Renowned Kenyan writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, celebrated globally for his literary works that powerfully critiqued colonialism and its aftermath in Africa, has died at the age of 87.
His daughter, Wanjiku wa Ngũgĩ, announced his passing on Facebook, stating: “He lived a good life, fought a good fight.
Ngũgĩ died on Wednesday morning in Atlanta, USA. Further details about his death will be shared in the coming days.
Born into a farming family during British colonial rule in Kenya, Ngũgĩ gained international acclaim through seminal works such as Weep Not, Child (1964), Devil on the Cross (1980), and Wizard of the Crow (2006). He was among the few authors who chose to write in their native language, Gikuyu, as a means of cultural liberation.
He once remarked, “It was in prison that I began to think deeply about language. Why hadn’t I been stopped before, when I was writing in English?”
In 1977, he was imprisoned after staging the play Ngaahika Ndeenda (I Will Marry When I Want), written in Gikuyu, which highlighted economic injustices and religious hypocrisy, provoking the ire of President Daniel arap Moi’s regime.
After his release in 1978, Ngũgĩ went into exile in the UK and later the US, where he taught at the University of California, Irvine. In 2004, upon returning to Kenya, he and his wife Njeeri were attacked by armed assailants at their home.
Ngũgĩ continued to champion African languages and cultures, emphasizing that foreign languages should not dominate education and cultural expression.
While teaching at the University of Nairobi, he asserted, “African literature must take the lead so that other countries and cultures can learn from us.”
In 2021, he was nominated for the International Booker Prize for his poetic work The Perfect Nine, the first submission written in an African indigenous language.
Beyond his literary achievements, Ngũgĩ was a father to nine children, four of whom—Tee Ngũgĩ, Mukoma wa Ngũgĩ, Nducu wa Ngũgĩ, and Wanjiku wa Ngũgĩ—followed in his literary footsteps.
In a 2018 interview with The Guardian, he stated, “To resist injustice is the best way to keep living. Even if it’s a small act, saying ‘no’ to wrongdoing is a victory.”
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o leaves behind a profound legacy in advocating for African values through language, literature, and justice. He will be remembered as a pillar of contemporary African culture and writing.
