We Refugees

Born on 15th April 1958 in Birmingham, England. His first public performance was in church when he was ten years old, by the time he was fifteen he had developed a strong following in his home town of Handsworth where he had gained a reputation as a young poet, capable of speaking on local and international issues. At twenty-two his first book Pen Rhythm was published by Page One Books. The book sold well but it was in performance he caused a revolution that injected new life into the British poetry scene. In the 1980s when Punks and Rastas were protesting about SUS Laws, high unemployment, homelessness, and the National Front, Zephaniah's poetry could be heard on the demonstrations, at youth gatherings, outside police stations, and on the dance floor. It was once said of him that he was Britain's most filmed, photographed, and identifiable poet because of his ability to perform on stage, but most of all on television, bringing Dub Poetry straight into British living rooms. He has sixteen honorary doctorates and the Ealing Hospital in West London has named a wing after him. Zephaniah believes that working with human rights groups, animal rights groups, and other political organisations means that he will never lack subject matter. He now spends much of his time in China, but he continues working throughout Asia, South America, and Africa, and is as passionate about politics and poetry now as he has ever been.