Obi Wali (27 February 1932 – 26 April 1993) was a minority rights activist, politician, distinguished senator, literary scholar, and an orator from Nigeria.

Obi Wali was born on 27 February 1932 in Rumuigbo Town, headquarters of Apara Kingdom, in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

[1] His parents were Chief Frank Wali Otogbo (1889-1980) and Princess Jane Wali Otogbo (1895-1976) daughter of the famous Chief Ezebunwo Amadi Nwondugba (Deceased) of (Worenwu Family) Oroworukwo Wami Community, the then paramount ruler of Oroworukwo Rebisi in Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State.

He then continued his studies in the United States, where he obtained a doctorate degree in English Language and literature at the Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.

He also is remembered for his call for a critical examination of Nigeria's commitments to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

[7] In addition to his political roles, Wali was a professor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he taught courses including "Introduction to African Literature.

"[11] Wali presented this paper in 1962 at Makerere University in Uganda at the first major conference on new African writing at the institution.

[14] Wali was violently murdered and dismembered at home in his bedroom by suspected hired assassins on 26 April 1993.