As one of the Wiwa's told us, Bane may be a beautifully quaint little village, but its residents suffer from not having the most rudimentary needs met, such as running water, electricity, or a real opportunity for education. On this very day, people came to Bane to pay tribute to Ken's legacy as a nonviolent fighter for Ogoniland. By the start of the service, several thousands were waiting outside the small Anglican Church. Inside, Ken's family and close friends and associates attended a nearly two hour service. Barine sat near the front in the center row of pews, but not in front.
Tradition reserves the first pew for the male members of the immediate family.
The second pew is for first daughters and the third pew for the remaining siblings like Barine. In it, he compared Wiwa to the Apostle Paul who endured much suffering to spread the gospel to the Roman colonial masters. Ken Sao-Wiwa, said the minister, was willing to face death to spread the message of justice for the Ogoni people beyond the shores of Nigeria. Originally, Ken Saro-Wiwa Jr. was going to speak only at the gravesite to an assemblage of family members. During the ceremony, it was decided that he should speak in the church instead.