Writer, poet, and performer Benjamin Zephaniah has died.
The news was confirmed in a statement on Benjamin Zephaniah’s social media, with a full note on Instagram. The writer was diagnosed with a brain tumour eight weeks ago, undergoing immediate treatment.
The statement said Zephaniah’s wife “was with him throughout and was by his side when he passed”. It added: “We shared him with the world and we know many will be shocked and saddened by this news…”
View this post on Instagram/div>Born and raised in Handsworth, Birmingham, Benjamin Zephaniah was diagnosed as dyslexic while at school. Drawn to language from a young age, he sought inspiration from sound system culture, and the word play of pivotal Jamaican toasters.
A specialist in dub poetry, he brought the form of prominence within the mainstream. A pivotal voice in the development of Black British culture, Benjamin Zephaniah became familiar to millions as a broadcaster and performer.
Alongside his music catalogue he wrote five acclaimed young adult novels, while his acting career included a lengthy stint in award-winning drama Peaky Blinders.
A true one-off, Benjamin Zephaniah stuck to his principles throughout his life, turning down an OBE in 2003 due to its connections with the Empire, and the slave trade.
“I’ve been fighting against empire all my life, fighting against slavery and colonialism all my life,” he told The Big Narstie Show in 2020. “I’ve been writing to connect with people, not to impress governments and monarchy. So I could I then accept an honour that puts the word Empire on to my name? That would be hypocritical.”