To commemorate the occasion, Flipped Eye Publishing, a leading literary publisher is running a poetry competition under the theme: Remember Saro-Wiwa.
The competition will culminate in the publication of a poetry anthology in honour of Ken, himself an accomplished author, having written a number of satirical novels. One of his works, Basi and Co was turned into a television play with over 150 episodes. It is open to writers from all over the world and an individual can submit three poems which should be send electronically.
The royalties of the anthology will go to the Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation
The poems which should be submitted by 30 June should focus on the following areas: freedom of expression, imprisonment, non-violence, political oppression, leadership, minority rights, poverty, the death penalty, the right to sustainable development among others.
"Poets are encouraged to contribute under these topics as widely as possible, by considering people, place and power with both current and historical issues. We also want poems that consider positive and challenging futures in the light of these issues," read part of the call for submissions statement from Flipped Eye Publishing.
As a writer, Saro-Wiwa vehemently rejected the notion that writers are merely mirror problems of their society but should go beyond that by being active participants in the shaping of history: "The writer cannot be a mere storyteller; he cannot be a mere teacher; he cannot merely X-ray society's weaknesses, its ills, its perils. He or she must be actively involved in shaping its present and its future," he once declared.