Ken Saro-Wiwa is best known for his activism and execution under the Abacha regime in 1995, but his influence as a writer and television producer was no less profound. His 1985 novel, Sozaboy, broke literary ground with its blend of Pidgin and English, telling the story of a naive recruit in the Nigerian Civil War. The book delivered a searing critique of militarism and corruption, and remains a landmark in African literature.

Two years later, A Forest of Flowers, his short story collection, was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize. But it was on television that Saro-Wiwa reached a vast audience in the 1980s. He created Basi & Company, a satirical series that ran for over 150 episodes and became one of Africa’s most-watched shows.

His early work, sharp and satirical, reflected the absurdities of Nigerian life. Over time, his writing shifted towards themes of justice, power, and environmental destruction. Transistor Radio, a play first written during his university days, was adapted for radio in 1972 and later became the foundation for Basi & Company.