This wonderful secular urban sermon, once given by Benjamin Zephaniah, was revived in the most spectacular way in his memory. On Monday 7th October, a heart-warmingly large crowd gathered in memory of Benjamin, with The Benjamin Zephaniah Family Legacy Group, held inside Birmingham Cathedral of St. Philip in the heart of the city centre, hosted by Writing West Midlands at the Birmingham Literature Festival of 2024.
After opening remarks from Jonathan Davidson, Chief Executive of WWM, the incredible Sue Brown read several of Benjamin’s poems before Casey Bailey, previous Birmingham Poet Laureate and proud Nechells resident, gave the main address as a secular sermon, filled with words from Casey’s heart that resonated with Benjamin Zephaniah and his ideals, executing poetically just how important and impactful Benjamin was not just within Birmingham, but reaching and researching places nobody else was considering.
The world suffered the sudden loss of Benjamin last December, that’s why we are working with the legacy group to fundraise and establish The Zephaniah Forest in Burbury Park – a greenspace close to where the family lived for a time – in a heartfelt dedication to Benjamin’s memory in respect to his love of nature.
The 65 trees for the 65 years of his life will be celebrated by giving back to a community he once lived and thrived within, as well as adorning the trees (and recording the poems next to their TreePlotter counterparts, with a website dedication page, and eventually an anthology) with the 65 poems that win the Trees Please, Poetry Please? competition, based on his sublime poem of the same name.
The competition ends December 1st, and the mini-forest will be planted starting 23rd November, so please submit up to three poems towards this incredible commemoration of Benjamin here: https://birminghamtreepeople.org.uk/trees-in-birmingham/the-zephaniah-forest/
We want to thank Writing West Midlands and Birmingham Literature Festival for inviting us to this fantastic tribute, the evening was thoroughly enjoyed, and we look forward to the wonderful poems we receive!