Jamaican dub poet Jean “Binta” Breeze died at her home in Sandy Bay, Hanover on Wednesday (August 4).

The poet’s agent, Renaissance One Writers and Events, confirmed the sad news on Twitter, noting that the 65-year-old died after a period of ill health.

 “We are incredibly saddened to announce that our dear friend Jean “Binta” Breeze MBE – poet, artist, theatre director, choreographer, actor and teacher – has died in Jamaica, aged 65. Sending our deepest condolences to her family and friends during this terribly sad time, “ tweeted Renaissance One Writers and Events.

“Jean was an especially important part of our literary community in the UK and the Caribbean and her body of writing and orality, and the warmth and connection she generated through her art, touched the hearts and minds of audiences around the world, “ added the Renaissance One Writers and Events on Twitter.

Affectionately called ‘Breeze’, she was born Jean Lumsden in 1956.

Raised by her grandparents, Lumsden told journalist in a 2019 television interview that she was introduced to poetry as a child.

She studied at the Jamaica School of Drama, later moving to the United Kingdom at the age of 30.

Lumsden taught Theatre Studies at Brixton College for a short period, later going on to teach creative writing as an Honorary Fellow at Leicester University’s School of English.

In 2012, she became a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to literature.

Later she received an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree, as well as, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jamaican Poetry Festival and a silver Musgrave Medal from the Institute of Jamaica.