Zephaniah city medal accepted by poet's widow

Trailblazing writer and poet Benjamin Zephaniah has become the first ever recipient of a special medal created to honour Birmingham residents.

The Handsworth-born author, who died aged 65 in 2023 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour, was awarded the City of Birmingham Medal at a ceremony at Birmingham City University on Thursday.

The medal, created by the city council, was posthumously accepted by his widow Qian Zephaniah and his brother Tippa Naphtali at the university's Benjamin Zephaniah Building.

Qian Zephaniah told the BBC the moment made her "miss Benjamin dearly" and the poet would have said the award was for every Brummie who "dares to dream".

Benjamin Zephaniah, remembered as a "titan of Britain literature", was dyslexic and left school aged 13, unable to read or write.

He went on to write poetry and many novels, with his work often addressing themes of racism and inequality, and he also appeared as an actor in BBC drama Peaky Blinders between 2013 and 2022.

Speaking to BBC Radio WM, the author's wife spoke of how he would have been very happy "like a child" to receive the honour.

"He would joke that 'I'm expecting it for years, now I got it'," she said.

"And then he would say 'this medal isn't for me', he would say 'this medal is for every Brummie who dares to think, who dares to dream and who dares to speak the truth and to be themselves'."

Qian Zephaniah also spoke of her husband's appreciation for the city in which he was born.

"In his poem he always said 'I'm the city, the city is me, mixed-race, mixed-up, but mostly mixed with glee'. That was him.

"He would say Birmingham... Brummie, whatever you call it, this place made me."

The medal was designed by students from the university's School of Jewellery.

Professor David Mba, vice-chancellor, said: "Benjamin Zephaniah's voice was fearless and compassionate, challenging injustice and celebrating the diversity that defines Birmingham.

"It is especially meaningful for Birmingham City University to host this ceremony in the building that bears his name."

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