Dis Poetry

Praised by Joan Armatrading for 'his charm, his poetry, his revolutionary ways, his caring for people, his inclusiveness', Benjamin Zephaniah (1958-2023) was a poet who wouldn't stay silent, who didn't pull any punches, who wrote out of a sense of urgency and a commitment to social justice.  Benjamin was a writer and performer of extraordinary range: an oral poet, novelist, playwright, children’s writer, reggae artist, actor, television personality and political activist. Born and raised in Birmingham, England, he was sent to an approved school for being uncontrollable, rebellious and ‘a born failure’, ending up in jail for burglary and affray. After prison he turned from crime to music and poetry. He was later nominated for Oxford Professor of Poetry, and voted Britain’s third favourite poet of all time (after T.S. Eliot and John Donne) in a BBC poll.  Known for his performance poetry with a political edge for adults as well as his poetry with attitude for children, he had his own rap/reggae band.