Benjamin Zephaniah - Pen Rhythm Poet 1983

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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.

Пікірлер: 74

  • @JonMangaba
    @JonMangaba6 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @ernestopires7219

    @ernestopires7219

    6 ай бұрын

    Huge Respect Brother.

  • @alexandrawalker4640
    @alexandrawalker46406 ай бұрын

    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
    @Aquarius529785 ай бұрын

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

  • @Salomessanctuary
    @Salomessanctuary5 ай бұрын

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

  • @Undulate100
    @Undulate1005 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @debbiehinde7657
    @debbiehinde76575 ай бұрын

    Such a loss. RIP Benjamin.

  • @jassensummogum
    @jassensummogum6 ай бұрын

    What a inspirational human a true example for all humanity.

  • @EugeneFrench
    @EugeneFrench6 ай бұрын

    Rest In Poetry King.

  • @skawashers
    @skawashers6 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @ernestopires7219
    @ernestopires72196 ай бұрын

    ❤🖤✊🏿✊ We will miss him.

  • @shaunrogan952
    @shaunrogan9523 жыл бұрын

    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

    6 ай бұрын

    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

  • @leemitchellmusic
    @leemitchellmusic2 жыл бұрын

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

  • @cdean2789
    @cdean27896 ай бұрын

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

  • @David-mw3sb
    @David-mw3sb6 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @reggaeroots1693
    @reggaeroots16935 ай бұрын

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

  • @carolinavictronia1668
    @carolinavictronia1668 Жыл бұрын

    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
    @SiyaFakher6 ай бұрын

    RIP, What a loss, still so young

  • @olivere5497
    @olivere54976 ай бұрын

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

  • @joanallen4089
    @joanallen4089Ай бұрын

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

  • @MarkMannion-nb2kv
    @MarkMannion-nb2kv6 ай бұрын

    A.great.man

  • @ritchyfox
    @ritchyfox3 жыл бұрын

    this is a terrific film

  • @jltj6487
    @jltj64876 ай бұрын

    Rest in Power!

  • @cros420
    @cros4206 ай бұрын

    RIP 🙏🏽😔

  • @DeborahThuja
    @DeborahThuja5 ай бұрын

    Thank you for sharing.

  • @no_soy_rubio
    @no_soy_rubio6 ай бұрын

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

  • @michaelperkins4854
    @michaelperkins48546 ай бұрын

    RIP, big fella. :(

  • @hapijen4828
    @hapijen48286 ай бұрын

    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. 💪🏽🕯🙏🏽🥀👏🏽💥💯

  • @ghazalamumtaz5853
    @ghazalamumtaz58536 ай бұрын

    Such a sad day, RIP

  • @charshill2978
    @charshill29786 ай бұрын

    Rest In Power Warrior

  • @Aquarius52978
    @Aquarius529785 ай бұрын

    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. 😢😢

  • @London_miss234
    @London_miss2346 ай бұрын

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

  • @K4K96
    @K4K963 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @davemail35
    @davemail353 жыл бұрын

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

  • @reggaefilms
    @reggaefilms5 жыл бұрын

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

  • @barnabyaustinwheway2643
    @barnabyaustinwheway2643 Жыл бұрын

    BRILLIANT!

  • @mistyxswirl7936
    @mistyxswirl79363 жыл бұрын

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

  • @cdean2789

    @cdean2789

    6 ай бұрын

    BLM*

  • @bennyjais

    @bennyjais

    6 ай бұрын

    @@cdean2789Black History Month 🤦‍♂️

  • @MichelleAhern-gr9zl
    @MichelleAhern-gr9zl6 ай бұрын

    😊 this video is truely suberb

  • @majahbless
    @majahbless6 ай бұрын

    Greatness

  • @TheNaps9
    @TheNaps96 ай бұрын

    wow...rare gems

  • @djtricks1
    @djtricks15 ай бұрын

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

  • @CoCre8ors
    @CoCre8ors4 жыл бұрын

    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

  • @krainey
    @krainey3 жыл бұрын

    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 😕

  • @travismitchell2888
    @travismitchell28885 жыл бұрын

    Superb!.Thanks for uploading x.

  • @mrcmos5444
    @mrcmos54445 ай бұрын

    Respect and RIP King..2nd to none

  • @levigotit3029
    @levigotit30292 жыл бұрын

    🔥🙏🏽Thank you for this

  • @tlcchaos
    @tlcchaos6 ай бұрын

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

  • @jonathaneffemey944
    @jonathaneffemey9446 ай бұрын

    RIP Benjamin a true griot!

  • @Jeano360
    @Jeano360 Жыл бұрын

    Levels King, levels!

  • @jayster.k.wiseguy
    @jayster.k.wiseguy2 жыл бұрын

    Prophecy~ from experience~

  • @Blucifah
    @Blucifah6 ай бұрын

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

  • @markrigby2264
    @markrigby22643 жыл бұрын

    Th best

  • @kaleahcollins4567
    @kaleahcollins45676 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @soloist9495
    @soloist94955 жыл бұрын

    32.35 what the tune playing in the back anyone

  • @olivere5497
    @olivere54976 ай бұрын

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

  • @jahfabiorezende8077
    @jahfabiorezende80772 жыл бұрын

    👉💣💣💣🔥

  • @lawrencebell7588
    @lawrencebell75882 жыл бұрын

    Is benjamin zephaniah good

  • @soloist9495
    @soloist94955 жыл бұрын

    32.00 what's the tune the kicks in anyone

  • @Yabizs

    @Yabizs

    4 жыл бұрын

    Nies

  • @kaleahcollins4567
    @kaleahcollins45676 ай бұрын

    His government rhythm is similar to the Kunta kinte rhythm

  • @asa1973100
    @asa19731006 ай бұрын

    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

  • @Tjames33926

    @Tjames33926

    5 ай бұрын

    What do you mean by buy?

  • @johntaylor8463
    @johntaylor84635 ай бұрын

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

  • @cdean2789
    @cdean27896 ай бұрын

    The SPG were a gang.

  • @bushwhackeddos.2703
    @bushwhackeddos.27035 ай бұрын

    Whyte people clap like trained seals.

  • @arkitekfran
    @arkitekfran5 ай бұрын

    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
    @madbun13125 ай бұрын

    anyone know the music at 5.50 mins?

  • @Undulate100

    @Undulate100

    5 ай бұрын

    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.

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