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Benjamin Zephaniah, the British poet and writer, has died aged 65.

Benjamin Zephaniah succumbed to brain tumour, which was diagnosis just eight weeks before his demise

Three-year-old Zion was born 13 weeks premature and suffers from short bowel syndrome.

Benjamin Zephaniah, who has died of a brain tumour aged 65, was a writer and dub poet, often intoning his words over a reggae backbeat; he went from the streets of Handsworth to become a treasured figure on the UK’s literary scene, described as “the people’s laureate” and celebrated for his works on race. His mission, he said, was “to take poetry everywhere” and he described his technique as “dub ranting”, adding: “I do it because there is no justice.”

Writer, poet and Benjamin Zephaniah has passed away at age 65 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour eight weeks ago.