Benjamin Zephaniah - Pen Rhythm Poet 1983

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  • čas přidán 27. 08. 2018
  • Benjamin Zephaniah's first TV appearance just as his performance career started to gather force and his stage shows were becoming very popular my late father Simon Heaven asked hi if he'd like to be in a documentary. Family folklore says it was actually even broadcast on Channel 4's opening week though we need confirmation of that though if anyone can help???
    I did speak to Benjamin about releasing this onto the internet for al to see, and although he was hesitant as he was maybe a little nervous about how some of his more passionate youthful (he no longer smokes ganja, drinks or eats meat) and radical performances may be seen today, he agreed (I think simply to honour my father who was I think a good friend and they spoke regularly).
    Anyway, heres to you Benjamin, and heres to you Dad, and everyone who helped. The mixing was also by Mad Professor too!
    Please spread it before some jobsworth stops us being able to see it!
    A film by Simon Heaven © Compass Films Ltd 1986 all rights reserved.
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Komentáře • 74

  • @JonMangaba
    @JonMangaba Před 5 měsíci +83

    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.

  • @alexandrawalker4640
    @alexandrawalker4640 Před 5 měsíci +36

    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.

  • @Aquarius52978
    @Aquarius52978 Před 5 měsíci +9

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

  • @Salomessanctuary
    @Salomessanctuary Před 5 měsíci +6

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

  • @debbiehinde7657
    @debbiehinde7657 Před 5 měsíci +6

    Such a loss. RIP Benjamin.

  • @EugeneFrench
    @EugeneFrench Před 5 měsíci +16

    Rest In Poetry King.

  • @jassensummogum
    @jassensummogum Před 5 měsíci +15

    What a inspirational human a true example for all humanity.

  • @skawashers
    @skawashers Před 5 měsíci +11

    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.

  • @Undulate100
    @Undulate100 Před 5 měsíci +8

    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.

  • @ernestopires7219
    @ernestopires7219 Před 5 měsíci +6

    ❤🖤✊🏿✊
    We will miss him.

  • @leemitchellmusic
    @leemitchellmusic Před 2 lety +19

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

  • @reggaeroots1693
    @reggaeroots1693 Před 5 měsíci +4

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

  • @cdean2789
    @cdean2789 Před 5 měsíci +11

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

  • @MarkMannion-nb2kv
    @MarkMannion-nb2kv Před 5 měsíci +4

    A.great.man

  • @shaunrogan952
    @shaunrogan952 Před 3 lety +26

    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.

    • @EugeneFrench
      @EugeneFrench Před 5 měsíci +2

      I saw it too. I saw this after coming back to the UK after 6 months travelling. I was already a huge fan of LKJ and I was so happy to see some homegrown talent. RIP

  • @cros420
    @cros420 Před 5 měsíci +4

    RIP 🙏🏽😔

  • @carolinavictronia1668
    @carolinavictronia1668 Před rokem +10

    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

  • @SiyaFakher
    @SiyaFakher Před 5 měsíci +2

    RIP, What a loss, still so young

  • @David-mw3sb
    @David-mw3sb Před 5 měsíci +4

    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.

  • @jltj6487
    @jltj6487 Před 5 měsíci +3

    Rest in Power!

  • @ritchyfox
    @ritchyfox Před 3 lety +9

    this is a terrific film

  • @olivere5497
    @olivere5497 Před 5 měsíci +3

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

  • @michaelperkins4854
    @michaelperkins4854 Před 5 měsíci +3

    RIP, big fella. :(

  • @joanallen4089
    @joanallen4089 Před měsícem

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

  • @DeborahThuja
    @DeborahThuja Před 5 měsíci +2

    Thank you for sharing.

  • @charshill2978
    @charshill2978 Před 5 měsíci +2

    Rest In Power Warrior

  • @ghazalamumtaz5853
    @ghazalamumtaz5853 Před 5 měsíci +2

    Such a sad day, RIP

  • @hapijen4828
    @hapijen4828 Před 5 měsíci +1

    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.
    💪🏽🕯🙏🏽🥀👏🏽💥💯

  • @no_soy_rubio
    @no_soy_rubio Před 5 měsíci +1

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

  • @Aquarius52978
    @Aquarius52978 Před 5 měsíci

    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. 😢😢

  • @davemail35
    @davemail35 Před 3 lety +3

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

  • @London_miss234
    @London_miss234 Před 5 měsíci

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

  • @reggaefilms
    @reggaefilms Před 5 lety +8

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

  • @MichelleAhern-gr9zl
    @MichelleAhern-gr9zl Před 5 měsíci +2

    😊 this video is truely suberb

  • @barnabyaustinwheway2643
    @barnabyaustinwheway2643 Před rokem +2

    BRILLIANT!

  • @TheNaps9
    @TheNaps9 Před 5 měsíci

    wow...rare gems

  • @majahbless
    @majahbless Před 5 měsíci +1

    Greatness

  • @mistyxswirl7936
    @mistyxswirl7936 Před 3 lety +11

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

    • @cdean2789
      @cdean2789 Před 5 měsíci

      BLM*

    • @bennyjais
      @bennyjais Před 5 měsíci

      @@cdean2789Black History Month 🤦‍♂️

  • @djtricks1
    @djtricks1 Před 5 měsíci

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

  • @krainey
    @krainey Před 3 lety +4

    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 😕

  • @CoCre8ors
    @CoCre8ors Před 4 lety +8

    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

  • @mrcmos5444
    @mrcmos5444 Před 5 měsíci

    Respect and RIP King..2nd to none

  • @K4K96
    @K4K96 Před 2 měsíci

    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.

  • @travismitchell2888
    @travismitchell2888 Před 5 lety +4

    Superb!.Thanks for uploading x.

  • @tlcchaos
    @tlcchaos Před 5 měsíci

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

  • @levigotit3029
    @levigotit3029 Před 2 lety

    🔥🙏🏽Thank you for this

  • @jonathaneffemey944
    @jonathaneffemey944 Před 5 měsíci

    RIP Benjamin a true griot!

  • @Jeano360
    @Jeano360 Před rokem

    Levels King, levels!

  • @jayster.k.wiseguy
    @jayster.k.wiseguy Před 2 lety +1

    Prophecy~ from experience~

  • @Blucifah
    @Blucifah Před 5 měsíci +1

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

  • @markrigby2264
    @markrigby2264 Před 3 lety

    Th best

  • @kaleahcollins4567
    @kaleahcollins4567 Před 5 měsíci

    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.

  • @olivere5497
    @olivere5497 Před 5 měsíci

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

  • @soloist9495
    @soloist9495 Před 5 lety

    32.35 what the tune playing in the back anyone

  • @jahfabiorezende8077
    @jahfabiorezende8077 Před 2 lety

    👉💣💣💣🔥

  • @lawrencebell7588
    @lawrencebell7588 Před 2 lety +1

    Is benjamin zephaniah good

  • @soloist9495
    @soloist9495 Před 5 lety

    32.00 what's the tune the kicks in anyone

  • @asa1973100
    @asa1973100 Před 5 měsíci +4

    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

  • @kaleahcollins4567
    @kaleahcollins4567 Před 5 měsíci

    His government rhythm is similar to the Kunta kinte rhythm

  • @johntaylor8463
    @johntaylor8463 Před 5 měsíci

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

  • @cdean2789
    @cdean2789 Před 5 měsíci

    The SPG were a gang.

  • @bushwhackeddos.2703
    @bushwhackeddos.2703 Před 4 měsíci

    Whyte people clap like trained seals.

  • @arkitekfran
    @arkitekfran Před 5 měsíci

    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.

  • @madbun1312
    @madbun1312 Před 5 měsíci

    anyone know the music at 5.50 mins?

    • @Undulate100
      @Undulate100 Před 5 měsíci +1

      Hi, the soundtrack was recorded by Benjamin's band at the time, in 1983, and was recorded and mixed by the Mad Professor no less! That's why it sounds so good. Benjamin played bass, I played guitar and piano and Pops played the drums.