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One of the great artists we said goodbye to in 2023 was the poet, writer and Peaky Blinders actor Benjamin Zephaniah – who passed away earlier this month at the age of 65.

He was born and raised in Birmingham, the son of a Barbadian postman and a Jamaican nurse.

Benjamin was dyslexic and left school at 13, unable to read or write.

As well as the poetry, for adults and children, he wrote five novels and performed with the group The Benjamin Zephaniah Band.

Â鶹Éç Radio Oxford’s Fleur Ostojak spoke to Benjamin Zephaniah in 2020, ahead of a virtual concert organised by volunteers in Oxford for Macmillan Cancer Support.

And Fleur wanted to know more about one of his most beloved, and festive poems…