THE ACCLAIMED Benjamin Zephaniah’s parting message to the world was exactly what you’d expect.

In what would turn out to be his last interview, given to Voice journalist Richard Sudan, the much-loved poet spoke of what he hoped his impact on the world would be.

“I want my legacy to be one of love” he said. “Love for everybody and every living thing. Human or animal.  I think the love inside us is not turned on enough.”

Zephaniah tragically passed away aged 65 on December 7^th, eight weeks after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. His untimely death prompted thousands of people both in Britain and across the world to leave tributes to his life and work.

During the interview, Zephaniah shared his reflections on his journey, his illustrious career, and his philosophy on life and God.

Speaking about his success as a poet, broadcaster and actor he said: ““Wherever I go and whatever I do I tell myself that Benjamin Zephaniah is just a working-class street poet from Birmingham trying to defend working-class people who got a bit lucky with his poetry. I don’t think I’m anything special.”

Birmingham-born Zephaniah grew up in Handsworth in the 1960s and 70s before moving to London in 1979 just a few years before Britain witnessed the uprisings that spread through Black inner city areas like Handsworth and Brixton occurred.

Soon after he published his first book, Pen Rhythm, and was lauded for bringing dub poetry, a Jamaican-inspired form of poetry, to the British mainstream. His work drew on his experience of racism, imprisonment, and his Jamaican heritage.

He went on to have an accomplished career as a musician, novelist, playwright  and actor as well as becoming a Professor at Brunel University. Zephaniah was the recipient of at least sixteen honorary doctorates.

Poetry was his first love and his belief in its ability to connect with and empower ordinary people never wavered.

“The Matrix and the powers that be, are telling people that they don’t have any power that they’re not listened to” he told The Voice.  “Poetry says the opposite. Poetry says you’re all powerful. Poetry says we want to listen to you.  Poetry says what do you want to say?”

He said he didn’t fear the end but had a strong message about how we as a society ought to treat children.

Despite never having kids of his own, children and young people always held a special place in Benjamin’s heart.  They remained a priority for him.

“We give young people too much work to do in a way.  They have to navigate their way around the internet as well as the real world” he said. “They have opinions on really sophisticated problems that most adults take a lifetime to come to terms with. They then become adults and they lose their child-like qualities, but those qualities are really important.”

You can read the full interview with Benjamin Zephaniah in the January print edition of The Voice