Benjamin Zephaniah was a genuine radical – I’ll never forget the time I spent with him

‘He was a human library, a poet’s poet, an activist of the highest order, a man with a voice who wasn’t scared to use it and did so super-effectively.’ Photograph: Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

Respect for your elders is a pillar of Blackness. This means that in most – if not all – African communities, whether continental, in the Caribbean or in the diaspora, it is somewhat offensive to speak to an elder as you would a peer. For example, it can be disparaging to refer to an elder on a first-name basis. It would also be wise not to use the word “elder” lightly, and to distinguish between elders and people who are just older than you. Elders bring things to the table. They share the wisdom that their years have granted them, nurture the young, insist on better behaviour, find ways to continually improve the community and demonstrate their love. Respect is the bare minimum; reverence is the more appropriate honour.

Benjamin Zephaniah was an elder. A truly beloved and learned elder. This is despite the fact that, at 65, he was actually still very young, looked even younger and, based on appearance and his continued sporting activity (such as football and martial arts), could not have been physically fitter.