Post by Jack on Mar 10, 2008 20:30:09 GMT
Benjamin Zephaniah
Note for before reading
All of this is 100% copyrighted to me (except for the images). I wrote it myself and therefore do not copy any of it without my express permission. I wrote it as an English assignment just incase you wondered. Thank you.
Introduction
Benjamin Zephaniah could be argued one of the best English poets, if not the best. Benjamin Zephaniah is dyslexic and that is one of the main reasons I decided to do a project on him. It really inspires me that even though he is dyslexic he still managed to get through and write poems. This project will tell you lots about Benjamin, his lifestyle, and particularly his poems which I think are an amazing creation.
I think that the reason that Benjamin is so good is because of his love to poetry. I think that if he didn’t have the special bond that he has then I doubt that his poems could be as good as they are.
I hope that you enjoy reading this and find it interesting and perhaps realise that Benjamin Zephaniah is an inspiration to all.
Biological Details and Information
Name: Dr Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah
Date of Birth: 15th April 1958
Nationality: English
Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah was born and raised in Birmingham, England. He cannot remember a time when he was not creating poetry. He finished full time education at the age of 13. His poetry is strongly influenced by the music and poetry of Jamaica and what he calls 'street politics'. His first real public performance was in church when he was 10 years old; by the time he was 15 he had developed a strong following in his home town of Handsworth where he had gained a reputation as a young poet who was capable of speaking about both local issues around his community and bigger international issues.
Handworth was one of the places in the world than he really loved. He called it the Jamaican capital of Europe. Although he had increased his popularity through the African community he thought the town was too small. He was not happy preaching about horrors to black people to black people so he sought to find a bigger audience. At the age of 22 Benjamin headed south to London where his first book, ‘Pen Rhythm’ was published by the publisher ‘Page One Books’. This was a small publisher based in East London who was keen on publishing for poets and by doing this he got bigger interest in bigger publishing companies. Companies who had refused him just 12 months earlier.
In the early 80’s Benjamin’s poets could be heard at demonstrations, youth gatherings, outside police stations and even on the dance floor! It was once said that Benjamin Zephaniah was the most filmed, photographed and identifiable poet in Britain. This was because of his ability to perform on stage; however most of his fame was on television.
In the nineties his book publications, record releases and television appearances increased in Britain, although he has focused and concentrated on performing outside Europe. He feels at home anywhere the oral tradition is still strong and lists South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Pakistan and Colombia as some of his most memorable tours. In fact life for Benjamin has been one long tour but this is the only way the oral tradition can live. Over a 22-day period in 1991 he performed on every continent on this planet.
There is also Benjamin as the children’s poem writer. His first children’s poem was ‘Talking Turkeys’ which had to go into an emergency re-print after 6 weeks because the book was so popular. It went to the top of the children’s book list and stayed there for months. At first he was not keen on publishing a book for children believing that there was just poetry, not children's poetry or adult's poetry, but he was soon convinced that young people did appreciate the fact that he was not afraid to write about the real world where there are bullies, guns, racism and war.
Then seemingly from nowhere, in 1999 he wrote a groundbreaking novel for teenagers. 'Face' the first of four novels to date, proved that teenage boys would read if they have access to books that they can relate to. Zephaniah writes gritty, realistic novels about the lives of teenagers, these novels are directed to adults as much as they are to teenagers. He believes that for the most part teenagers know what they are going through, but adults need reminding, they have short memories.
Video of Talking Turkeys
I thought i'd add this. It's one of my favourite poems by Benjamin Zephaniah.
Two Poems by Benjamin Zephaniah
Talking Turkeys
Be nice to yu turkeys dis christmas
Cos' turkeys just wanna hav fun
Turkeys 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 'FOR LIFE'.
Dis Poetry
Dis poetry is like a riddim dat drops
De tongue fires a riddim dat shoots like shots
Dis poetry is designed fe rantin
Dance hall style, big mouth chanting,
Dis poetry nar put yu to sleep
Preaching follow me
Like yu is blind sheep,
Dis poetry is not Party Political
Not designed fe dose who are critical.
Dis poetry is wid me when I gu to me bed
It gets into me dreadlocks
It lingers around me head
Dis poetry goes wid me as I pedal me bike
I've tried Shakespeare, respect due dere
But did is de stuff I like.
Dis poetry is not afraid of going ina book
Still dis poetry need ears fe hear an eyes fe hav a look
Dis poetry is Verbal Riddim, no big words involved
An if I hav a problem de riddim gets it solved,
I've tried to be more romantic, it does nu good for me
So I tek a Reggae Riddim an build me poetry,
I could try be more personal
But you've heard it all before,
Pages of written words not needed
Brain has many words in store,
Yu could call dis poetry Dub Ranting
De tongue plays a beat
De body starts skanking,
Dis poetry is quick an childish
Dis poetry is fe de wise an foolish,
Anybody can do it fe free,
Dis poetry is fe yu an me,
Don't stretch yu imagination
Dis poetry is fe de good of de Nation,
Chant,
In de morning
I chant
In de night
I chant
In de darkness
An under de spotlight,
I pass thru University
I pass thru Sociology
An den I got a dread degree
In Dreadfull Ghettology.
Dis poetry stays wid me when I run or walk
An when I am talking to meself in poetry I talk,
Dis poetry is wid me,
Below me an above,
Dis poetry's from inside me
It goes to yu
WID LUV.
Analysis
Talking Turkeys
In this poem Benjamin Zephaniah is trying to get across the point that you don’t have to kill turkey’s at Christmas time and that they have every right to live as you do. It’s not fair that they are brought up just to be slaughtered and that the way we do it is wrong. He says that turkeys want to have a good Christmas time as well, and do the things that you and I do at that time of year. They don’t want to be in the middle of the table and he doesn’t understand why we do it. It’s cruel and it’s unequal, he says that how would you like to be treated in this way. He says “An business men mek loadsa cash”, and it’s true, it’s just a business selling turkeys at Christmas. Just in the same way it is selling slaves in other countries. They can’t do anything and nobody respects them.
Dis Poetry
In this poem, Benjamin Zephaniah describes poetry and its rhythmic beat and its joyfulness. He’s showing his love to poetry in words and how much it gives to the world by rising people spirits. He says “Dis poetry stays wid me when I run or walk” which means that wherever he is whatever he’s doing poetry is by his side the whole way and he loves it for that.
Conclusion
During this poetry project I’ve learnt the true way of writing poems. That is comes from the heart, and down through your arm and out in ink on the paper. That every poem has a meaning, why it’s there, what it means. I’ve learnt that whoever you are you can write poetry, this project surly shows that even if you are dyslexic you can still do whatever you want with words. I have been inspired by Benjamin throughout this project and I hope that I’ll be able to be like him. If at first you struggle, try, try and try harder. Benjamin did this and it’s truly an amazing achievement in my eyes.
Bibliography
www.davidpbrown.co.uk/poetry/benjamin-zephaniah-2.html
www.benjaminzephaniah.com
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Zephaniah
