British writer, poet, musician, actor and activist Benjamin Zephaniah has died at the age of 65, his family reports. Instagram. He was told eight weeks ago that he had a brain tumor.
“It is with great sadness that we announce that our beloved husband, son and brother passed away in the early hours of December 7, 2023,” his family wrote. “We have shared it with the world and we know many will be shocked and saddened by this news.”
As a poet, Zephaniah was mainly inspired by his Jamaican roots. A book of poetry for children, Talking Turkeys from 1994, became a huge success. He also wrote novels for teenagers, including Face. He appeared frequently on TV, including in the role of Jeremiah Jesus in the series Peaky Blinders.
He was also active in the music world with his own band. In 1982 he released the album Rasta from, a tribute to Nelson Mandela.
As an activist, Zephaniah fought against animal suffering and racism. In 2003 he declined appointment as an officer of the Order of the British Empire. “I get angry when I say the word empire (rich, ed.) Well, it reminds me of slavery,” he explained his refusal.
2023-12-07 13:38:45
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