IN THE WORDS
OF KEN SARO-WIWA

Directed by Weyni Mengesha
Constructed by Weyni Mengesha and Erica Kypoto

Ten years after the execution of activist/writer Ken Saro-Wiwa Pen Canada and the Ken Saro-Wiwa foundation commissioned a creative team led by Mengesha to create a piece in commemoration of his life. Partnering with dramaturge Erica kypota to create the script, the two developed a multimedia piece they called “In the words of Ken Saro-Wiwa”. Interweaving his poems, lectures and plays the play payed tribute to the wonderful art and work of the late activist. The project was so successful in bringing awareness to Saro-Wiwa and the writers in exile at Pen Canada, a three-year project was born. The core team included Mengesha, Kypoto, Josh Bloch and Emmah Beltran. “We use theatre to animate the work of those in the network living in exile or behind bars because of the power of their words” says Mengesha. The project was called the Taxi project and it engaged over 30 writers in exile; producing several short plays, a full length touring production, and a short film in its three years.

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