From PRX, this is Songwriter, the podcast that turns stories into songs.

My name is Ben Arthur.

Today, we have a story from Ben Okre, and a brand new song written in response by Matsidiso and Ben Okri.

Like all episodes in season six, this was made possible by a grant

from Templeton World Charity Foundation. And as part of that, I'll be having a conversation with

Dr. Tomas Jimenez about empathy, belonging, and polarization.

Well, my name is Ben Okre.

Some would say so, Ben Okre, but I just prefer Ben Okre, poet, novelist, essayist, screenwriter,

playwright, conversationalist, so many things. But all that have to do with literature with words,

also an activist, a climate activist, it's definitely one of my passions. For my ignorant American

listeners who don't know what it means when you say, Sir Ben Okre, would you mind explaining

what that means? Well, it just means that I've been knighted,

you know, I've been given a knighthood. I mean, this is a very old tradition in the world,

certainly in Europe, going back, you know, over 1,000, 500 years, where individuals who have made

significant contributions to society are given a knighthood. In the old days, you were given land as well,

and you were allowed to, in some places,

fighting the service of the king,

in other places undertake acts of charity

and rescue of the poor, the lonely, women, people in need.

I prefer that tradition to the fighting for the king tradition.

I prefer the more honorable, enlightened tradition of knighthood.

And I assume it comes with a very large sword in a suit of armor.

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