Ken Saro-Wiwa

On 10 November 1995, Nigerian writer, television producer, environmental activist Kenule Beeson "Ken" Saro-Wiwa was executed at Port Hartcourt prison. Initially as spokesperson, and then as president, of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Saro-Wiwa led a nonviolent campaign against environmental degradation of the land and waters of Ogoniland by the operations of the multinational petroleum industry, especially the Royal Dutch Shell company.

He is also known as a critic of the Nigerian government, for its allegedly reluctant behavior to enforce environmental regulations on the foreign petroleum companies operating in the area.
At the peak of his non-violent campaign, he was tried by a special military tribunal for allegedly masterminding the gruesome murder of Ogoni chiefs at a pro-government meeting, and hanged in 1995 by the military government of General Sani Abacha. His execution provoked international outrage and resulted in Nigeria's suspension from the Commonwealth of Nations for over three years.

Saro-Wiwa's works include TV, drama and prose writing. His earlier works from 1970s to 1980s were mostly satirical displays that portray a counter-image of Nigerian society but his later writings were more inspired by political dimensions such as environmental and social justice than satire.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Selected publications

About Ken Saro-Wiwa

Ken Saro-Wiwa / Roy Doron; Toyin Falola. - Athens, OH: Ohio University Press, 2016

In the shadow of a saint : a son's journey to understand his father's legacy / Ken Wiwa. - South Royalton, VT : Steerforth Press, cop. 2001

Before I am hanged : Ken Saro-Wiwa, literature, politics, and dissent / Onookome Okome. - Trenton, N.J. [etc.] : Africa World Press, 2000

Ken Saro-Wiwa : writer and political activist / Craig W. MacLuckie; Aubrey MacPhail. - Boulder, Col. [etc.] : Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2000

A month and a day : a detention diary / Ken Saro-Wiwa; William Boyd. - London [etc.] : Penguin, 1995

By Ken Saro-Wiwa

Silence would be treason : last writings of Ken Saro-Wiwa / Ken Saro-Wiwa; Íde Corley; Helen Fallon. - Dakar : Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), cop. 2013

Similia : essays on anomic Nigeria / Ken Saro-Wiwa. - Lagos [etc.] : Saros International Publishers, 1991

Four farcical plays / Ken Saro-Wiwa. - Lagos [etc.] : Saros International Publishers, 1989

Basi and company : four television plays / Ken Saro-Wiwa. - Port Harcourt [etc.] : Saros International Publishers, 1988

Sozaboy / Ken Saro-Wiwa. - Port Harcourt [etc.] : Saros International Publishers, 1985

On the Life and Legacy of Ken Saro Wiwa - The View from the Ground / IHRB, 2020

To mark the 25th year of the deaths of the Ogoni Nine - nine men who were executed by a brutal military regime in Nigeria in response to their activism against oil extraction in Ogoniland - the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) presents a series of conversations about the significance of their struggle and impact of their leader Ken Saro Wiwa. In this episode - The View from the Ground - Salil Tripathi talks with Ledum Mitee, who was Saro-Wiwa’s lawyer, detained with him, and mobilised international opinion for the Ogoni people, Noo Saro-Wiwa, Ken’s daughter and distinguished writer based in London, and Austin Onuoha, a peace activist who works towards reconciliation in the Niger Delta.

Timeline of Nigerian writers via Wikidata en DBpedia