio, Benjamin leaves us with a joyful and fantastic legacy.”

A statement from the Black Writers’ guild, which Zephaniah helped establish, said: “Our family of writers is in mourning at the loss of a deeply valued friend and a titan of British literature. Benjamin was a man of integrity and an example of how to live your values.”

Others paying tribute included author Michael Rosen, who said: “I’m devastated. I admired him, respected him, learnt from him, loved him. Love and condolences to the family and to all who loved him too.”

ITV News presenter Charlene White posted: “Thank-you for everything Benjamin Zephaniah.”

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Broadcaster Trevor Nelson said: “So sad to hear about the passing of Benjamin Zephaniah. Too young, too soon, he had a lot more to give. He was a unique talent.”

Singer-songwriter and musician Billy Bragg added: “Very sorry to hear this news. Benjamin Zephaniah was our radical poet laureate. Rest in power, my friend.”

The X/Twitter account for Premier League football club Aston Villa, whom Zephaniah supported said everyone at the club was “deeply saddened” by the news.

“Named as one of Britain’s top 50 post-war writers in 2008, Benjamin was a lifelong Aston Villa fan and had served as an ambassador for the AVFCFoundation. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”

Related Topics

  • Poetry

Adblock test (Why?)

Uncategorised

Post navigation

Previous Post: OGAE Song Contest 2023 results: The U.K.’s Harry Styles wins with “As It Was”
Next Post: Chanel Metiers d’Art: Models turn Manchester street into a catwalk

Related Posts

  • Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s ‘Wicked’-Themed Super Bowl Jersey Looks Defy Gravity Uncategorised
  • Austria’s Kaleen will bring the rave to London Eurovision Party Uncategorised
  • Albania at Junior Eurovision 2024: Nikol Çabeli with “Vallëzoj” Uncategorised
  • Dame Prue’s parachute dress and Romeo Beckham’s runway debut – London Fashion week in pictures Uncategorised
  • Beyoncé’s country album: The verdict Uncategorised
  • Katy Perry Rocks a Corset, Thong and Sky-High Platform Heels at 2024 Billboard Women in Music Awards Uncategorised

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • Man guilty of stalking TV presenter Myleene Klass
  • Germany: Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he’d support Eurovision withdrawal if Israel is excluded
  • Queen leads tributes to ‘wonderfully witty friend’ Dame Jilly Cooper
  • First celebrity leaves Strictly after dance-off
  • New music this week: Songs from KEiiNO, Lord Of The Lost, The Black Mamba and more

Recent Comments

No comments to show.

Archives

  • October 2025
  • September 2025
  • August 2025
  • July 2025
  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • March 2022
  • November 2008

Categories

  • announcements
  • Events
  • Fashion
  • music
  • Persons
  • Uncategorised
  • Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion Flaunt Their ‘Bongos’ in Colorful Music Video Uncategorised
  • Zendaya’s Best Red Carpet Looks Uncategorised
  • Chase Stokes Shares Adorable Update on Relationship With Kelsea Ballerini: ‘I’m Happy as a Bean’ (Exclusive) Uncategorised
  • Abbington has ‘no regrets’ about Strictly complaints Uncategorised
  • Kim Kardashian Wears Janet Jackson’s ‘If’ Costume to the Singer’s Palm Springs Concert Uncategorised
  • Kaleen will represent Austria at Eurovision 2024 with “techno-inspired” pop song Uncategorised
  • Nemo: Switzerland’s Eurovision 2024 singer is “so happy” with Benke Rydman’s stage plans Uncategorised
  • Cyan Kicks release “Dancing with Demons” — their UMK 2024 song in Finland Uncategorised

Copyright © Style Focus

Powered by PressBook News WordPress theme