Exhibition honouring the Legacy of Birmingham poet Benjamin Zephaniah opens in Birmingham City Centre

A unique exhibition honouring the life and work of Birmingham's own poet and activist, Benjamin Zephaniah, is currently being showcased throughout the city centre.

The Zephaniah family has praised the outdoor exhibition, 'Benjamin Zephaniah – The Brighter Flame', as a ‘amazing, iconic and beautiful tribute to Benjamin’.

It will be on display from July 5 to 31 in Victoria Square and Colmore Row.

A spokesperson for Benjamin Zephaniah’s family said: “The flagpoles now flying high over Birmingham’s streets and the boards in Victoria Square capture the very essence of what made Benjamin a truly inspirational and lovely man.

“We feel it is a wonderful tribute for Benjamin, a son of Birmingham, to be honoured in this special and unique way.

“We feel grateful and humbled by the amazing efforts of those who have worked so hard to develop The Brighter Flame exhibition.”

The exhibition, supported and acknowledged by the Zephaniah family, was developed and financed by Colmore BID. It includes over 20 specially selected artworks exhibited in large cabinets and flags, forming part of the city's 100 Days of Creativity initiative.

Zephaniah, who passed away on December 7, 2023, at the age of 65, was celebrated as a people's champion, and his death drew tributes worldwide.

Born in Handsworth, Zephaniah was deeply influenced by 'street politics' and the music and poetry of Jamaica. As a child, he received an old typewriter, which sparked his journey to becoming a writer. Recently, the typewriter has been part of the Birmingham Museums Trust collection, and photographs of it will be included in the exhibition.

Zephaniah drew inspiration from music, his experiences in Birmingham, and his Barbadian-Jamaican heritage for his work. In 2008, he was named in The Times list of Britain’s top 50 post-war writers and received numerous awards and honorary doctorates for his literature.

Zephaniah also made several acting and media appearances, most recently as the preacher Jeremiah Jesus in BBC’s Peaky Blinders.

What Does the Exhibition Showcase?

The Brighter Flame showcases large-scale monochrome archival portraits of Zephaniah by local artist Pogus Caesar, along with a collection of poems and photographs by Zephaniah and Caesar from their inaugural large-scale project, Handsworth 1985 Revisited.

The exhibition also presents stills from The Tiny Spark, a conceptual film that combines Zephaniah’s poetry and Caesar’s images, reflecting on the Handsworth Riots of 1985.

An exclusive spoken word event at The Exchange on Broad Street, featuring a Q&A with David O Springer, Zephaniah’s brother, was also part of the exhibition.

‘Benjamin Zephaniah – The Brighter Flame’ was developed and financed by Colmore BID, the Business Improvement District for the commercial district, and co-curated by Pogus Caesar and art historian Ruth Millington.

Melanie Williams, Board Director at Colmore BID and Chair of Outstanding Places Working Group, said:

“We’re so proud that this fantastic free exhibition ‘The Brighter Flame’, funded by Colmore Business District, is now open! This celebration of Benjamin Zephaniah’s talent and contribution to Birmingham’s artist landscape cannot be underestimated.”

Benjamin Zephaniah – The Brighter Flame: July 5-31 2024, Victoria Square, Birmingham.

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