Acclaimed Kenyan literary giant Ngugi wa Thiong’o has passed away at 87, leaving behind a legacy of powerful novels that shed light on post-colonial Kenya’s complexities.
Ngugi wa Thiong’o, one of Africa’s most celebrated literary giants, passed away on May 28, 2025, at the age of 87. The renowned writer was born on January 5, 1938, in Limuru, Kenya, and spent his life advocating for African culture and independence from Western dominance.
Ngugi wa Thiong'o is a Kenyan novelist, playwright, and essayist.
Born in 1938, he was educated at Makerere University in Uganda and later at the University of Leeds in England.
His writing often explores themes of 'colonialism,' “identity,” and social justice.
Notable works include 'The River Between' (1965), 'Weep Not, Child' (1964), and 'Matigari' (1986).
Ngugi has been awarded numerous honors for his contributions to literature, including the Neustadt International Prize for Literature in 1992.
Ngugi wa Thiong’o studied at Makerere College (now Makerere University) in Uganda and later at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. He established a writing career by the age of 30 and became known for his powerful novels that shed light on the failings of post-colonial Kenya. His works, including ‘The Devil on the Cross‘ and ‘Matigari,’ were translated into over 30 languages and gained international acclaim.
A key moment in Ngugi wa Thiong’o‘s life came in 1977 when he was asked to write a play with fellow writer ‘Ngugi wa Mirii‘ for a theater near Nairobi. They decided to use the local language Gikuyu, which resonated with audiences from the entire Kikuyu region. However, this move also attracted unwanted attention, and the play ‘Ngaahika Ndeenda‘ was banned after just nine performances.
Ngugi wa Thiong’o‘s writing continued to ruffle feathers with the Kenyan government, and he eventually lived in exile for 22 years. He returned to Kenya in 2004 but was attacked at his home in 2004, leading him to leave the country again. Ngugi wa Thiong’o later found refuge in the United States, where he taught at universities like Yale and New York University.
Throughout his life, Ngugi wa Thiong’o advocated for literature written in African languages to be translated directly into other African languages without using English as an intermediary. He believed that this would allow their languages to communicate directly with each other. Ngugi wa Thiong’o‘s most recent work, ‘The Perfect Nine,’ published and written in Gikuyu, became the first work written in an indigenous African language to be nominated for the International Booker Prize.
Ngugi wa Thiong’o‘s legacy extends beyond his literary works. He is remembered as a pioneer who shed light on the complexities of post-colonial Kenya and advocated for African culture and independence. His contributions to literature have left a lasting impact, inspiring future generations of writers and thinkers.
