Birmingham City Council pledge on ‘long lasting’ tribute for Benjamin Zephaniah

Birmingham City Council has said it will support the family of Benjamin Zephaniah to create a “long-lasting” tribute to celebrate the life of the late writer, poet and actor.

The 65-year-old Peaky Blinders star, from Handsworth, died last December, weeks after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. A colourful mural of Zephaniah, commissioned by the Black Heritage Walks Network and created by artist Bunny Bread, was recently unveiled at Handsworth Park.

Council deputy leader Sharon Thompson said this week that Zephaniah’s family love the “stunning” artwork and found it “really overwhelming”.

Asked what steps the council is taking to further commemorate the life and work of the beloved poet, Cllr Thompson said she had previously met with a number of Zephaniah’s family members shortly after he passed.

“I was very clear with them that I wanted to be respectful and make sure they led the way on this,” she told the meeting of the city council on Tuesday. There have been a lot of ideas around about how we could possibly, more long-term, look at this.”

“It’s for the family to actually announce what their plans are but I will say I’ve been speaking to partners, including universities,” she continued. “I know there’s conversations taking place around tree planting and other activities across the piece but we will respectfully support Benjamin’s family in anything they want to do.”

“We will provide the contacts to different organisations that may be able to support the objectives of making sure his memory is lasting and other people have the opportunity to learn from the things he shared with us,” Cllr Thompson added. “Whether that’s through his love for education, green spaces and trees, to make sure it’s a long-lasting, unforgotten tribute towards his name.”

Discussing the Handsworth Park mural, Dawn Carr, local historian of Black History Arts & More (BHAM), said Benjamin Zephaniah showed “endless love and creativity.”

“He was always humble and an advocate of the poor and oppressed,” she said. “Benjamin was more than a poet, he was a true king, a warrior, a prophet and a role model for all men, regardless of background.”