Blog
Benjamin Zephaniah
May 30, 2019
Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah was born in Birmingham, England, in 1958. He is of Jamaican descent and his name has Christian, Hebrew and Muslim origins. His poetry, which is initially created as oral poetry, is strongly influenced by Jamaican music and literature; its highly political content questions contemporary society’s values with lucidity and a sense of humor.
Benjamin Zephaniah has written and published numerous works for adults, young readers and children, which have been staged and read for the BBC Radio and Television. He has also featured in film and has recorded albums of his own music and through collaborations. For many years, he toured the World giving poetry readings and interpreting his music for the British Council. He was the first musician to record with The Wailers after Bob Marley’s death, an occasion for which he composed an homage to Nelson Mandela. The former President heard the tribute while he was still in prison, and shortly after taking office, developed a friendship with the author, which led the latter to his involvement on educational projects with children in the segregated districts of South Africa.
In 1998 the University of North London (today named London Metropolitan University) conferred him an honorary doctorate in recognition of his work, after which fifteen (15) other honorary doctorates from British universities followed. Ealing Hospital in West London named a wing in his honor. At present, Dr. Zephaniah is professor of poetry and creative writing at Brunel University, Uxbridge, and writer-in-residence at John Keats House in Hampstead, London. He is an occasional contributor for the printed and online press and a sponsor of many civic associations that support refugees, disabled persons, Caribbean inmates, convicts sentenced to death, for equality in education, and against racism in football, among other organizations.
In 2009, the BBC conducted a national survey to find out who were the United Kingdom’s favorite poets. The results were: TS Elliot in the first place, John Donne in second place and Benjamin Zephaniah in third place. For a complete list of his literary and musical work, we suggest consulting the site www.benjaminzephaniah.com, which the author uses as a blog.
Among his publications we select: in poetry, Pen Rhythm (1980), City Psalms (1992), Talking Turkeys (1995), Too Black, Too Strong (2001). In essay: Rasta Time in Palestine (1990), Painted Love: The Literature of Interracial Love and Sex (2008), Kung Fu Trip (2011). In novel: Face (1999), Refugee Boy (2001), Gangsta Rap (2004), Teacher’s Dead (2007) and Terror Kid (2014).
PLANTAR CARA (FACE, 1999) is his first novel, in which he denounces various types of discrimination, experienced by a teenager whose life is changed after surviving a dramatic event. Only a mentality change will allow him to accept himself, and to take advantage of the opportunities that will arise under his new life circumstances.
ALEM KELO, REFUGIADO (REFUGEE BOY, 2001) narrates the adventures of an East African adolescent persecuted for political reasons, who arrives in East London and integrates into the multi-ethnic community of his new city. Despite his fast assimilation and his teachers and new friends’ warm welcome, the conflicts in his homeland will affect his daily life, highlighting our lack of knowledge regarding the outside World to Western society.
