| Title | : | The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah: The Autobiography |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1471168948 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781471168949 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | 320 |
| Publication | : | First published May 3, 2018 |
| Awards | : | Costa Book Award Biography (2018) |
In the early 1980s when punks and Rastas were on the streets protesting about unemployment, homelessness and the National Front, Benjamin’s poetry could be heard at demonstrations, outside police stations and on the dance floor. His mission was to take poetry everywhere, and to popularise it by reaching people who didn’t read books. His poetry was political, musical, radical and relevant.
By the early 1990s, Benjamin had performed on every continent in the world (a feat which he achieved in only one year) and he hasn’t stopped performing and touring since. Nelson Mandela, after hearing Benjamin’s tribute to him while he was in prison, requested an introduction to the poet that grew into a lifelong relationship, inspiring Benjamin’s work with children in South Africa. Benjamin would also go on to be the first artist to record with The Wailers after the death of Bob Marley in a musical tribute to Nelson Mandela.
The Life and Rhymes of
The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah: The Autobiography Reviews
-
From BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week:
Benjamin Zephaniah reads his autobiography, beginning with his childhood growing up in Birmingham. It was a childhood coloured with love and violence, but it was also where his love of poetry first evolved - and his relationship with his parents went in two very different directions.
Written and read by Benjamin Zephaniah
Abridged by Sara Davies
Producer: Celia de Wolff
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b0... -
Is it OK to say that The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah: The Autobiography It felt like a snapshot of recent British history. was like a real life Forrest Gump? He was at so many moments of British/ World History, I feel privileged to have read his story.
What a fascinating and principled life.
I would definitely recommend. -
This book made me feel happy and angry and inspired to do something with both those emotions. Just bloody perfect.
-
From a life of crime, to a life of rhyme. It's not a book about redemption, it's a book about real life, real struggle and being real. Whether you agree with the Benjamin Zephaniah's world view or politics, you can't help but be captivated by the voice coming from the words off the page.
Key points for me:
1. A real page turner, (genuinely!)
2. Racism runs deep. (We don't even see it, or maybe I do and choose to ignore it)
3. The arts are powerful. -
Rounded up from 3.5*
-
Writing style etc was prob 4 star. Knocked one off for egocentric, offputting and thus, at times, a trifle boring content. He reminded me of an extremely diluted Morrissey. I did love Morrissey autobiography as it was so bad it made me laugh. I guess I expected more from this man. Love his poems, which I guess is the important thing, but although he gives glimpses of humility, I found that lacking a little. Positives? Easy to read, told me things I didn’t know about him, reminded me of places I lived when I was young( I recognised some of road names). Anyway not a bad book, just not for me.
-
Honest, unbelievably moving and beautifully written story of Benjamin’s life. Benjamin writes so honestly and his written style is just as he appears on TV or radio so his account feels so genuine. Benjamin’s life story covers so many of life’s issues and I was inspired by much of what he said in the book. Unlike many autobiographies, this one feels like fiction because I wanted to keep on reading and I was hooked by it. Truly enjoyable read.
-
I love Zephaniah’s poetry and spoken word, but the autobiography was oddly flat, almost like it was written by a ghost author, which I’m sure isn’t the case. I don’t think he did himself justice with this one. If I’d just read this book and didn’t already know his work, I’d find it hard to understand why he’d become such a big name. Anyway who cares? I’ll just stick to his poetry, podcasts and albums and continue to enjoy them.
-
A fantastic, lyrical telling of Benjamin Zephaniah’s life from his difficult upbringing in Birmingham and around the country to his fame as a performance poet.
A very real telling that is not self-serving and gives an insight into his mind and the lessons he has taken away from life. Something for everyone in here. -
"Poetry wrapped my heart when my heart was naked"
-
This review first appeared on my blog -
https://nsfordwriter.com - on 23rd September 2020.
The autobiography of poet, musician and activist Benjamin Zephaniah is a brilliant read, written in a straightforward style with short chapters to keep you turning the pages. The book is roughly chronological, focusing on the significant events in his life.
What I really like is the honesty and self-belief which are evident in Benjamin Zephaniah’s words. He reflects on his successes, his anger, his failures. In his younger days, he led a life of crime and rather than being apologetic for this, shows a balanced view in the context of institutional racism and urban poverty. We follow his journey from gangster to renowned dub poet, to political activist and influencer, to published author and organic vegetable grower. The book ends with him dividing his time between China (where he visits the martial arts masters) and a Lincolnshire village, while contemplating Brexit and the then-current Prime Minister Theresa May.
Zephaniah’s book really demonstrates how much he’s achieved and how inspirational he is. Highlights of the book include his meeting with Nelson Mandela (who read Zephaniah’s poetry while in prison), his rejection of the OBE and the publication of his YA novels. It was also interesting to learn about his influences and friends. While there are some humorous moments in his autobiography, the majority of the content is serious and includes many examples of racism from the establishment, particularly his encounters with the police. He weaves the issues he’s passionate about into the narrative. You’re most likely to enjoy reading the book if you already know some of his work and if you share some of his beliefs but it’s an engaging read all the same. -
I will admit, I knew virtually nothing about the author or is work before reading this. The memoir itself was interesting and a tight well-written overview of an incredibly rich artistic and political life.
Having now listened to Zephaniah's music and read his poetry, this memoir feels like it would have been better served by being written about a smaller frame of Zephaniah's life. It would have made it feel less rushed with major life events glossed over. I felt like I learned more about him from the art he became famous for rather than this book on his life. -
Brilliant! My Mum used to read "Talking Turkeys" to me as a child and she'd tell me about the time he visited my sister's primary school in the 80s. I knew very little about Benjamin's life so I was intrigued to find out more... I really enjoyed the chapters about his family, school life and childhood. They made me laugh so much but also feel cold with disgust at the racism experienced. His biography is an inspiring read about harnessing your creativity, the importance of community and standing up for what you believe in! I really recommend the audio book as it is narrated by Benjamin himself and this brings it to life. I hope that one day I get to hear him perform live!
-
There are so many reasons why I loved this book. It is a trip through recent history through the stories of a man who happened to live it all. It is political and honest and mind-blowing. I recommend this book to everybody.
Bless up! -
A very readable memoir by Benjamin Zephaniah, touching on areas of life I knew little about and really making me think about the land we live in. I enjoyed it a lot.
-
Everyone needs to read, or more fittingly, listen to this book.
What an incredible man and an incredible life. Truly one of the best social commentators of our age. -
Get the audio book read by the author.
-
I'm not a follower of poetry and certainly not 'street' poetry. but hearing about the life and troubles of this poet makes me want to know more of his work. I first came across him when he spoke about the Turner exhibition at the Tate and what he said encouraged me to go. A good book and well worth the read.
-
What a life, what a writer and truth teller.
-
From an impoverished, at times abusive, childhood, to a life of street crime, then performance poetry, music, writing, activism and turning down an OBE, with lots of interesting turns along the way.
A frank and at times rather funny glimpse into the extraordinary and politically charged life of Benjamin Zephaniah. -
What this book teaches is that it's possible to come out of a low vibrational reality and enter a higher one through personal willpower and choice.
This book is about the path, and not as much about the art itself, though there are frequent mentions of how the art to influence the world and its corrupt establishments. What I admire about Zephaniah's autobiography is how it proves that an individual can change their exterior reality by navigating through the internal. Zephaniah does this himself, by leaving a life of crime and succumbing to the calling of the universe to pursue his passion, which he is able to support himself with not much later.
The language is easy-going enough, readable, relate-able and entertaining. Most of the book will have you on a page turning rampage, but not because you're thirsting to see how some plot element is resolved like in fiction, but simply because Zephaniah's voice and life are highly interesting. You'll become invested. You'll also become more aware of the politics that occurred and of the politics happening now, especially with one of his closing chapters being about the UK's break form the EU.
Overall, read this. Become inspired artistically. Become inspired humanitarian-ally. Enjoy life and spread love. -
Interesting book (more life and times - not many rhymes unfortunately).
This probably provides a unique perspective of the social history of the UK in late 20th/early 21st century, for anyone interested in those times it's well worth the read. However, I'm not sure Benjamin Zephaniah particularly believed in this as a project or was convinced in the idea of an autobiography in the first place.
He admits that he needed to be persuaded to write it and that it's sort-of ghost written, which gives it the feel of a footballers' book (doesn't flow, occasionally contradictory, some tiresome bravado - it's hard to work out if he's proud or ashamed of some of the actions of his younger self). As he says himself, his poetry doesn't easily translate from "stage-to-page", so perhaps his life story doesn't either.
I'd recommend that this is mostly a scan rather than read sort of book - but the value for me was the inspiration to look up his performance poetry online, that's how he made his name and that's probably the best way to really appreciate him.
Really enjoy his performances - this book, unfortunately not so much.
-
A UK literary icon, nothing but praise throughout. Reading during black history month made me especially proud. A great collection of adventure, mishap, luck, determination and struggle. The Black British life is not for the faint at heart, and this growing journey gave me the push to be connected to my home country like never before.
-
Reading “The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah” is like being a bit player in my own life. I should stress immediately that I am not black, I did not grow up in Birmingham and I have not been imprisoned. I have, however, been involved in anti-racist demonstrations and organisations. I was deeply involved in the Anti-Apartheid Movement and was a volunteer in the offices of the African National Congress (ANC). I attended many of the events described in this book. I have even met Benjamin Zephaniah on a number of occasions – the last time being at the Edinburgh International Book Festival this year. In other words, I am very familiar with what is being described in this book.
What is there to be said about this book? Why should you read it?
Unsurprisingly, the language is beautiful. It flows. It is easy to read. It has a feeling of casual lyricism (which means that a great deal of trouble and effort went into the writing of it). It gives you an insight into the life of a young black man growing up in a working-class area of Birmingham. It shows you “something to make you understand” to quote Ralph McTell. It is deeply honest and personal. Zephaniah tells you things that other authors would have glossed over. There are moments of deep personal loss. Some of Benjamin Zephaniah’s friends were killed in the Birmingham Pub Bombing. There are also moments of joy. Like meeting Nelson Mandela and being thanked for campaigning on his behalf.
It is very much a book about campaigning. It is about using the talents that you have got in order to change the world. It is very much about how a black, working class boy from Birmingham, coming to manhood in Thatcher’s Britain, can do that very thing. Criminalisation had been a possibility, sometimes the only option for young black men because of the society in which we live. Benjamin Zephaniah avoided that and has become a positive force in his community and in the world. The joy of reading this book is that this becomes obvious despite the modesty of the man himself. He does not big himself up in any way. That is astonishing because he has much to be proud of, and the rest of us should be very proud of him.
There is one point on which I wish to take issue with him, and that is the organisation of the two Mandela Wembley concerts. It is undoubtedly the case that Black British performers felt overlooked by the concert organisers. I had three South African clandestine visitors staying with me at the time and they told me as much. What we needed to do was attract a worldwide audience and so we needed Harry Belafonte, Whitney Houston, Jessye Norman and Stevie Wonder. We also needed the South African artists. That concert reached 63 countries worldwide legally and South Africa and Namibia illegally. It was an enormous success, and that is what mattered. 18 months later, all the Rivonia Trialists, including Nelson Mandela, were free and the negotiations for the ending of apartheid had begun.
The second concert was more problematic. Nelson Mandela was released on 11th February 1990. The concert was held on 16th April 1990. It was organised in 10 weeks. The one thing that really mattered about that concert was that he was there. When Mandela walked on the stage, a cheer went up that lasted at least ten minutes, and ended with the whole audience singing “You’ll never walk alone”. When he spoke, that cheer went up again. That was a message that went out to the whole world and it was extraordinary. I think we should all be proud of that, and not carp about the details. That however is a minor quibble.
Benjamin Zephaniah has led an extraordinary life. This is an extraordinary book. It is a book that should be read by anyone who is interested in the state of our country and of the world.
