Benjamin Zephaniah - Pen Rhythm Poet 1983 

Thanks for sharing this. Fascinating. Lovely to see his mother. She wanted him to be a doctor. So he got 16 doctorates. We shall miss him.

Thank you very much. Rest in Peace Benjamin Zephaniah. ❤🙏

He actually lived what he preached. Rest in peace cuz😢😢

RIP Benjamin Zephaniah - he showed a lot of white kids how difficult life was (and still is) for a lot of black kids through righteous anger and dub poetry - his life was his art and his passing is a huge loss. Respect to his family and all who loved him.

Hi Joseph. I can confirm this was indeed shown on Channel 4 in 1983. I know cos I am in it a bit. Also, the soundtrack was made by Benjamin's band at the time, Benjamin played the bass, I played the guitar and piano and Pops played the drums on the soundtrack which was recorded at Theee Mad Professor's studio, which is why it sounds so good. I think it would be great if it was shown again on Channel 4 as a tribute to Benjamin. To me, this doc. catches him at his best! And it is a great piece of history which is still relevant to today. I think the media these days would be to scared to show it, also, especially the BBC, they just don't play political stuff like that anymore. He was on the Tom Robinson show in 2017 when 'Revolutionary Minds' came out; none of the tracks were played by TR and Benjamin's ideology was hardly touched on by TR. I played guitar on Benjamin's first LP Rasta and John Peel played 3 of the tracks on his evening show. Those were the days. Your dad did a great job with this doc, Rest In Power to both of them.

What a inspirational human a true example for all humanity.

Rest In Poetry King.

I remember seeing this when it first aired on Channel 4 as a teenager. It blew me away then and it still does now. Benjamin still a vital presence and our society so much better off for him being in it.

sad day . Benjamin would have been my last guess to die this early. Gonna miss the guy and how he would talk so much sense on Question Time.

Benjamin...always admired his integrity...and his work !!! X :-)

Thanks for sharing this documentary ...grew up in the same road in Aston Birmingham with Benjamin and his family... rest easy bro

❤🖤✊🏿✊ We will miss him.

So beautiful to watch this, listen to youth. I was around London at the time of the Brixton riots, and this is this time. And Bless him mum xx

Impossible to consider yourself good when you treat others bad. Self delusion is still a massive problem. Deep respect to those that stand up against it. Amazing snapshot of that time.

Rest in Power brother. Always against Apartheid and a supporter of the liberation of the Palestinians.

What an energy, force and talent ... already in his 20s. Can see where he gets his integrity and likeable personality - mudder...

A.great.man

RIP, What a loss, still so young

this is a terrific film

GIMME FIVE. GIMME FIVE RINGS OF LOVE. i still remember those lines 30+ years later.

Thank you for sharing.

RIP 🙏🏽😔

Rest in Power!

Very good presentation. Benjamin Zephaniah was talented, conscious, African.

Ms Faleita aka Ms Valrie, hard working Jamaica 🇯🇲 hailed from Treasure Beach St Elizabeth Jamaica. My first cousins. I became the nurse, that you didn't. NHS 1971-2014. Working class, the salt of the earth. Rest in Peace Bengy. In the end you made your mum proud. 😢😢

Thank you enjoyed this very much - my daughter is going to recite one of his poems for BHM 🖤

I'd never heard of him till recently when he passed away. Interesting man RIP

RIP, big fella. :(

Rest In Power Warrior

Such a sad day, RIP

Thanks for sharing with us in good quality, it was broadcast on C4 on 1st July 1983 2230hrs

So glad to have stumbled upon this. Was just listening to Adam Buxton interviewing him.

Rest In Poetry BenJAHmin you magnificent wonderful HuMANitarian Full of Righteous wisdom & compassion. You were a man of Honour & not of meaningless honours that is why you quite rightly & justifiably rejected an OBE. They thought they could buy your soul - but you knew too much of your ancestral history. 💪🏽🕯🙏🏽🥀👏🏽💥💯

Sometimes I travel by bicycle, Sometimes I travel by car, I've traveled by boat, Sometimes I travel by airplane, But the best way to travel is by book, You can go anywhere you like, If there's a destination you want, To go to and you can't see it, create it, write it, tell your story.

BRILLIANT!

Thanks for sharing this how I never knew about this I don’t know been following Benjy since I was a kid incredible truly a genius

Superb!.Thanks for uploading x.

Greatness

RIP ❤🕊️

wow...rare gems

😊 this video is truely suberb

Great documentary thank you for up loading and sharing this I listened to Benjamin's book " Life and Rhymes" very good inspirational stuff Check dem @42:58 😕

Bless, Bless..Benjamin Zephaniah,🕯1983.. nothing has changed even in .. 2023🌎"(Bombing & Greed! )"

Respect and RIP King..2nd to none

Nice...Thank you...Go mile maith agat...TLC x.

🔥🙏🏽Thank you for this

Born in the West Midlands Birmingham and yet achieved great success. He even managed to buy himself a Jamaican accent !! Now that’s some achievement

Big yout is the 1st poet of dub..but it was called chatting pon da muc..rip

Levels King, levels!

RIP Benjamin a true griot!

Prophecy~ from experience~

Is benjamin zephaniah good

This came in at the right time along side of the punk movement and groups like the clash who was saying the same thing but in their own way. No jobs for the youth government ain't shit and abuse there power. The need for change.

14:36, most have been no signal, no one has their phones out.

Th best

32.35 what the tune playing in the back anyone

His government rhythm is similar to the Kunta kinte rhythm

32.00 what's the tune the kicks in anyone

👉💣💣💣🔥

One minute he's slagging off Thatcher, the next he's saying he's anti-society just like her😂 what a clown

Whyte people clap like trained seals.

Ive realises white people will always listen to dark peopleusic and poem lol. Room full of them and unfortunately i wm struggling to see a brown person on sight. We still lost until now.

The SPG were a gang.

anyone know the music at 5.50 mins?