Leading British rap poet in Malta

The popular British rap poet Benjamin Zephaniah arrives in Malta on Sunday to perform his poetry and to meet writers and students in various schools. He will be giving a performance at the St James Cavalier Theatre on Thursday and Friday at 7.30 p.m. and on Wednesday. At 7.30 p.m., he will be leading an interactive session with local writers at St James Cavalier. All three events are open to the public.

On Tuesday at 10 a.m. at St James Cavalier, Zephaniah and Arts Minister Jesmond Mugliett will be taking part in the official launching of the Klandestini project for emerging writers in five Mediterranean countries which is being co-ordinated by Inizjamed and the British Council in collaboration with the St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity.

Zephaniah was declared Poet of the Year by the London magazine City Limits in 1983 and 1985 and was shortlisted for Oxford Professor of Poetry. He has recently acted on BBC TV and radioplays, performed much poetry at gigs and festivals and charity events. Zephaniah appears increasingly on radio and television as performer and cultural commentator.

His literary work includes poetry and prose for adults, teenagers and children. He is well known both as a versatile performer who can make the most of rhythm in literature and also as a sensitive poet who deals with issues that affect people's everyday lives, like bullies, guns, racism and war.

As a passionate vegan and animal lover, Zephaniah writes a lot about animals. Many of his poems for adults and children are available on audio cassette or CD.

Zephaniah first made a name for himself as a performance poet. He has managed to popularise poetry by reaching people who do not read books and by challenging the dead image that academia and the establishment have given poetry. In this way he has injected new life into the British poetry scene.

Zephaniah's visit to Malta is being organised by Inizjamed and the British Council, in collaboration with the St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity.

Tickets for his performances cost Lm3 and are available from St. James Cavalier (open every day between 8.30 a.m. and 10 p.m., tel. 2122-3200). For more information about all events visit the Inizjamed Website at www.maltaforum.org or http://inizjamed.cjb.net or e-mail inizjamed@maltaforum.org.

Those who would like to book for the interactive session with local writers (which also costs Lm3) should call 2122-3200.