University writing competition in honour of Benjamin Zephaniah proves a smash hit
The wife of Birmingham poet Benjamin Zephaniah says a writing competition to celebrate his life and legacy is a “beautiful testament to how his work continues to inspire”.
The Benjamin Zephaniah Future Writers Awards, launched by Birmingham City University (BCU), attracted more than 2,500 entries from across the country.
“Seeing so many of you channel his energy into your creativity is both humbling and uplifting,” said Qian Zephaniah at a ceremony at BCU to announce the winners on Wednesday evening.
“Congratulations to all the winners. Your talent, passion, and words reflect the spirit of Benjamin’s mission to inspire, to provoke thought, and to bring about change.
“Tonight’s competition is a beautiful testament to how his work continues to inspire.”
Born in Handsworth, Benjamin became a hugely influential figure in Birmingham and across the UK thanks to his talents as a poet, writer, actor and musician.
He published numerous collections of his poetry, wrote novels, and was included in The Times list of Britain's top 50 post-war writers in 2008.
In 2021, he won a BAFTA for Life and Rhymes, which eclipsed Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, Strictly Come Dancing, and The Masked Singer to land the Best Entertainment Programme award.
Dubbed the ‘people’s laureate’, Benjamin was also an anti-racism and animal rights activist, and he appeared in several episodes of the hit television show Peaky Blinders.
He died aged 65 on 7 December 2023, shortly after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
BCU pro vice-chancellor Harris Beider described Benjamin, who was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University in 2005, as a “Brummie icon” and a “national treasure”.
Professor Beider added: “His writing shaped generations of both adults and children, and he left a remarkable legacy on the city where he was born.”
Launched by BCU with the support of Qian and the Poetry Birmingham Literary Journal, the inaugural Benjamin Zephaniah Future Writers Awards featured six categories.
The theme was inspired by Benjamin's poem People Need People and encouraged poems and short stories to be written about friends, family, peers and mentors.
The judging panel included Casey Bailey, a former Birmingham poet laureate, Madeleine Kludje, deputy artistic director at The REP Birmingham, Naush Saur, co-founder and editor of the Poetry Birmingham Literary Journal, and Dr Martin Glynn, poet and friend of Benjamin Zephaniah.
The six first-place winners were:
- Adults: Fiona Salt 'My Father Never Wore Jeans'
- BCU: Linzi Doyle 'Gramps'
- Year 1, 2 and 3: Edward Booth 'Connections'
- Year 4, 5 and 6: Dulcie-Bella Hackley 'Together But Not Together'
- Year 7, 8 and 9: Lucy Backhurst 'Joseph'
- Year 10, 11, 12 and 13: Silva Gornell 'Gravity In The Orchard'
For more information, visit the website.
Pictured: The Benjamin Zephaniah Future Writers Awards winners, judges, Qian Zephania and BCU leadership. Credit: BCU / Junction 10 Photography
