Ken Saro-Wiwa: his last interview

Video | November 11, 2010

Saro-Wiwa fought against Shell and opened the eyes of the West for the damage done by Shell to the environment in Nigeria.

In May 1994, he was arrested and accused of incitement to murder following the deaths of four Ogoni elders. Saro-Wiwa denied the charges, but was imprisoned for over a year before being found guilty and sentenced to death.

The trial was widely criticised by human rights organizations. On 10 November 1995, Saro-Wiwa and eight other MOSOP leaders (the "Ogoni Nine") were executed by hanging.

Many believe Shell played an important part in the death of these 9 men.

This rare interview with the writer and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa was screened in late November 1995 on Channel 4. Saro-Wiwa led the Ogoni people of Nigeria in their non-violent struggle to stop the multinational oil companies, like Shell, destroying their land and livelihood. This is the last recorded interview where Saro-Wiwa speaks about the politics of oil, art in society and the Niger Delta crisis. On 10th November 1995, Saro-Wiwa and eight of his colleagues were executed by the Nigeria military government following a flawed trial.