Ken Saro-Wiwa’s Son, Gian, Dies of Coronavirus

By Adesina Soyooye

A son of late Environmentalist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Menegian, has died of Coronavirus.

Popular as Gian, he died in the United Kingdom on Monday.

According to his sister, Noo Saro-Wiwa, who announced his death, Gian had underlying health issues.

In an emotional post, she described her brother as the smartest of all them, a pianist and a budding engineer.

She wrote: “We said goodbye to my brother, Gian, on Monday. He had COVID-19, combined with underlying health issues.

Gian was the smartest and most talented out of all of us: a champion sprinter at school, a poet, an artist,  budding engineer, a self taught guitarist and pianist. But mental health issues limited his life from age 16 onwards.

“A kind and beautiful soul, always wanting the best for his family, always praying for our future successes, while being eternally optimistic about his own. And, of course, always loving his music.

“He leaves a wonderful son, Louis.”

His father, Ken, a novelist, playwright and environmentalist, was hanged to death by the late General  Sani Abacha’s regime, along with others, over the gruesome murder of four Ogoni leaders.

His hanging was greeted with outrage, world over, and earned Nigeria a suspension from the Commonwealth.