Benjamin Zephaniah news: Tributes pour in for Talking Turkeys poet and Peaky Blinders star
‘Talking Turkeys’ writer and activist was diagnosed with a brain tumour eight weeks ago
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The literary world is in mourning for the poet and author Benjamin Zephaniah, who has died age 65.
The Birmingham-born dub poet, best known for collections such as Talking Turkeys, died on Thursday (7 December). He had been diagnosed with a brain tumour eight weeks ago, his family shared.
“It is with great sadness and regret that we announce the death of our beloved Husband, Son, and Brother in the early hours of this morning,” a statement posted on his social media channels read.
“Benjamin’s wife was by his side throughout and was with him when he passed. We shared him with the world and we know many will be shocked and saddened by this news. Benjamin was a true pioneer and innovator, he gave the world so much.”
One of Britain’s most prolific and outspoken literary voices, Zephaniah dealt with themes of racism, poverty, and social injustice in his work.
WATCH: Why Benjamin Zephaniah turned down OBE
One of Zephaniah’s most quoted acts of resistance is his rejection of an OBE.
He was offered an appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2003, but ultimately turned it down due to not wanting to associate himself with the British Empire. “I’ve been fighting against Empire all my life,” he explained on The Big Narstie Show in 2020.
How Benjamin Zephaniah’s brilliant performance in Peaky Blinders brought him to a wider global audience
The death of Benjamin Zephaniah has led fans across generations to reminisce on some of his most impactful work.
Alongside his poetry, Zephaniah is also known to many for his performance in the period crime drama Peaky Blinders, playing a Jamaican-born street preacher called Jeremiah “Jimmy” Jesus.
Revisiting Benjamin Zephaniah’s brilliant turn in Peaky Blinders
Much loved writer and poet brought genuine Birmingham charm to the BBC period crime drama
Comedian Lucy Beaumont shares ‘fan email’ Benjamin Zephaniah sent her: ‘I just can’t tell if you’re joking or not'
Comedian Lucy Beaumont has shared a “fan email” she received from Zephaniah in 2020.
The poet emailed the Taskmaster star, who is married to fellow comic Jon Richardson, declaring himself a fan but admitting that he had no idea whether Beaumont’s ditzy on-stage personality was a “joke” or not.
“I just can’t tell if you’re joking or not,” he wrote. “I was with some friends, who asked me if you were joking or not, and I said, I don’t know, and Lucy said she doesn’t even know.”
‘Talking Turkeys’, Benjamin Zephaniah’s festive poetry masterpiece
One of Zephaniah’s most famous works is “Talking Turkeys”, his 1994 street poem about why people should not eat turkey at Christmas time.
You can read the full poem below:
“Talking Turkeys”
Be nice to yu turkeys dis christmas
Cos’ turkeys just wanna hav funTurkeys are cool, turkeys are wicked
An every turkey has a Mum.
Be nice to yu turkeys dis christmas,
Don’t eat it, keep it alive,
It could be yu mate, an not on your plate
Say, Yo! Turkey I’m on your side.
I got lots of friends who are turkeys
An all of dem fear christmas time,
Dey wanna enjoy it, dey say humans destroyed it
An humans are out of dere mind,
Yeah, I got lots of friends who are turkeys
Dey all hav a right to a life,
Not to be caged up an genetically made up
By any farmer an his wife.
Turkeys just wanna play reggae
Turkeys just wanna hip-hop
Can yu imagine a nice young turkey saying,‘
I cannot wait for de chop’,
Turkeys like getting presents, dey wanna watch christmas TV,
Turkeys hav brains an turkeys feel pain
In many ways like yu an me.
I once knew a turkey called…Turkey
He said “Benji explain to me please,
Who put de turkey in christmas
An what happens to christmas trees?”,
I said “I am not too sure turkey
But it’s nothing to do wid Christ Mass
Humans get greedy an waste more dan need be
An business men mek loadsa cash’.
Be nice to yu turkey dis christmas
Invite dem indoors fe sum greens
Let dem eat cake an let dem partake
In a plate of organic grown beans,
Be nice to yu turkey dis christmas
An spare dem de cut of de knife,
Join Turkeys United an dey’ll be delighted
An yu will mek new friends ‘FORLIFE’.
Brunel University London, where Zephaniah was a professor of creative writing, said on Twitter/X it is “greatly saddened” by the poet’s death.
It added: “Our thoughts are with his family and all who are close to him.”
Remembering when Loyle Carner met his hero, Benjamin Zephaniah
As tributes continue to pour in for the pioneering British poet, a touching interview between Zephaniah and UK rapper Loyle Carner has resurfaced.
In 2017, The Independent introduced Zephaniah to one of his biggest fans, with Carner revealing that the dub poet’s politically inspired work influenced him as a teenager.
Read more about their meeting below:
When Loyle Carner met his hero, Benjamin Zephaniah
Carner pays tribute to ‘the man that gave me my name’ in heartfelt post after Zephiniah’s death on Thursday
Peaky Blinders’ Cillian Murphy shares tribute to ‘truly gifted’ co-star Benjamin Zephaniah: ‘A beautiful human being'
Cillian Murphy has shared an emotional tribute to his Peaky Blinders co-star Zephaniah, remembering him as “a truly gifted and beautiful human being”.
“Benjamin was a truly gifted and beautiful human being – a generational poet, writer, musician and activist,” he told Press Association. “A proud Brummie and a Peaky Blinder. I’m so saddened by this news. RIP.”
Zephaniah played the role of Jeremiah “Jimmy” Jesus on the BBC historical drama from 2013 to 2022.
The Black British Book Festival writes: “We’re deeply saddened by the loss of Benjamin Zephaniah, a pioneering Dub Poet and Author whose energy, vibe, and unapologetic work paved the way for Black British Writers.
“We’re forever grateful for his contributions and commitment. His legacy will live on forever.”
Zephaniah has been remembered as “the loveliest guy you could wish to meet” by football pundit Stan Collymore.
“Incredibly sad news of the passing of Benjamin Zephaniah, poet, teacher, actor and one of Britain’s great post war writers. A Villan too, to his core, and the loveliest guy you could wish to meet,” he wrote.
WATCH: Why Benjamin Zephaniah turned down OBE
One of Zephaniah’s most quoted acts of resistance is his rejection of an OBE.
He was offered an appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2003, but ultimately turned it down due to not wanting to associate himself with the British Empire. “I’ve been fighting against Empire all my life,” he explained on The Big Narstie Show in 2020.
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