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Original poster

Benjamin Zephaniah has died

109 replies

Glitterbiscuits · 07/12/2023 10:49

I just read this.

I always found him interesting. I think it probably because I'm a white woman that grew up in a white area I needed to hear about the experiences of others whose lives were different from mine.

OP posts:
ShoesoftheWorld · 07/12/2023 13:18

Very shocking and sad news. I too enjoyed hearing him on Poetry Please just the other week.

I don't know about what he's done or hasn't done, but if he was 15 at the time and reflected and made amends, that does make him different from a standard abuser, IMO.

DisforDarkChocolate · 07/12/2023 13:22

His autobiography is well worth a listen.

Wolfiefan · 07/12/2023 13:40

An inspiring talent taken far too soon. My thoughts are with his family and friends. So very very sad.

Astrabees · 07/12/2023 13:51

He was lovely. He visited us in the library when I was in prison and shared his experiences, very kind.

MarkWithaC · 07/12/2023 13:55

So sad. It’s way too young. His poetry and politics were both a revelation to me; he was my introduction to dub and performance poetry and to the subjects of colonialism and exploitation etc.

Abhannmor · 07/12/2023 13:57

He performed at the miners' benefit in Stoke Newington Town Hall. With Jimmy Somerville and Bronski Beat. I was working the bar and people went silent and drank him in. Lovely voice and warm personality. RIP Benjamin.

FreshWinterMorning · 07/12/2023 13:59

NGL I had never heard of him before an hour ago, when I heard on the news that he has died. R.I.P. though.

Abhannmor · 07/12/2023 14:04

He came up with other ' punk poets' like Attila the Stockbroker, John Cooper Clark and Seething Wells. He was more reggae of course!

DC1888 · 07/12/2023 14:07

He's a huge loss. Loved how he would appear in literally anything, often with a new poem in hand for the occasion, to offer his own unique perspective. He made you think, and there's not that many who could do that.

RIP Sir.

Redebs · 07/12/2023 16:02

DC1888 · 07/12/2023 14:07

He's a huge loss. Loved how he would appear in literally anything, often with a new poem in hand for the occasion, to offer his own unique perspective. He made you think, and there's not that many who could do that.

RIP Sir.

Absolutely

His 'Rasta Time in Palestine' is very relevant now, even 33 years after he wrote it.

LlynTegid · 07/12/2023 16:13

May he rest in peace and thoughts for his family and friends. Gone too soon.

Samcro · 07/12/2023 16:15

that is sad, I like him.

LightSpeeds · 07/12/2023 16:19

That's a total shock. God bless him.

TedWilson · 07/12/2023 16:25

He was also a self confessed abuser and violent towards women. I can't really grieve this one.

Redebs · 07/12/2023 16:48

@TedWilson when?

AddictedToBooks · 07/12/2023 17:19

I was so sad to hear about Benjamin Zephaniah this morning - in the 80s, he came to our primary school to do an assembly and I'll always remember him as being so engaged with us children and eager to teach us that poetry doesn't have to be stuffy and boring.
I was only about 5 or 6 at the time, but he's always remained someone I admire and like from that assembly.
Condolences to his family and friends.

Westfacing · 07/12/2023 17:58

I remember him speaking movingly about being infertile - not something that many men do.

A very talented man - RIP Benjamin.

Renamed · 07/12/2023 21:53

I’ve only just heard about this - so sad, only 65. He was amazing and I think he meant so much to anyone growing up in the 80s for how he turned his life around and how he communicated his anger about injustice. RIP

ImNunTheWiser · 07/12/2023 23:36

TedWilson · 07/12/2023 16:25

He was also a self confessed abuser and violent towards women. I can't really grieve this one.

He wasn’t violent towards ‘women’. He was violent towards one woman, and he examined his behaviour and why it happened, after a life of violence meted out towards him. And he regretted it. And apologised (personally) for it. And supported women’s refuges (including financially) as a result of it. And didn’t repeat it. And the ONLY reason you and others on this thread know about it is because he himself wrote about it and explained how it made him change and break the abusive cycle. You can, of course, still dismiss and disregard and judge him for it, but at least be honest in your reporting of it. If you’ve even bothered to look beyond the headline of it that is.

dreamingdays · 07/12/2023 23:44

Thank you @ImNunTheWiser.

RIP Benjamin Zephaniah, much respect.

ImNunTheWiser · 07/12/2023 23:50

dreamingdays · 07/12/2023 23:44

Thank you @ImNunTheWiser.

RIP Benjamin Zephaniah, much respect.

Thank you too, and for the record I’m no apologiser - I’m back home tonight after being seen by my maxillary facial consultant as a regular check up on a facial disfigurement as a result of DV. I don’t just talk the talk, I walk the walk. No he wasn’t blameless or perfect, but he most certainly was not like all other abusers. And I won’t be lectured on it either.

dreamingdays · 07/12/2023 23:55

@ImNunTheWiser I hope you are ok. Thank you for taking the time to speak out. It sounds as though he faced up to it, unlike most others who do such things.

fourelementary · 08/12/2023 00:03

Interesting to see he was described as beloved husband and as dying with his wife by his side… yet they divorced in 2001 and I can see nothing of a new wife…

Very sad news though perhaps a blessing for such a talented man who was so good with words to not have a slow death losing his voice, speech, thoughts etc. RIP

Anisette · 08/12/2023 08:47

ImNunTheWiser · 07/12/2023 23:36

He wasn’t violent towards ‘women’. He was violent towards one woman, and he examined his behaviour and why it happened, after a life of violence meted out towards him. And he regretted it. And apologised (personally) for it. And supported women’s refuges (including financially) as a result of it. And didn’t repeat it. And the ONLY reason you and others on this thread know about it is because he himself wrote about it and explained how it made him change and break the abusive cycle. You can, of course, still dismiss and disregard and judge him for it, but at least be honest in your reporting of it. If you’ve even bothered to look beyond the headline of it that is.

Show quote history

Very well said.

Lampzade · 09/12/2023 04:30

ImNunTheWiser · 07/12/2023 23:36

He wasn’t violent towards ‘women’. He was violent towards one woman, and he examined his behaviour and why it happened, after a life of violence meted out towards him. And he regretted it. And apologised (personally) for it. And supported women’s refuges (including financially) as a result of it. And didn’t repeat it. And the ONLY reason you and others on this thread know about it is because he himself wrote about it and explained how it made him change and break the abusive cycle. You can, of course, still dismiss and disregard and judge him for it, but at least be honest in your reporting of it. If you’ve even bothered to look beyond the headline of it that is.

Show quote history

All of this