Benjamin Zephaniah, British writer and poet, dead at 65
The trailblazing British writer and poet Benjamin Zephaniah has died aged 65 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour eight weeks ago.
A statement shared on his social media profiles reads: “It is with great sadness and regret that we announce the death of our beloved Husband. Son, and Brother in the early hours of this morning (7 December). Benjamin was diagnosed with a brain tumour eight weeks ago.”
The post continued: “Benjamin’s wife was by his side throughout and was with him when he passed. We shared him with the world and we know many will be shocked and saddened by this new. Benjamin was a true pioneer and innovator, he gave the world so much.”
“Through an amazing career, including a huge body of poems, literature, music, television, radio, Benjamin leaves us with a joyful and fantastic legacy,” the statement concluded.
Zephaniah broke boundaries with his work, using his voice to stand up against racism and injustice. The writer turned down an OBE in 2003, explaining: “Benjamin Zephaniah OBE – no way Mr Blair, no way Mrs Queen. I am profoundly anti-empire.”
Despite suffering from dyslexia, Zephaniah published his first poetry book, Pen Rhythm, in 1980 and helped make the art form accessible to all. He also published four novels throughout his career, and in 2018, he released his autobiography The Life And Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah.
Outside of writing, Zephaniah released seven albums, with his final LP, Revolutionary Minds, arriving in 2017. Nelson Mandela also requested that he host his Two Nations Concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 1996. Notably, he collaborated with The Wailers in 1982 on the album Rasta, which marked the group’s first release since the death of Bob Marley.
Additionally, Zephaniah appeared in the hit BBC series Peaky Blinders, portraying Jeremiah ‘Jimmy’ Jesus in 14 episodes of the beloved drama.
Cillian Murphy, who starred in Peaky Blinders as Tommy Shelby, has since paid a poignant tribute to Zephaniah, stating: “Benjamin was a truly gifted and beautiful human being — a generational poet, writer, musician and activist. A proud Brummie and a Peaky Blinder. I’m so saddened by this news. RIP.”
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