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Benjamin Zephaniah

Sue Lawley's castaway is dub poet Benjamin Zephaniah.

Sue Lawley's castaway on this week's Desert Island Discs is dub poet Benjamin Zephaniah. As well as talking about his work as a performance poet often working in prisons or schools, Benjamin recalls a time when he was illiterate. He also remembers Nelson Mandela's request to meet him at seven o'clock in the morning to brief him on Margaret Thatcher.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Take Five by The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Book: Poetical Works of Shelley by Percy Shelley
Luxury: Law of the land (so he could break it)

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 13 Jun 1997 09:05

Music Played

  • SinΓ©ad O’Connor

    Fire On Babylon

    • Universal Mother.
    • Ensign.
  • George Formby

    Little Ukulele

    • Formby At War.
    • Grosvenor.
  • Leonard Cohen

    Last Year's Man

    • Songs Of Love And Hate.
    • Columbia.
  • Burning Spear

    Marcus Garvey

    • Old Marcus Garvey.
    • Island.
  • Mikey Smith

    Mi Cyaan Believe It

    • Mi Cyaan Believe It.
    • Island.
  • Bally Sagoo

    Chura Liya

    • Tum Bin Jiya.
    • Columbia.
  • Castaway's Favourite

    • The Dave Brubeck Quartet

      Take Five

      • Take… The Greatest Hits.
      • Elite Records.
  • Steel Pulse

    Klu Klux Klan

    • Handsworth Revolution.
    • Mango.
  • Book Choice

    • Poetical Works of Shelley - Percy Shelley

  • Luxury Choice

    • Law of the land (so he could break it)

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Benjamin Zephaniah

Broadcasts

  • Sun 8 Jun 1997 12:15
  • Fri 13 Jun 1997 09:05

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