About

Born on October 10, 1941, Saro-Wiwa was raised in the Niger Delta region, where the Ogoni people have long suffered from environmental degradation due to oil exploration. Saro-Wiwa began his career as a journalist and later became a successful novelist, playwright, and poet. He was critical of the Nigerian government and the multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta, which led to his activism. Saro-Wiwa was one of the founders of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) in the early 1990s, which aimed to protect Ogoni land and improve the living conditions of its people. In 1992, Saro-Wiwa led protests against the oil companies, particularly Shell, accusing them of devastating the Ogoni environment and the livelihood of its people. He drew international attention to the Ogoni cause and became a prominent figure in the struggle for environmental justice. Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders were arrested in 1994 by the Nigerian government on trumped-up charges of murder. Despite a global campaign for their release, they were unjustly tried and sentenced to death. On November 10, 1995, Ken Saro-Wiwa and his colleagues were executed by the Nigerian government, sparking widespread condemnation and protests around the world. The execution of Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Nine further exposed the human rights abuses and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta. It led to increased international pressure on the Nigerian government and the oil industry to address the concerns of local communities. Saro-Wiwa's activism and sacrifice have become symbolic of the struggle for social and environmental justice in Nigeria and globally. Since his death, Saro-Wiwa has received numerous posthumous awards recognizing his contributions. These include the prestigious Right Livelihood Award, sometimes referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize. " Saro-Wiwa's legacy continues to inspire activists and writers around the world, highlighting the importance of environmentalism, indigenous rights, and social justice.