Saro-Wiwa, Ken

Saro-Wiwa, Ken

 orig. Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa

(born Oct. 10, 1941, Bori, near Port Harcourt, Nigeria—died Nov. 10, 1995, Port Harcourt) Nigerian writer and activist. He taught at the University of Lagos and held government office before turning to writing. His first novels were Songs in a Time of War and Sozaboy (both 1985); his television series Basi and Company satirized the Nigerian desire to get rich with little effort. He also wrote poetry, children's stories, and a newspaper column. His support of the Ogoni people against the oil industry put him at odds with the government; he was spuriously charged with four murders and executed despite worldwide protest.