African literary giant Ngugi wa Thiong’s dead at 87

His daughter, Wanjiku wa Ngũgĩ, announced his death on Facebook, stating, “He lived a full life, fought a good fight”.

Ngũgĩ was a towering figure in African literature, celebrated for his novels, plays, and essays that critiqued colonialism and post-independence authoritarianism. Notable works include Weep Not, Child, Petals of Blood, Devil on the Cross, and Wizard of the Crow. In 1977, his politically charged play Ngaahika Ndeenda led to his imprisonment without trial . Following his release, he went into exile in 1982 and later became a professor at the University of California, Irvine.

A strong advocate for linguistic decolonization, Ngũgĩ transitioned from writing in English to his native Gikuyu language, emphasizing the importance of cultural authenticity in literature . His influential essay Decolonising the Mind underscores this commitment.

Throughout his life, Ngũgĩ received numerous accolades and was often considered a contender for the Nobel Prize in Literature . His legacy endures through his profound contributions to literature and his unwavering advocacy for justice and cultural identity.