Benjamin Zephaniah mural in Birmingham painted over after blunder

A mural of Benjamin Zephaniah, the writer and actor, has been painted over by blundering council contractors.

The painting appeared on the wall of an underpass in Birmingham city centre last month. Zephaniah died in December 2023 at the age of 65.

It has now been painted over by Kier, a construction firm employed by Birmingham city council to remove graffiti from the city’s streets.

Zephaniah’s family have criticised both the council and the contractor for showing him “little respect”.

Tippa Naphtali, his brother, said the council had promised to protect the mural.

“Given the very recent passing of my brother, and the significant contributions that he had made artistically, politically and culturally in this city over decades, this removal showed little respect for him or the community that held him dear, not just in Brum, but internationally, as the people’s poet,” he told Birmingham Live.

“This mural was a carefully constructed piece of art that took hours to complete and probably just minutes to destroy. There clearly was a breakdown of communication between Birmingham city council and Kier.”

The council said it had instructed the subcontractor to not paint over the underpass in Hockley, but that its protection order did not include the outside walls where the mural had been painted.

Kier apologised “for any hurt or distress we have caused by painting over this mural” and said there was no “ill intent”.

“We would welcome the opportunity to work with the artist and provide supplies in order to recreate artwork to represent Benjamin and his life,” a spokesperson said.

The subway is also home to Grade-II listed concrete artworks by sculptor William Mitchell.

Mr Naphtali said the mural was “wasted” in the underpass and said a new one should be painted in a better location.

“It is an absolutely beautiful piece of art which is kind of wasted in the Hockley underpass, which most members of the public seem to actually avoid using due to poor lighting and sanitation, as well as a reputation for anti-social behaviour,” he added.

Another mural is due to be unveiled in Handsworth Park, where Zephaniah was from, next week.

Bunny Bread, the artist behind it, told ITV that the painting over of the underpass mural was “quite sad”.

“I think it should be redone, because I think he deserves more than one mural,” he said. “But I think it’s a shame that it was even taken out in the first place, it’s ridiculous.”

Mr Zephaniah died in December, eight weeks after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.