Benjamin Zephaniah

Dr Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah was bornand raised in Birmingham, England. He cannotremember a time when he was not creatingpoetry but this had nothing to do with schoolwhere poetry meant very little to him, in facthe had finished full time education at the ageof 13. His poetry is strongly influenced by themusic and poetry of Jamaica and what he calls'street politics'.

Benjamin Zephaniah biographys• He loved Handsworth, he called it the Jamaican capital of Europe but

although his work had become popular within the African-Caribbean and Asian community he thought the town was too small, he was not satisfied preaching about the sufferings of Black people to Black people, so he sought a wider mainstream audience.

• In the early Eighties homelessness and the National Front, Zephaniah's poetry could be heard on the demonstrations, at youth gatherings, outside police stations, and on the dance floor.

• In the nineties his book publications, record releases and television appearances increased in Britain, although he has concentrated on performing outside Europe.

Benjamin Zephaniah biography

• Most of his own musical recordings fall into the Reggae or Dub Poetry category, but his latest album 'Naked' defies categorisation. It is produced by the legendary drummer Trevor Morais and features artists as diverse as Howard Jones, Aref Durvesh, Rupert Heaven, Mike Cahen, Jamie West-Oram, Jean Alain Rousell, and Dennis Bovell. It is a mixture of Jazz, Reggae, Hip Hop, Rock and house music. In order to compliment the music the graffiti artist Banksy

Music biography

• Naked

Naked features 11 tracks of Benjamin's poetry performed byhimself over music produced by thelegendary Trevor Morais.

Musicians on the album include: Howard Jones, Aref Durvesh, Rupert Heaven, Mike Cahen, Jamie West-Oram, Jean Alain Rousell, Rick Smith, Dennis Bovell & Trevor Morais.

• Rasta CD album• Zephaniah's first music album that's still

going strong. This was world music before World Music. Roots reggae but with sitar, mandolin, oboe, and west African drumming. A classic.

• Track list:• 1. Rasta• 2. Get High• 3. Dis Policeman Keeps on Kicking Me to

Death (Lord Scarman Dub)• 4. No Politicians• 5. Free South Africa• 6. 13 Dead• 7. De Children Future• 8. Miss World (Poem)• 9. You're Under Arrest• 10. I Love Me Mudder• 11. Free South Africa (Tuff Gong)• 12. Free South Africa (Dub)• 13. Stop De War

Videos

• Rong Radio

• Responsible

• Genetics

• Touch

• Tam Lyn (retold)

• Benjamin Zephaniah - the DVD