Propa Propaganda

by Benjamin Zephaniah

Propa Propaganda was Benjamin Zephaniah’s second collection from Bloodaxe. First published in 1996, it includes some of his classic poems, such as ‘I Have a Scheme’, ‘The Death of Joy Gardner’, ‘White Comedy’ and ‘The Angry Black Poet’. Best known for his performance poetry with a political edge for adults – and his poetry with attitude for children – he was the first person to record with the Wailers after the death of Bob Marley, in a musical tribute to Nelson Mandela, which Mandela heard while in prison on Robben Island. He has published three other poetry books with Bloodaxe, City Psalms, Too Black Too Strong and To Do Wid Me (a DVD-book including a film portrait by Pamela Robertson-Pearce). His autobiography, The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah, was published by Scribner in 2018.

Genres: Poetry, British Literature

82 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

A British-Jamaican writer, dub poet and Rastafari. He was included in The Times list of Britain's top 50 post-war writers in 2008.

Reviews

[Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Propa Propaganda was my first time reading a collection of Zephaniah's works, otherwise I had just read individual poems here and there. This collection is pretty varied in terms of themes; some poems felt out of place and others hit all the right notes. There's a self-awareness to them and often Zephaniah is speaking to the reader in footnotes about why a poem was included, how it might have been forgotten and rediscovered, or giving more context. It felt a bit like being in conversation with the poet, or like cultivating a relationship with the reader.

Overall, I was in awe of this collection. It brims with love for Caribbean culture, community, and humanity. Zephaniah's lyricism, the infusion of Rastafarian rhythm, and the electric energy in his lines made it a compelling read. Even a week later, his words linger in my mind. Propa Propaganda is a beautiful, poignant reminder of the immense talent lost with Benjamin Zephaniah’s passing in 2023. What a gift it is to have his words!

[Steven Godin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Screaming children,
Battered children,
Citizens advice,
Outside
Is a Rolls Royce,
With people who look nice,
Down in my city.

Newspaper lies,
Government spies,
Another purse robbed,
A woman sits and sobs,
It happens without pity
Down in my city.

Bored teenagers beating strangers
In some dark alley,
They tries it once with me
Down in my city . . .

[Maya Kaur Bhogal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zephaniah takes the reader on a melodic journey through England in a Rasta’s eyes. His perfect mixture of poignant satire and formal complaint allow this anthology to be everything i like and want in poetry. i don’t ask for anything fancy generally, only that the content feels authentic and true, and not just speaking for others. Zephaniah achieves this beautifully and in plenty. There is a definite political edge to this anthology, and Zephaniah vocalises (yes you will read this and hear him out loud) everything that i understand and think about England. it’s like he reads my mind, and produces it in a much funnier, or sadder, or stronger way than i could ever express. and for that i am so grateful to him. i will leave you all with an excerpt from my favourite poem in the anthology : ‘the death of joy gardner’

‘i see my people demonstrating
and educated folks debating
the way they’re separating
the elder from the youth,
when all they are demanding
is a little understanding
that they too have family planning
as their children now want the truth
so as i move around i am eyeing
so many poets crying
and so many poets trying
to articulate the grief
i cannot help but wonder
how the alien deporters
(as they said to the press reporters)
can feel absolute grief’

[Katie.dorny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed these poems. I feel as a white girl born and raised in England some of these poems weren't meant for me which I can completely respect. I enjoyed them all, especially the ones calling out the corrupt politicians of the 90's. I enjoyed reading from a perspective that I had no previous knowledge of.

[Antonomasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe not quite as strong overall as City Psalms as there are more ageing references to 90s politics (still testing myself to see if I'll remember more about the 'jam tomorrow' speech without looking it up) and very short poems. It also contains 'City Lights', a good one which was meant to open the previous collection. There are plenty of standouts in here, especially 'One Day in Babylon' which has a more abstract bleakness than usual; 'The War Process' about the stages of conflict and negotiation TV news reports about modern wars, the stock phrases having a similarity to local authority jargon which hides the drama and pain behind them; and one - foreshadowing the time he would reject an OBE - about the Queen reading up on him and his work, finishing with the ironic pun "I am de Queen's subject" (he's an avowed republican).

This still might not be the cup of tea for a few people I know who have a stronger aversion than mine to overtly politicised fiction and poetry, but to my mind it works. Political poetry is difficult to do well, probably even more so than love poems, and it can end up Adrian Mole-ish. There's something I can't find the words for (I'm feeling this sleep deprivation badly) about how and why Zephaniah makes these poems good. Is it on the page? Is it through knowing about his persona and his first-hand experience?

[Faisal Chaudhary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me reaching for google to find out what happened to Joy Gardener. I read this whilst the world takes a knee for George Floyd and perhaps tellingly not much has changed since Zephaniah wrote some of these poems.

[Goodreeds User · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Benjamin Zephaniah but these poems are definitely written to be *performed* rather than read - half of the time I'd read one that I'd heard out loud, and wish I was jsut watching it on YouTube - still very good though, RIP

[Tiina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is phenomenal. I picked this up from my library without knowing anything about it and, wow, I’m so grateful for libraries. I would never have bought this from a bookstore.

As the title tells you, this book is politically fired. Originally published in 1996, the references are not recent, but they could be. The commentary is sharp, direct and there is nothing ambiguous about it. The message is human, brotherhood, respect, live and let live. The book criticizes the British Empire, the Government and the Queen, but also the UN, for things that happen today and the things that have happened over the centuries, especially in Jamaica. The personal here burns, but it also reaches out and becomes something that touches all of us as people, as humans. When someone suffers, we are all worse for it.

In addition to the themes, the poems are very interesting as poetry. Some poems are more traditional in form, like Master, Master. Some are inter-textual, like a new version of Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World called Terrible World (“I’ve seen streets of blood / Redda dan red / There waz no luv / Just bodies dead / …”) or Belly of de Beast, which references the Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley (“Dis is not de Jail House Rock / Dis is not de answer / Elvis / Dis is not”). Some play with the language innovatively like the clever White Comedy (“I waz whitemailed / By a white witch, / Wid white magic / An white Lies, …”) or The Angry Black Poet (“Next on stage / We have the angry black poet, / So angry / He won’t allow himself to fall in luv, / So militant / You will want to see him again. … “).

These poems feel like they should be read out loud, shouted loudly so everyone can hear. The rhythm and drive is held back when these are just read quietly. The passion is lost. English is not my native language and sometimes it was hard to know, how some spellings should sound, especially “nar” as in “But dat nar stop me” in Reggae Head, but I was able to always understand the meaning. I feel like this collection would be perfect for study or some kind of project for an English class.

Deep down, these poems stem from hopefulness. You don’t write something like this if you don’t think someone reads it, that it might make someone feel something. The first poem of the book, I Have a Scheme, references Martin Luther King Jr. famous I Have a Dream speech, and sets a hopeful tone from the start: “I am here today my friends to tell you there is hope / As high as that mountain may seem / I must tell you / I have a dream / And my friends / There is a tunnel at the end of the light. / And beyond that tunnel I see a future / I see a time / When angry white men / Will sit down with angry black women / And talk about the weather, …”

[Roisin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brutal, honest and powerful, Zephaniah's book of poems and lyrics, written about British life and politics in the 1990s, definitely correlate with current times. 'The Death of Joyce Gardner', 'Back To What' (sent to ex-Prime Minister John Major), 'Acts of Parliament: motion 1' ,'The President Is Dead Again' (dedicated to Ken Saro-Wiwa and his comrades), and 'The Queen & I' stand out. A must for fans of Zephaniah besides those with an interest in modern poetry.

[Madeleine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a bloody brilliant poetry collection that made me want to read all of his writing RIGHT NOW! Total recommendation for everyone, no matter whether you are normally into poetry or totally new to it. The poems are so rhythmical, accessible and energetic. This colection made me want to get up and contribute my part to changeing the world. This is even better when you read it out lout to yourself or others. Sooo so glad I finally got around to reading him.

[Jane Fudger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benjamin Zephaniah is a British mainly political poet. He is essentially a performance poet which I have been fortunate to experience on two occasions
This collection addresses his ethnic heritage as a black man in British society with great aplomb. an excellent abd well received collection which once you appreciate "the lingo" anyone who loves poetry will enjoy.As a white person it gives you food for thought

[Chris Gilham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking. Really good read.

[Andrew H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful.

[Lee Wainwright · Rating 3 out of 5]

He's great to listen to and I dig his views, but these poems aren't very satisfying. But maybe they're Blakesque: deceptively simple.

[launasi · Rating 5 out of 5]

genuinely smiled and laughed to myself reading this while on the central line after I was tired from work.

[Zubyre Parvez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring writings.

[Dane Cobain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is what Benjamin Zephaniah is best at – contemporary poetry that makes you think about society. Zephaniah has tried his hand at a number of different genres, but for me, he’ll always be best at poetry. This is well-worth reading whether you’re a fan of poetry or whether you’re a fan of Benjamin Zephaniah – or, indeed, whether you’re neither. Read it.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would love to see him reading live, his poems just cry out to be read aloud. Particularly struck by the one in here on South Africa

[Zanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

TRUTH

[Belen (f.k.a. La Mala ✌)]

[Otro pendiente para el examen]

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fine collection of accessible poems. Benjamin is a hero. Remembering many of the events that inspired these poems adds to their poignancy. I'll be buying more Zephaniah.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lyrically beautiful if a little weak on the poetic structure.

[AmyAmyAmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Benjamin Zephaniah’s poetry, always will. I love that I can still hear his voice when I read his poems.