Advocates for Africa: Ken Saro Wiwa

Ken Saro-Wiwa remains one of Africa’s most influential figures with his various contributions throughout the continent. As a writer, producer and activist, the impact he has forged upon African culture is undisputable, inspiring many with his advocacy efforts. His work has merited a number of awards, solidifying his role as one of the continents foremost environmental activists. His protest of

environmental damage caused by oil extraction and petroleum waste disposal in defense of the Ogoni community brought awareness to the extreme conditions effecting Ogoniland. Tunde Folawiyo and other citizens of Africa may regard Saro-Wiwa’s contributions to environmental protection as some of the most significant in the history of Africa.

Born in the Niger Delta city of Bori, Saro-Wiwa proved an excellent student during his early years of schooling, obtaining a scholarship for English study at a university in Ibadan. He was later briefly employed as a teaching assistant for a university in Lagos. In the coming years, he served as Civilian Administrator for Bonny, a port city in Niger Delta.

He began a series of successful businesses during the late part of the 1970s, focusing mainly on his creative works in the years following. One of his most famous works, a novel, told the tale of a village boy recruited into war, reflecting his own war time experiences.

His journalism and production work was halted upon his entrance to the country’s political scene. Years later, during 1990, his focus turned to social issues like human rights and environmental topics in Ogoniland and other areas. His reputation as a respected writer and producer drew great attention to the causes he supported, thrusting him further into the international spotlight.

During the early 1990’s, Saro-Wiwa served as Vice Chair for UNPO, an international democratic organisation whose members seek to nonviolently protect their rights and environments from conflict and environmental damage. The indigenous people represented by the organisation faced a variety of hardships affecting their quality of life.

An early member of MOSOP, a movement to ensure the Ogoni people’s survival, Saro-Wiwa was amongst the organisation’s foremost advocates. During January of 1993, MOSOP initiated a series of peaceful marches to bring awareness to the social issues playing Ogoniland. Two years later, his death sparked international outrage, drawing attention to the plight of the Ogoni people. His works are still famed throughout Africa nearly two decades after his passing. The impact he forged upon environmental protection efforts continues to be recognised by African citizens like Tunde Folawiyo and others throughout the world. For more information about others working for a brighter future for Africa, visit Tunde Folawiyo Slideshare.

Tunde Folawiyo | Winnie Mandela: An Activist Icon

Whilst millions around the globe may continue to be inspired by the legacy of Nelson Mandela, his former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has made many contributions to African culture, as well. The activist from South Africa has over the years held several esteemed government positions, as well as played active roles in organizations such as Africa’s National Congress Women’s League and the National Executive Committee of the ANC. Tunde Folawiyo and many other citizens of Africa may regard the achievements of Winnie Mandela as great strides in the fight for social justice throughout the country of South Africa and beyond.

Born 26 September in the African village, eMbongweni Bizana in Pondoland – now the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa – Winnie went on to acquire a college degree in social work in Johannesburg during a time when blacks faced educational restrictions due to apartheid. She later acquired a Bachelor’s of internal relations at a Witwatersrand university. As the former wife of Nelson Mandela for nearly four decades, Winnie continued to support her husband during the entirety of his 27-year imprisonment. She served as the face of the anti-apartheid movement during this time, proving popular amongst South African citizens and others. Whilst she and Mandela divorced in 1996, she frequently visited him during his prolonged illness. Their kinship was the source of much media speculation as she remained a close confident up until his passing.

Mandela faced many struggles during times of apartheid. After being tortured and subject to house arrest, she was then held within solitary confinement for one year before being banished to another town. After news of these injustices spread, Mandela garnered worldwide popularity. From organising local clinics to actively campaigning for equal rights, Winnie’s efforts to forge an impact on social change created a major stir, drawing worldwide attention to the conditions faced by blacks in South Africa. During 1985, she was awarded a Human Rights Award alongside fellow activists for their work throughout South Africa. Their culminated efforts continue to inspire millions throughout the globe currently experiencing a range of social injustices. As the legacy of the late Nelson Mandela remains ever present in the lives of many around the world, Tunde Folawiyo and others may recognize the significant impact of Winnie Mandela as well. Whilst her civil rights efforts were sometimes riddled with controversy, the positive influence forged by Winnie Mandela, an African icon, may withstand time.

Tunde Folawiyo | Wangari Maathai: Advocate of Africa

Amongst the country of Africa’s most influential figures is the late Wangari Maathai, a woman whose vast contributions to her country are forever cemented in African history. Born in Kenya, Wangari Maathai is credited for the founding of the Green Belt Movement, an organisation committed to promoting environmental conservation throughout Africa and beyond.

Citizens of Africa including Tunde Folawiyo and millions of others may continue to be inspired by the outstanding impact forged by Wangari Maathai throughout her years as one of the continent’s leading activists.

Born 1 April 1940 in Kenya’s Nyeri District, Wangari Maathai long exhibited a love for Africa. A member of Kenya’s most populous tribe, the Kikuyu, Maathai’s family travelled to the Rift Valley when she was a young girl. Years later, her close ties to the land would prove a strong motivation in her commitment to promoting conservation of the area’s natural landscape.

During 1960, Maathai received a scholarship that would render her able to study in the US. After receiving a master’s degree of biology from a respected university, University of Pittsburgh, Maathai later began study to acquire a doctorate from the University of Munich. Nearly a decade after her arrival in the US, she travelled back to Nairobi to become East Africa’s first woman to earn a Ph.D. She has undoubtedly served as a source of inspiration for Africa’s scholars including Tunde Folawiyo.

Throughout her successful highly successful academic career, Maathai was among the first women appointed to positions of seniority within the Nairobi University system. Amongst the causes she advocated for were equal benefits for the university’s women staff. Whilst campaigns such as these were successful, Maathai later exhibited a greater focus on environmental issues during the middle of the 1970s.

Concerned with Kenya’s poor social/economic conditions and environmental degradation, Maathai began implementing initiatives that would see more trees planted throughout the country. One such initiative was the establishment of the Green Belt movement, a now prominent environmental conservation organisation.

After the turn of the 1990s, Maathai began a campaign for restoring democracy in Kenya. From 2003 to 2005, she held roles as member of the country’s Parliament as well as Assistant Minister of the environment and the natural resources. Amongst Maathai’s most notable accomplishments is her receipt of 2004’s Nobel Peace Prize. Awarded for her outstanding contribution to democracy, peace and sustainable development, Maathai remains one of the most influential figures in conservation advocacy. Supporters of conservation efforts, such as Tunde Folawiyo and millions of others may continue to be inspired by the legacy of one of the efforts’ greatest pioneers.