Dr. Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah is a British poet born in Birmingham, England. He left school at age 13 and was influenced by Jamaican music and poetry as well as street politics. At age 22, he moved to London where his first book of poems, Pen Rhythm, was published. He has since published over 15 books of poetry and 7 novels, mostly focused on themes of reggae music, racism, and social justice. He has also written children's books and plays.