alt. mondays 031

25 years ago, one of Nigeria's foremost environmental activists, Ken Saro-Wiwa was controversially executed by the military dictatorship of late military head of state, General Sani Abacha.

Before his death, Saro-Wiwa, a writer, playwright and novelist had been vocal about the degradation of his native Ogoni homeland, where crude oil extraction by Royal Dutch Shell had devastated the lands, and livelihood of its people. This week, alt. mondays is dedicated to his resilient memory, as one of Nigeria's leading voices who charged public office holders to be accountable, to the point of making the ultimate sacrifice with his life.

One of Saro-Wiwa's infamous quotes goes thus: “As we subscribe to the sub-normal and accept double standards, as we lie and cheat openly, as we protect injustice and oppression, we empty our classrooms, denigrate our hospitals, fill our stomachs with hunger and elect to make ourselves the slaves of those who ascribe to higher standards". In the light of Nigeria's #EndSARS protests, the words of Saro-Wiwa rings even more true; in a society where elected public officials wantonly abuse the privileges of their office, the onus of personal responsibility to our communities and Nigeria at large, falls on me and you.

Stream alt mondays 031, packed with social commentary numbers from 9ice, Asa, Beyonce, 2baba, Lauryn Hill and more below: