Benjamin ZephaniahBenjamin Zephaniaha mana rastafariana rappera poet

A Man Called “Benjamin”A Man Called “Benjamin”(born in Jamaica in 1958 and emigrated to Birmingham )(born in Jamaica in 1958 and emigrated to Birmingham )

• He’s a creative personHe’s a creative person• His main ambition is to His main ambition is to

turn people to poetry turn people to poetry performative poetry performative poetry

• Energy and creativity Energy and creativity find expression also in find expression also in playwritingplaywriting

• Gifted with large-Gifted with large-hearted humanityhearted humanity

• Divided between two Divided between two culturescultures

Who’s WhoWho’s Who

I used to think I used to think nursesnursesWere women,Were women,I used to think policeI used to think policeWere men,Were men,I used to think poetsI used to think poetsWere boring,Were boring,Until I became one of Until I became one of themthem

• In this poem, In this poem, Benjamin makes Benjamin makes clear his will to clear his will to change the dead, change the dead, “white and boring “white and boring image of poetry”image of poetry”

A Poet Called BenjaminA Poet Called Benjamin

• He always played with He always played with wordswords

• His poetry is commited His poetry is commited but is loved by childrenbut is loved by children

• He’s irriverent He’s irriverent for the for the academic trappings of academic trappings of traditional written traditional written poetrypoetry pop poetry pop poetry

• Critics don’t appreciate Critics don’t appreciate his workshis works

Benjamin kissing R. McGough

How to Write a PoemHow to Write a Poem

• Don’t decide to write Don’t decide to write poemspoems

• Write about subjects close Write about subjects close to your heartto your heart

• Be honestBe honest

• Use normal speech Use normal speech patternspatterns– Speak as you were in a streetSpeak as you were in a street

• Don't force the rhymesDon't force the rhymes

• Try your poem to your Try your poem to your friendsfriends

• Perform you poetryPerform you poetry

Everybody is Doing ItEverybody is Doing It

In Hawaii they HulaIn Hawaii they HulaThey Tango in ArgentinaThey Tango in ArgentinaThey Reggae in JamaicaThey Reggae in JamaicaAnd they Rumba down in And they Rumba down in Cuba,Cuba,In Trinidad and TobagoIn Trinidad and TobagoThey do the CalypsoThey do the CalypsoAnd in Spain the SpanishAnd in Spain the SpanishThey really do Flamenco They really do Flamenco

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NeighboursNeighbours (excerpt) (excerpt)

I am the type you are I am the type you are supposed to fearsupposed to fearBlack and foreignBlack and foreignBig and Big and dreadlocksdreadlocksAn uneducated grass An uneducated grass eater. eater.

I talk in tonguesI talk in tonguesI chant at nightI chant at nightI appear anywhere,I appear anywhere,I I sleep with lionssleep with lionsAnd when the moon gets And when the moon gets memeI am a Wailer I am a Wailer

Benjamin and N. Mandela

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The Race Industry The Race Industry (excerpt)(excerpt)

The coconuts have got The coconuts have got the jobs.the jobs.The race industry is a The race industry is a growth industry.growth industry.We We despairingdespairing, they , they careeringcareering..We want more We want more peacepeace they want more they want more policepolice..The The Uncle TomsUncle Toms are are getting paid.getting paid.The race industry is a The race industry is a growth industry.growth industry.

• Critical attitude Critical attitude toward racism toward racism ((IndependenceIndependence))

• Rhythm Rhythm sing song sing song effecteffect

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We RefugeesWe Refugees

I come from a I come from a musical musical placeplaceWhere they shoot me for Where they shoot me for my songmy songAnd my brother has been And my brother has been torturedtorturedBy my brother in my land. By my brother in my land.

I come from a beautiful I come from a beautiful placeplaceWhere they hate my shade Where they hate my shade of skinof skinThey don’t like the way I They don’t like the way I prayprayAnd they ban free poetry And they ban free poetry

• Importance of rhythm in Importance of rhythm in poetrypoetry

• He sings the sufferings of He sings the sufferings of peoplepeople

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Eat Your WordsEat Your WordsFU

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POEM

I am a veggie tableI am a veggie tableA table made of veg,A table made of veg,

There’s so much fruit upon There’s so much fruit upon meme

All living on the edge,All living on the edge,Life is hardLife is hard

But so are platesBut so are platesAnd tea can be quite hot,And tea can be quite hot,

And vegetarian poetsAnd vegetarian poetsMake me nervous quite a lotMake me nervous quite a lot