A legend in his own life rhyme

FELLOW WRITERS TAKE TO THE STAGE TO HONOUR LATE BIRMINGHAM POET BENJAMIN

- HELEN WILLIAM News Reporter

A FESTIVAL of “music, poetry, joy and laughter” has taken place to honour the late Birmingham poet and activist Benjamin Zephaniah.

The Handsworth-born dub poet, who also appeared in hit BBC show Peaky Blinders as Jeremiah Jesus, died at the age of 65 in December 2023, shortly after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Saturday's celebrations at London’s Brunel University, where he worked as a professor of creative writing, were billed as the first Benjamin Zephaniah Day - A Festival of Rhythm, Unity and Revolution.

His widow, Qian Zephaniah, who was dressed in one of his old suits and a hat, watched with a smile as she saw fellow poets Linton Kwesi Johnson and Michael Rosen recite some of his work, alongside other tributes.

Mr Rosen later said: “Benjamin was somebody who could speak to everybody and to anybody.