Ken Saro-Wiwa - Nigeria

Saro-Wiwa, a playwright and environmental activist, was the President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP). He led the protests against the degradation of his homeland and the neglect of his people by oil companies.

Ogoniland, the center of oil production in Nigeria, is suffering deteriorating social and environmental conditions, in great part because it is a center of oil production, generating 80% of government revenues in Nigeria. Saro-Wiwa led the struggle of the Ogoni people, calling for reparations from the oil companies and for the oil companies to leave.

Saro-Wiwa was continually detained without charge by the Nigerian military government. Finally, Siro-Wiwa and 8 other Ogonis were found guilty by a special military tribunal of murdering 4 people who were alleged to be government sympathizers. On November 10, 1995, ten days after the verdict and death sentence, Ken Saro-Wiwa and his 8 comrades, all prisoners of conscience, were silenced for the non-violent expression of their political beliefs. They were hung by the dictator of Nigeria, General Sani Abacha.

Prior to his execution in 1995, Saro-Wiwa won the Goldman Environmental prize, and that year he was also awarded Sweden's prestigious Right Livelihood Award, known as an alternative Nobel Peace Prize. He was also a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize. Throughout his struggle, Saro-Wiwa always professed non-violence. The playwright and environmentalist shall not be forgotten.

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