Ogoni

Ogoni is an ethnic group and collection of communities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, concentrated in Rivers State along the eastern delta. The Ogoni people traditionally engage in farming, fishing, and small-scale trade, and inhabit numerous villages and towns along creeks and rivers.

Linguistically, the Ogoni languages form a small cluster within the Niger-Congo family, and are often referred to collectively as the Ogoni languages. The grouping reflects the distinct linguistic varieties spoken by different Ogoni communities.

Historically, the Ogoni are known for political mobilization around environmental and resource issues. In 1990, leaders founded the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) to advocate for environmental justice and the rights of the Ogoni communities. Ken Saro-Wiwa, a writer and activist, emerged as a leading figure; his arrest and execution in 1995 by the Nigerian military regime drew international condemnation and focus on the Ogoni struggle.

Oil extraction by multinational companies, notably Royal Dutch Shell, since the 1950s produced extensive environmental damage in Ogoni areas, including soil and groundwater pollution that affected farming and fishing livelihoods.

An assessment by the United Nations Environment Programme in 2011 documented severe contamination in Ogoniland and recommended a comprehensive cleanup; later governments and Shell agreed to implement remediation plans.

Today, the Ogoni continue to seek environmental justice and sustainable development within Rivers State and Nigeria, amid ongoing debates over accountability, compensation, and the future of oil in the region.