Benjamin Zephaniah
Benjamin Zephaniah | |
|---|---|
| File:Benjamin Zephaniah.jpg | |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Nationality | British |
| Genre | Poetry, Teen fiction |
| Literary movement | Rastafari movement |
| Website | |
| http://www.benjaminzephaniah.com | |
Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah (born 15 April 1958, Coleshill, Birmingham, England) is a British Rastafarian writer and dub poet. He is a well-known figure in contemporary English literature, and was included in The Times list of Britain's top 50 post-war writers in 2008.[1]
Zephaniah has said that his mission is to fight the dead image of poetry in academia, and to "take [it] everywhere" to people who do not read books.[2]
Early life
Zephaniah was raised in Jamaica and the Handsworth district of Birmingham,[3] which he called the "Jamaican capital of Europe."[2]
He writes that he had left full-time education by the time he was thirteen, and that his poetry emerged from the rhythms of Jamaica and "street politics." His first performance was in church when he was ten, and by the age of fifteen, his poetry was already known among Handworth's Afro-Caribbean and Asian communities. Tired of preaching only to black people about their own lives, he decided to expand his audience, and headed to London at the age of twenty-two.[2]
Publications
Zephaniah published his first book of poems, Pen Rhythm, in 1980. It was so well received that three editions were published. His album Rasta, which featured The Wailers' first recording since the death of Bob Marley as well as a tribute to Nelson Mandela, gained him international prestige[4] and topped the Yugoslavian pop charts.[5] It was because of this recording that he was introduced to the political prisoner and soon-to-be South African president, and in 1996, Mandela requested that Zephaniah host the president's Two Nations Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
Positions
Rejection of OBE
In November 2003, Zephaniah wrote in The Guardian that he had turned down an OBE from the Queen because it reminded him of "how my foremothers were raped and my forefathers brutalised."[6] He is openly anti-establishment, and has said he would like to "overthrow the government" and "smash down the Houses of Parliament."[7]
Charitable work
He is an honorary patron of The Vegan Society,[8] the anti-racist organisation Newham Monitoring Project, and Tower Hamlets Summer University.
Anti-establishment
Zephaniah is openly against the British government and monarchy, having been quoted as saying that he would like to "overthrow the government" and "smash down the Houses of Parliament".[9]
Animal rights
Zephaniah is an animal rights advocate, and in 2007 he wrote the foreword to Keith Mann's book From Dusk 'til Dawn, a book about the Animal Liberation Front. In August 2007, he announced that he would be launching the Animal Liberation Project, alongside People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.[10]
Personal life and achievements
Zephaniah currently lives in East London, and is a self-described passionate vegan. He is also a fan of Aston Villa Football Club.
He has been awarded honorary doctorates by the University of North London (in 1998), the University of Central England (in 1999), Staffordshire University (in 2002), London South Bank University (in 2003), the University of Exeter and the University of Westminster (in 2006). He was listed at 48 in The Times' list of 50 greatest postwar writers.[11]
Discography
- Dub Ranting (1982)
- Rasta (1983)
- Free South Africa (1986)
- Us an Dem (1990)
- Crisis (1992)
- Back to Roots (1995)
- Belly of de Beast (1996)
- "Dancing Tribes" (with "Back to Base") (single) MP Records, (1999)
- "Illegal" (with "Swayzak") (single) Medicine Label, (2000)
- "Naked"
- "Naked & Mixed Up" (Benjamin Zephaniah vs. Rodney P)
- "Open Wide" with Dubioza kolektiv (single), (2004)
- "Tam Lyn Retold" with Eliza Carthy, on The Imagined Village, (2007)
Books
- Pen Rhythm
- The Dread Affair
- Rasta Time in Palestine
- City Psalms
- Talking Turkeys
- Funky Chickens
- Face (1999)
- Propa Propaganda
- Too Black, Too Strong (2001)
- Refugee Boy
- Gangsta Rap (short-listed for the 2006 Manchester Book Award)
- Wicked World
- Teacher's Dead
References
- ^ "Benjamin Zephaniah. The 50 greatest postwar writers: 48", The Times, January 5, 2008.
- ^ a b c "Biography", BenjaminZephaniah.com, retrieved April 13, 2008.
- ^ "Benjamin Zephaniah", British Council, retrieved April 13, 2008.
- ^ The Brighton Magazine
- ^ The Brighton Magazine
- ^ Zephaniah, Benjamin. "'Me? I thought, OBE me? Up yours, I thought'", The Guardian, November 27, 2003.
- ^ Mahamdallie, Hassan. Rage of Empire, Socialist Review, January 2004.
- ^ [http://www.vegansociety.com/html/about_us/patrons.php Honorary Patrons
- ^ Benjamin Zephaniah RAGE OF EMPIRE Socialist Review
- ^ Arkangel for Animal Liberation :: Online News Magazine
- ^ Benjamin Zephaniah, The 50 greatest postwar writers: 48 TimesOnline UK
External links
- Official site
- Rasta poet rejects honour from Queen, by Jane Wardell, Associated Press. Published by the Toronto Star on 27 November 2003.
- Rasta poet publicly rejects his OBE by Merope Mills, published by The Guardian on 27 November 2003.
- Benjamin Zephaniah — from The Black Presence in Britain