Benjamin Zephaniah: ‘This government is turning into a dictatorship’

The celebrated poet talks politics, mental health and spirituality.

WORDS OF WISDOM: Respected poet Benjamin Zephaniah (Photo by Roberto Ricciuti/Getty Images)

BENJAMIN ZEPHANIAH is one of the most loved and respected poets in the country with a career spanning decades. You probably read his work in school, or saw him speaking up for social justice at countless protests. 

In recent years, he became a professor at Brunel University, teaching writing poetry for performance. Flick on the TV and you might catch him on Netflix’s ‘Peaky Blinders’ or on Sky’s spoken word platform ‘Life and Rhymes’.

When asked to reflect on the last year or so, in typical Benjamin fashion he begins by talking about others-not himself.

“To the people struggling, don’t be afraid to ask for help. It’s easy to feel isolated. We must be more socially and politically aware and invest in mental health services. Don’t be afraid to speak up. You should fix the roof when the sun is shining. 

“So many people and my friends were suffering with mental health issues, and the people supporting them were often struggling themselves too. It was nice to see people clapping for the NHS, but people were really suffering. I realized that I’m one of the lucky ones”

If Benjamin is fortuitous, his success as a poet over the years is certainly not down to luck.  He has remained consistent, always using his platform to speak about racial injustice and social issues culminating in the remarkable feat of seeing his ‘Life and Rhymes’ poetry show, platformed on Sky TV.  Not only that, but the show won a Bafta.

“It’s great to see that there is an appetite for poetry out there. I’m really not into prizes, but some of the stuff on TV now is not just show business. Winning the award shows that people are deeper than that”

As ever, though, Benjamin is less philosophical and damning in his critique of politics, something which affects us all, whether we want to be ‘political’ or not.

STAR: Benjamin on stage (photo: David Corio/Redferns)

“The government has apparently announced a ‘War on Drugs’ – but it’s macho posturing , appealing to people who think that all drug addicts are horrible people and what we need to do is fight them. Actually, we need to treat them, listen to them. It’s a medical condition.”

“And this policing bill- It’s an attack on our civil liberties. It’s our basic right to be able to protest, and the government wants to take away that from us. The government is divorced from people, but worried about people. They want to control them and tell them what to do. Going down this road ends up in a dictatorship.”

Both Benjamin and I are Windrush descendants. Like so many, he knows the path that the new borders bill could take us down.

“The idea that you can take away my passport and nationality is terrifying. You can’t make people stateless. It really shows you how ruthless these people are. The bill is appeasing people who are scared of foreigners.”

Speaking up against the lies and racism used to attack foreigners is something Benjamin is known for, passionately having often defended immigrants on the BBC’s Question Time.

“The idea that you can take away my passport and nationality is terrifying”

“They want to blame foreigners for all the problems, as if the border is sacred. One thing this country needs and has always needed is an exchange of people coming in and out, free to move-it keeps us going. The bill is appealing to the lowest in our society”

We shift gears from talking about leadership, or lack of it, in UK politics to a figure who was undoubtedly the epitome of leadership-Desmond Tutu, who recently passed.

“For a high ranking Christian, Desmond Tutu made clear that Christianity is not just about sitting down and blessing people that are good Christians. He talked about, and advocated, for all people’s rights, not just Black people.  Hearing a man of his stature speak like that was very inspiring.”

Beyond leadership, it’s clear that Benjamin also views Tutu as somewhat of a trailblazer especially when institutions like the Church and others are often accused of being out of touch from the communities who support them.

“Desmond Tutu is one of the people who showed Christianity can remain relevant in the world, if we care about people. All people. That’s a wonderful legacy and example to leave behind”

One of the things that some religious leaders stand accused of is promoting falsehoods around Covid and the public health crisis it exposed.

“An idea, sometimes pushed by spiritual or natural people and people of faiths-is that science is bad. If not for science you wouldn’t get on a plane and have technology. It’s improved our lives. 

“Back in the day, science was done with white men in white coats who were remote, but now we have Black and educated people in science who have our interest at heart. It doesn’t mean they are perfect but with science you do the research and tests and put the findings out there to be challenged.  That’s a good thing.” 

No doubt too, that while social media is often invaluable, in the midst of the pandemic there’s been a downside.

“Certain things can hold us back if we let them. Simply going to social media for your news and falling into the echo chamber of people that agree with you, is one of them. Do the research and think for yourselves. 

“Thinking critically doesn’t mean just listening to the people you agree with. You must go further. I would prefer to have questions that can’t be answered, than answers that can’t be questioned”

When I first met Benjamin more than a decade ago, we talked about the need for black and minority ethnic political representation. It’s improved. But it’s also clear that we need the right representation in politics.

“It’s been painted with black and brown faces but many of them maintain the status quo. The system’s failed. The political parties of this country have made me a revolutionary. It’s their fault, they’ve shown me how impotent they are. 

“I want to be put out of a job as a radical poet and be a Rasta comedian but I have so much work to do first. I am pleased though, when I see so many young people now rallying around issues there’s a lot more awareness now, and hope. We need that”

There’s an anecdote I can’t fit into this article, but I’ll say this having known Benjamin for a few years. You’re as likely to see him by himself chatting to a homeless person in Leicester Square, as you are on Peaky Blinders. He’s the people’s poet. He’s one of our best. He cares. Give him his flowers while he’s still here.

Comments Form

3 Comments

  1. | Maz

    Benjamin has always been true to his word, he speaks for a lot of immigrants in this country and these things need to be said. A lot of people right now needs to believe in the hope that the government cares about their welfare, sadly this was not expressed during the height of the pandemic. In fact what came across was that a lot of people was left to fend for themselves and it was families who mostly looked out for each other, had that not been the case things could have been worse. The phrase that came to mind was..Nero fiddled while rome and its people were burning. My outlook have completely changed and me & my family have become more of a priority.

    Reply

  2. | Louise Collins

    I love the way he describes himself as a troublemaker……if that’s the case we need more of them!

    A veg growing vegan who loves all his fellow beings……however many legs and of all colours.

    Cheers to being a ‘troublemaker’…..

    Reply

  3. | M

    I have a story on excessive use of force by the MPS recently. Apparently an investigation is underway involving the retrieval of BWV. If there is any interest in covering this story, please email me.

    Kind regards

    M.

    Reply

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