Racist violence was never far away for the poet and author when he was growing up. One of englands bestknown and bestloved poets, benjamin zephaniah has written many poetry collections for adults and children, as well as. Benjamin zephaniah was born on april 15, 1958 in handsworth, birmingham, england as benjamin obadiah iqbal zephaniah. In a 2017 interview, commenting on the ongoing brexit negotiations, zephaniah stated. Often with great difficulty, it depends on what day you ask me and how much time i have to explain. Loyle carner and benjamin zephaniah talk art, dyslexia and shakespeare.
He is most well known for his performance poetry with a political edge for adults and groundbreaking performance poetry for children, and his novels for young people include face, refugee boy, gangsta. About benjamin zephaniah born of parents hailing jamaica, benjamin zephaniah is a contemporary british poet that is well respected by critics. When i was about 15 years old i remember walking home with my brother and a friend on a warm moonlight night. Feb 22, 2016 this film is part of the poetry societys page fright project, which records spoken word artists performing their own work alongside performances of canonical page poetry. Benjamin zephaniah is a poet, writer, lyricist, musician and trouble maker. He is known for his work on peaky blinders 20, percy lifar and farendj 1990. Poet benjamin zephaniah was a fervent aston villa fan through the 70s. Oct 14, 2014 dg readers got to interview legendary poet and author benjamin zephaniah about growing up and what he thinks about diversity in books. Zephaniah speaks archives page 3 of 9 benjamin zephaniah. Poet, writer and activist benjamin zephaniah talks to krishnan gurumurthy about the windrush scandal, how the political system should be torn down and why he spends so much time in china. Benjamin obadiah iqbal zephaniah born 15 april 1958 is a british writer, dub poet and. Get youtube tv best of youtube music sports gaming movies tv shows news live fashion learning spotlight 360 video.
Benjamin zephaniah bbc interview 28092017 duration. Writer, poet and musician benjamin zephaniah has said he hit a former girlfriend. Benjamin zephaniah has been producing literature and impacting upon the political and literary scene since he burst onto the page in 1980. See more ideas about benjamin zephaniah, gcse english literature and national poetry day. Benjamin zephaniah being interviewed on bbc breakfast about his latest album revolutionary minds. This film is part of the poetry societys page fright project, which records spoken word artists performing their own work alongside. Benjamin obadiah iqbal zephaniah is a british jamaican rastafarian writer and dub poet. An honouree doctor of the university of birmingham and a teacher in creative writing at burnell university, it seems that he is a world away from the excluded school pupil of youth. Poet, novelist and playwright benjamin zephaniah was born on 15 april 1958. Earlier this year, i interviewed benjamin zephaniah one of britains best contemporary poets, writers and performers at brunel university, where he teaches creative writing and english. Benjamin zephaniah confesses he was violent towards former. The focus of our meeting was meant to be black history month, but it quickly broadened out to include the cultures that surround that discussion.
Nov 09, 20 in a series for the bbc news website, celebrities and newsmakers are grilled by matthew stadlen in precisely five minutes. He was writer in residence at the africa arts collective in liverpool, and was a. For the sake of organising myself and getting to places on time i have to recognise that, unlike christmas which i refuse to here comes the son. Sep 08, 2017 loyle carner and benjamin zephaniah talk art, dyslexia and shakespeare. An education in the life of benjamin zephaniah, performance poet. Benjamin zephaniah interview for the guardian youtube. Zephaniah was born and raised in the handsworth district of birmingham, which he has called the jamaican capital of europe. Born and raised in birminghams rough and ready handsworth district, benjamin zephaniah is a british jamaican rastafarian writer, musician. Mar 05, 2018 benjamin zephaniah talks to us about his new book, gangsta rap, released as an official world book day book. Benjamin zephaniah benjamin zephaniah is a poet, writer, lyricist, musician and trouble maker. A new podcast s1 e7 benjamin zephaniah on windrush, anarchism and his time in north korea duration. Benjamin has just returned from jamaica where he was working on a project for bbc radio. At times i couldnt catch my breath i laughed, i cried and hung onto his every word not wanting the call to end.
Nov 05, 2017 aurelia interviews benjamin zephaniah about his book face skip navigation sign in. Analysis of the british serves 60 million by benjamin zephaniah. Here he talks to marcel berlins, while, in a new poem printed below, he recounts the. Benjamin obadiah iqbal zephaniah born 15 april 1958 is a british writer, dub poet and rastafarian. My doctor thinks it is my veganism benjamin zephaniah.
Mercury prizeshortlisted artist spoke with the award. In a series for the bbc news website, celebrities and newsmakers are grilled by matthew stadlen in precisely five minutes. Interview with benjamin zephaniah on influencing the reader through poetry including a powerful and moving performance of to do with me. Get youtube premium get youtube tv best of youtube music sports.
Benjamin zephaniah on windrush anarchism and his time in. The beta brothers benjamin zephaniah the dvd available to purchase at. In this interview before the event benjamin zephaniah talks, amongst other things, about his poetry and politics. British council brazil interviews the famous artistperformer benjamin zephaniah, during his participation at flip international literature fair. Mercury prizeshortlisted artist spoke with the awardwinning poet in a filmed conversation. Could you first tell me about your background and where you come from. Bestknown for his performance poetry with a political edge for adults and his poetry with attitude for children benjamin zephaniah has his own rapreggae band and has made many recordings. Benjamin zephaniah benjamin zephaniah poems poem hunter. Nov 20, 2000 as poetinresidence in a barristers chambers, benjamin zephaniah learned a lot about the law and injustice. Struggled a bit with it and think it would be better experienced as an audiobook if he is the narrator. A multimedia presentation of this poem is available below. Ive just finished doing something ive never done before.
Benjamin zephaniah on poetry, politics and revolution video report by democracy now. He was recently included in a list of the most influential writers since the second world war which is a massive achievement but even more prominent considering that at the age of just zephaniah left. During the interview zephaniah recites one of his more recent works entitled wrong radio station. Poems on displacement by benjamin zephaniah, brian bilston, dickinson and auden drive a weighty new song cycle by markanthony turnage, delivered masterfully by allan clayton published. He moved to london in 1979 and published his first poetry collection, pen rhythm, in 1980. Poet turned professor benjamin zephaniah david morris under a creative commons licence as professor of poetry and creative writing at londons brunel university, you are surrounded by and can inspire passionate, creative young people. Interview with author benjamin zephaniah influencing. Loyle carner and benjamin zephaniah talk art, dyslexia and. My brother and me were singing bob marley read more. British council interviews benjamin zephaniah youtube. In an interview with bbc radio 5 lives nihal arthanayake.
Read face, by benjamin zephaniah online on bookmate in this startling debut novel from benjamin zephaniah, the author tackles the moving and compelling story of a young man, martin, whose life is. Chatting with vegan legend benjamin zephaniah is like being on a roller coaster. Jan 22, 2018 one of englands bestknown and bestloved poets, benjamin zephaniah has written many poetry collections for adults and children, as well as plays for the stage, television and radio. When this web site was built for me the designer said that i should have this section and use it as a blog, but i havent. Karin ridgers talks to poet, musician, writer and selfconfessed trouble maker benjamin zephaniah about his many struggles growing up and his following success. In an exclusive extract, he explains how he learned to fight back. He is a wellknown figure in contemporary english literature, and was included in the times list of britains top 50 postwar writers in 2008. You can find it on his website, or on youtube, but getting a private performance was one of the most thrilling experiences of my interviewing. The latter third is excellent but i found that hes not the most absorbing of writers when it comes to describing his early life. He was included in the times list of britains top 50 postwar writers in 2008. Either scroll down and watch the video below, or click here to listen to the funky.
He grew up in jamaica and the handsworth district of birmingham, england, leaving school at 14. Zephaniah speaks archives page 2 of 9 benjamin zephaniah. Neighbours i am the type you are supposed to fear black and foreign big and dreadlocks. Benjamin zephaniah is a highprofile international author, with an enormous breadth of appeal, equally popular with both adults and children. I should now write a few things about the tour im about to start, but i want to start by talking about the tour that. Oct 15, 2014 megan, caroline, misha and mohammed from dg readers interview benjamin zephaniah.
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