£5 off tickets to Benjamin Zephaniah: A Celebration at the Southbank Centre

£5 off tickets for Observer subscribers

An evening of poetry, music and memories to celebrate the life and legacy of the ‘people’s poet’, Benjamin Zephaniah.

Friday 10 Jul 2026, 8pm

A revolutionary force in British culture, Zephaniah took poetry to the streets, infusing it with reggae rhythms and the urgency of social activism.

This celebration is hosted by Lemn Sissay, the BAFTA-nominated poet and broadcaster alongside legendary singer and actress, Pauline Black. They are joined by a line-up of Zephaniah’s artistic admirers and collaborators, who reflect on his enduring influence through readings and personal tributes.

The evening features poet, author and winner of the Ted Hughes Award, Raymond Antrobus; author and influential MC and grime musician, Big Narstie; and activist Jasmine Gardosi; former Scots Makar (National Poet for Scotland) and award-winning author, Jackie Kay; beloved poet and former Children’s Laureate, Michael Rosen; and one of the UK’s most respected hip-hop voices, Kofi Stone.

Join us to celebrate Zephaniah’s radical spirit, which still sits at the heart of our cultural life, and his legacy, which reminds us all that poetry belongs to everyone.

Observer subscribers can enjoy £5 off tickets. Enter the code OBSERVER and book here: https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/benjamin-zephaniah-celebration/.

Photograph by Roberto Ricciuti/Getty Images