It’s a day we’ve been dredding without even knowing it was upon us… for the world’s greatest living poet Benjamin Zephaniah it’s a wrap.
Now you might recognise him as the preacher from Peaky Blinders but Brummy Benjamin had been a street poet for decades by then.
A man of the world and a child of the Windrush Generation of West Indians who bailed out Britain after the war.
The son a Bajan postman and Jamaican nurse, resettled in England, he was of his world.
And he spoke to the world with wit, wisdom, energy, compassion and warning.
Of course, like every prophet in his own land, he was largely ignored by those who could effect change.
And staggeringly he was offered an OBE by the palace who clearly hadn’t read his republican rhetoric.
For a starting point for Benjamin you’ll want to start in his beloved Birmingham and a Peaky Blinders tour.
Or even a visit to his favourite football team and former European champions Aston Villa’s ground Villa Park.
A citizen of the world
Benjamin, though, had a thirst for the planet, a vegan, he expounded its survival in his writings.
A passionate advocate of women he championed women’s rights throughout his life.
And in a reminder of the close links forged through a joint oppression in Britain from the indigenous population.
Who would put up signs in workplace doors and hospitality’ ‘No blacks, no dogs, no Irish.’
Benjamin spoke up in the theatre of conflict that is the North of Ireland.
And, of course. he like me is a poet and his words inspired my rap ‘A wake-up for the people’ at the Edinburgh Fringe.
And the paean I wrote for him and sent to Benjamin Zephaniah.
A child of the Windrush
Now his greatest legacy as he leaves us after 65 years around the sun will be for all of us, fellow travellers through this world, his words, his message.
Which he is oft-quoted on in the phrase he coined ‘the last ones of the ship.’
When he argued that the most recent immigrants turn on any future incomers to the country.
As a son of the Windrush Generation you can do worse than remember Benjamin in both the island of his people, Jamaica.
Or his native, multicultural Birmingham and adopted island of Britain.
Benjamin Zephaniah, it’s a wrap. But your words and your poetry will always live on.
