Blue plaque honour to poet and activist unveiled

As well as a writer Benjamin Zephaniah also acted, notably in Birmigham-based BBC drama Peaky Blinders

A blue plaque commemorating poet, actor and activist Benjamin Zephaniah has been unveiled in his home city.

The plaque, at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, was commissioned by the Nubian Jak Community Trust, an organisation which highlights the contributions of Black and minority ethnic people in the country.

His wife Qian Zephaniah said he would have been proud to see it displayed in his home city.

The Handsworth-born writer died in December aged 65, two months after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

The plaque was unveiled at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery earlier

Zephaniah was the son of a Barbadian postman and a Jamaican nurse. He was dyslexic and left school aged 13, unable to read or write.

He started out using dub poetry, a Jamaican style of work that has evolved into the music genre of the same name, and later would perform with the group The Benjamin Zephaniah Band.

He went on to become a familiar face on television and was credited with bringing dub poetry into British living rooms.

He also wrote five novels as well as poetry for children.

"He would have been proud because his work has got recognised by the society, by people" his wife said.

"He was asked what is his legacy, he would always say his legacy is love and to be recognised by his hometown, for the people around here who love him so much."

Zephaniah's wife, Qian, said he would have been proud to see the plaque displayed in his hometown of Birmingham