Benjamin Zephaniah: The Brighter Flame exhibition celebrates poet

source : Colmore Business District

published : 3 June 2024

This summer a special exhibition celebrating the life of Birmingham poet and activist Benjamin Zephaniah will take place in the city centre. Catalyst has been one of many birmingham-based organisations offering practical support to the Benjamin Zephaniah Family Legacy Group.

The outdoor exhibition called ‘Benjamin Zephaniah – The Brighter Flame’ will take place between July 5-31, 2024. Created with the support and acknowledgment of the Zephaniah family, the exhibition will feature more than 20 specially curated artworks displayed in cabinets located in Victoria Square, Birmingham, as part of the 100 Days of Creativity programme.

In addition, flags designed in his memory will fly high on Colmore Row, the heart of Birmingham, while a Q&A with David O Springer, Zephaniah’s brother, plus poetry recitals from spoken-word performers will take place at The Exchange on Broad Street.

Zephaniah was recognised as champion of the people and his death on December 7, 2023, aged 65, drew tributes from across the world.

See Handsworth Park mural unveiling >

Born in Handsworth and influenced strongly by what he described as ‘street politics’ and the music and poetry of Jamaica, Zephaniah was gifted an old typewriter as a child, which inspired him to become a writer. In recent years, the typewriter has been housed in the collection of Birmingham Museums Trust and photographs of it will feature in the exhibition.

Through his work, Zephaniah was inspired by music, his lived experiences in Birmingham and his Barbadian-Jamaican heritage. In 2008, he was included in The Times list of Britain’s top 50 post-war writers and won numerous awards and honorary doctorates for his literature. Zephaniah also made numerous acting and media appearances, most recently as the preacher Jeremiah Jesus in BBC’s Peaky Blinders.

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The Brighter Flame exhibition moved to BCU in October 2024 >