Benjamin Zephaniah, acclaimed writer and poet, passes away at 65

Prominent writer and poet Benjamin Zephaniah has passed away at the age of 65 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour just eight weeks ago. The news was confirmed in a statement on Zephaniah's Instagram account, which revealed that he died early on Thursday. His wife was with him until the end, and the statement expressed condolences to those who would be shocked and saddened by the news. Zephaniah, born and raised in Handsworth, Birmingham, was the child of a Barbadian postman and a Jamaican nurse. He faced challenges with dyslexia and left school at 13 without the ability to read or write. At the age of 22, Zephaniah moved to London and published his first book, Pen Rhythm. He gained recognition for his use of dub poetry, which later evolved into the music genre of the same name. Zephaniah's popularity grew, and he became a frequent presence on television, introducing Dub Poetry to British audiences. In addition to writing five novels and poetry for children, Zephaniah also pursued acting, appearing in the BBC drama series Peaky Blinders from 2013 to 2022. Zephaniah famously declined an OBE in 2003 due to its association with the British Empire and its history of slavery. He regularly spoke out about issues such as racial abuse and education. Zephaniah's contributions earned him nominations and accolades, including being shortlisted for the Costa Book Award in 2018. Even during a Covid-19 lockdown, Zephaniah shared his poetic talent through a video performance for the Hay Festival. The statement announcing his death praised him as a pioneer and innovator, leaving behind a remarkable legacy through his poems, literature, music, and media work. The Black Writers' Guild, which Zephaniah co-founded, expressed sorrow at the loss of their esteemed associate and a giant in British literature. Tributes poured in from various figures, including author Michael Rosen, who described Zephaniah as someone he admired, respected, learned from, and loved. Others, like broadcaster Trevor Nelson and musician Billy Bragg, hailed Zephaniah's unique talent and mourned his passing. Aston Villa Football Club, of which Zephaniah was a passionate supporter and ambassador for the AVFC Foundation, expressed deep sadness over his death, noting his inclusion in the list of Britain's top 50 post-war writers in 2008.