Benjamin Zephaniah mural: Tribute to be unveiled for Birmingham writer and poet
- Published
- comments
A new mural celebrating the life and work of Benjamin Zephaniah is set to be unveiled at a park in Birmingham.
Benjamin Zephaniah was a British writer and actor, who was well known for his particular style of poetry.
He often performed his poems to music, or a beat, that drew on the rhythms of reggae.
The artwork will be unveiled in a ceremony at Handsworth Park later this month.
Special mural to celebrate Benjamin Zephaniah
The artwork was commissioned by Black Heritage Walks Network (BHWN) and will be unveiled on 14 April at Birmingham's Handsworth Park - the area of the city where Zephaniah was born and raised.
It was completed last month and will celebrate Zephaniah as "the people's champion" of the area.
Dawn Carr, historian from Black History Arts & More, worked closely with the artist, the local community and Zephaniah's family on the project.
Speaking ahead of the unveiling, she said Zephaniah had shown "endless love and creativity, courage and humanity" and was "more than a poet."
Who was Benjamin Zephaniah?
Zephaniah performing on stage in 2003
Benjamin Zephaniah was a British writer and poet who is famous for his particular style of poetry.
He often performed his poems to music, or a beat, that drew on the rhythms of reggae.
Zephaniah was born and raised in Handsworth, Birmingham, the son of a Barbadian postman and a Jamaican nurse.
He was dyslexic and left school aged 13, unable to read or write.
He went on to become very successful, and in 2008 he was included in The Times list of Britain's top 50 post-war writers.
He also wrote five novels as well as poetry for children, and his first book for younger readers, Talking Turkeys, was a huge success when it was published in 1994.
Zephaniah wrote about things that he was passionate about like politics and society, and he often spoke out about issues such as racism and education.
Zephaniah famously rejected an OBE due to the association of the honour with the British Empire and its history of slavery.
His message to people thinking of taking up poetry was: "You are important and me, and the world, need to hear your voice".