Commonwealth Writers' Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 1 (1987) Winner
Ken Saro-Wiwa
ケン・サロ＝ウィワ
Ken Saro-Wiwa
Aliases:
Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa / Kenule Saro-Wiwa
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1941-10-10 （Bori, British Nigeria）
- Died
- 1995-11-10 （Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria） age 54
- Nationality
- Nigerian
- Languages
- English, Khana (Ogoni dialect), Nigerian Pidgin
- Religion
- Anglican
- Residence History
- Bori (birthplace) → Bonny → Lagos → Port Harcourt → United Kingdom (family residence)
Career
- Occupations
- Writer, Television producer, Teacher, Environmental and human rights activist, Businessman
- Active Years
- 1963-1995
- Affiliations
- Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO, Vice Chairman)
- Memberships
- Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO)
- Influenced By
- Ideas of nationalism and anti-colonial thinkers (unspecified)
- Influenced
- The Ogoni movement and environmental/human rights campaigns in Nigeria, Development of the international business and human rights (BHR) movement
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Ibadan | Faculty of Arts | Department of English | BA (英語) | 1960–1965 | Nigeria |
University of Ibadan
Faculty of Arts
/ Department of English
Degree:
BA (英語)
Period:
1960–1965
Year of Graduation:
1965
Country:
Nigeria
Won departmental prizes; active in university theatre
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Right Livelihood Award | Environmental and human rights advocacy for the Ogoni people | — | Right Livelihood Foundation | 受賞 |
| 1995 | Goldman Environmental Prize | Environmental campaign in the Niger Delta | — | Goldman Environmental Prize | 受賞 |
Right Livelihood Award
1994
Work:
Environmental and human rights advocacy for the Ogoni people
Organization:
Right Livelihood Foundation
Result:
受賞
Goldman Environmental Prize
1995
Work:
Environmental campaign in the Niger Delta
Organization:
Goldman Environmental Prize
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Premi Flaiano (Flaiano Prizes)
1 appearances
-
Edition 0 (1996) Winner
Works
Major Works
Sozaboy: A Novel in Rotten English
1985 Novel (war literature, experimental language) 192 pagesA novel told from the perspective of a naïve village boy conscripted into the Biafran War. Written in the hybrid non-standard English Saro-Wiwa dubbed "Rotten English", it portrays the chaos of war and political corruption.
WarPolitical corruptionLanguage and identitySocial satire and critique
A Month and a Day: A Detention Diary
1995 Memoir / Diary 160 pagesA detention diary written during his imprisonment, documenting his experiences of trial and detention and denouncing political repression. Contains reflections and final statements prior to his execution.
Human rightsPolitical repressionResistance
Basi & Company
1985 Television series / Satirical comedyA popular satirical television series lampooning urban Nigerian life. The protagonist Basi is a schemer who repeatedly fails in his quest for wealth; the show reached an audience of millions.
Satire of urban lifeSocial humorPopular culture
Adaptations
- [Television] Basi & Company (TV series) (1985)
Bibliography
- Tambari (1973)
- Tambari in Dukana (1979)
- The Transistor Radio (play)
- Sozaboy (1985)
- A Month and a Day: A Detention Diary (1995)
- Genocide in Nigeria: The Ogoni Tragedy (1992)
Adaptations
- Basi & Company (TV series)
- The Transistor Radio (radio adaptation, 1972)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Satirical, populist narrative voiceLater writings adopt direct political and environmental advocacyUse of experimental hybrid language ("Rotten English")
- Recurring Motifs
- Environmental destruction and resource exploitationMilitary rule and political corruptionIdentity through ethnicity and languageCritique from the perspective of ordinary people
Legacy
Ken Saro-Wiwa fought to defend Ogoni land and people; his execution sparked international protest and helped catalyze the business and human rights movement. His literary and media work and his martyrdom as an activist remain widely commemorated through memorials, prizes and foundations. He received a posthumous pardon in 2025.
Museums
- Maynooth University (Ken Saro-Wiwa audio and papers archive) Maynooth University Library, Ireland
- London memorial sculpture (touring exhibit) London, United Kingdom (various exhibition sites) Opened in 2006
Academic Societies
- Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA)
Archives
- Digital Repository of Ireland (Ken Saro-Wiwa manuscripts and audio)
In Popular Culture
- Portrayed and referenced in songs, novels and commemorative events
- Place names such as Ken Saro-Wiwastraat in Amsterdam
Quotes
-
Lord, take my soul, but the struggle continues.
Source: Reported last words at his execution (1995) (1995)
Trivia
- Reports state that five attempts were required to execute him due to faulty equipment.
- A street in Amsterdam is named after him (Ken Saro-Wiwastraat).
- An ant species (Zasphinctus sarowiwai) was named in his honour in 2017.
- The Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation, established in 2017, supports local entrepreneurship and initiatives.
- He received a posthumous pardon from the Nigerian president in 2025.