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Remember Saro-Wiwa is a coalition of organisations and individuals, initiated and co-ordinated by... and includes... African
Writers Abroad Remember Saro-Wiwa is supported amongst others by the Arts Council England
and by the Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation
For more information about our donors and how to support Remember Saro-Wiwa click here. Remember Saro-Wiwa is a partner of Africa Beyond
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| PRESS RELEASE Proposals by Sokari Douglas Camp and Siraj Izhar are the joint winners of the competition to design a Living Memorial for Ken Saro-Wiwa. In a surprise decision, both of the proposals will be developed simultaneously. The winners were announced at a commemoration ceremony attended by Nigerian playwright Wole Soyinka and Saro-Wiwa’s son, Ken Wiwa, as the culmination of Africa 05.
"This is an ambitious project. The decision to choose two artists reflects the complexities inherent in the legacy of Ken Saro-Wiwa as both an artist and a political campaigner. Both proposals encompass the spirit of the work of Saro-Wiwa and the continued struggle in the Niger Delta. These projects will inspire and involve Londoners in addressing environmental and human rights issues which affect us all." Comments Anita Roddick, on behalf of the judging panel. Today is the 10th anniversary of the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight fellow campaigners, who were “judicially murdered” by the Nigerian government for their stance against the despoilation of the Niger Delta by foreign oil companies. The situation in the delta has steadily worsened since their deaths: a situation that Ken himself called genocidal. The Living Memorial in London remembers Ken and
all those who have died in similar circumstances, in recognition
of London’s dependency on oil, and the fact that Shell –
the major player in the Niger delta – is part-based here.
In the context of the G8 Summit, Make Poverty History, Africa 05
– the UK-wide festival of arts and culture, and London’s
Mayor’s Commission on African and Asian Heritage, this memorial
is timely, and is backed by a weighty coalition. The project was
launched at London’s City Hall by Mayor of London Ken Livingstone,
Anita Roddick and Ken Wiwa in March this year.
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Sokari Douglas Camp & Siraj Izhar after the news of their joint success for the Living Memorial. (Sion Touhig/Remember Saro-Wiwa)
Ken Wiwa & his two sons at the Ken Saro-Wiwa commemoration ceremony on London's South Bank, 10 November 2005 (Sion Touhig/Remember Saro-Wiwa)
Maria Saro-Wiwa at the Ken Saro-Wiwa commemoration ceremony on London's South Bank, 10 November 2005 (Sion Touhig/Remember Saro-Wiwa)
Wole Soyinka at the Ken Saro-Wiwa commemoration ceremony on London's South Bank, 10 November 2005 (Sion Touhig/Remember Saro-Wiwa)
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