Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Remembering Ken Saro-Wiwa at Maynooth University



It was really nice to see footage from Dr Owens Wiwa’s visit to Maynooth University Library  on 7th November 2013, on iWitness on 10th November, the 19th anniversary of his execution.   It’s great that it is now on the web; I’ve watched it again this morning.
 Dr Wiwa came to Maynooth to launch “Silence Would be Treason: Last Writings of Ken Saro-Wiwa.”  The last writings are the letter Saro-Wiwa wrote to Sister Majella McCarron in the two years leading up to his execution.  Sister Majella donated these, poems written by Saro-Wiwa, photographs from Ogoni - which give a visual picture of the destruction wrought by the petrochemical industry in this area of the Niger Delta - and various artefacts, including a cap that belonged to Saro-Wiwa and a MOSOP (Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People) flag.  

See images from the Ken Saro-Wiwa Collection

 The Library has acquired most of the novels, plays and short stories written by Saro-Wiwa.  Some of this material is now on display in the foyer of the Library, to mark the anniversary.  It will remain in place for next week also, for Development Education Week at Maynooth University.  If you would like to visit the Library and see the exhibition please contact me

Listen to the Ken Saro-Wiwa Audio Archive, a collection of recordings of people connected with Ken Saro-Wiwa, including Sister Majella McCarron and his brother Dr Owens Wiwa.
To order a copy of “Silence Would be Treason: Last Writings of Ken Saro-Wiwa” contact the Maynooth University Bookshop. Email: university.bookshop@nuim.ie; tel: (01)6285629

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