Kenya: Life and Times of Ngũgĩ Wa Thiong’o

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o (1938-2025) was a towering figure in African literature and postcolonial thought, widely regarded as East Africa’s leading novelist and one of the continent’s most influential intellectuals. Born James Ngugi on January 5, 1938, in Limuru, Kenya, during British colonial rule, Ngũgĩ grew up amid political upheaval that deeply shaped his worldview and writing.

Ngũgĩ earned bachelor’s degrees from Makerere University in Uganda (1963) and Leeds University in England (1964). He began his career writing in English, producing landmark novels such as Weep Not, Child (1964)–the first major English-language novel by an East African–and The River Between (1965), which explored the tensions between traditional African culture and Christianity. His early works vividly depicted the Kenyan struggle for independence and the social challenges facing his people.

In the 1970s, Ngũgĩ made a radical shift by abandoning English in favour of writing primarily in his native Kikuyu language, adopting his traditional name as a symbol of cultural reclamation. This change was rooted in his belief that language is central to identity and freedom, a theme he elaborated in his influential essay collection Decolonising the Mind (1986), which argues that African writers must embrace indigenous languages to resist colonial cultural domination.

Ngũgĩ’s political activism intensified with his involvement in theater. His play Ngaahika Ndeenda (I Will Marry When I Want), co-written in Kikuyu, critiqued social inequalities and corruption in postcolonial Kenya. This led to his imprisonment without trial in 1977 by the Kenyan government. While incarcerated, he famously wrote the novel Devil on the Cross on toilet paper, underscoring his commitment to resistance through storytelling.

After his release, Ngũgĩ went into self-imposed exile, continuing his literary and academic work abroad. He taught at prestigious institutions including Yale University, Northwestern University, New York University, and the University of California, Irvine, where he was a professor of English and Comparative Literature. During this period, he produced some of his most acclaimed works, including Wizard of the Crow (2006), a sweeping political satire and masterpiece of African storytelling.

Ngũgĩ’s oeuvre spans novels, plays, essays, and memoirs, consistently addressing colonialism’s legacy, cultural identity, and social justice. His work inspired generations of African writers and scholars and earned him multiple Nobel Prize nominations. He was also a vocal critic of neo-colonialism and globalisation.

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o passed away on May 28, 2025, at the age of 87, as announced by his family. His daughter urged people to celebrate his life and work rather than mourn. The African literary community and global readers mourned the loss of a literary giant whose work remains a beacon for cultural liberation and resistance.

Ngũgĩ’s notable works include Weep Not, Child (1964), The River Between (1965), A Grain of Wheat (1967), Petals of Blood (1977), Devil on the Cross (1982), Matigari (1989), Wizard of the Crow (2006), The Perfect Nine (2020), and Decolonising the Mind (1986, essays).

Ngũgĩ’s life was a testament to the power of literature as a tool for political resistance and cultural affirmation. His insistence on linguistic decolonisation and his fearless critique of injustice have left an indelible mark on African literature and beyond.

May his extraordinarily creative soul rest in peace.

By Vanguard.