Nigerian writer, environmentalist and political leader.

Born Kenule Benson Tsaro-Wiwa in Rivers State, Nigeria, after graduating from the University of Ibadan, Saro-Wiwa worked as a teacher and held government office before turning to writing.

His first novels were Songs in a Time of War and Sozaboy (both 1985), the latter an anti-war story written in 'rotten English' - an English-based dialect spoken by many Nigerians. He also wrote poetry, children's stories and a newspaper column, as well as producing a satirical children's TV series, Basi & Company.

In 1990 Saro-Wiwa founded the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP). He conducted a vigorous campaign against the damage caused to the environment and to the lives of the Ogoni people by oil extraction in the Ogoniland region. He criticised the Royal Dutch/Shell oil company and the Nigerian government for exploiting the Ogoni and their homeland.

The Nigerian government decided to break up MOSOP. Saro-Wiwa was arrested and a number of his supporters and relatives were executed. He was spuriously charged with four murders and, despite worldwide protest, hanged alonside eight other Ogoni rights activists in November 1995.