Ngugi Wa Thiong’o, one of Africa’s foremost authors from Kenya, is dead.
His daughter Wanjiku Wa Ngugi, who is also an author, disclosed the sad news. She made the revelation on Wednesday in a Facebook post.
She said,
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our dad, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Wednesday 28th May 2025. He lived a full life, fought a good fight. As was his last wish, let’s celebrate his life and his work. Rîa ratha na rîa thŭa. Tŭrî aira!
“The family’s spokesperson, Nducu Wa Ngugi, will announce details of his celebration of life soon.”
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Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o was born on January 5, 1938, in a rural village in Kenya during British colonial rule. He was raised during a period of intense political and social upheaval, which deeply influenced his writing and activism.
Ngũgĩ is widely regarded as one of Africa’s greatest writers. His works span novels, plays, essays, and memoirs, often addressing the legacy of colonialism, the struggle for cultural identity, and the effects of oppression.
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His notable works include “Weep Not, Child” (1964), his first novel and one of the first English-language novels published by a Kenyan author.
Others include The River Between (1965), which explores themes of tradition vs. change; A Grain of Wheat (1967), which focuses on the Kenyan struggle for independence; Petals of Blood (1977), a critique of post-colonial corruption and neo-colonialism; and Devil on the Cross (1980).
He was imprisoned without trial in 1977 because of his political views and outspoken criticism of the Kenyan government.
Ngugi Wa Thiong’o lectured at various universities worldwide, including Yale University and the University of California, Irvine, where he was a professor of English and Comparative Literature.