Noted Kenyan author and critic Ngūgī wa Thiong'o succumbs at the age of 87.
Kenyan Author and Africanexpression Champion Ngugi wa Thiong'o Passes Away at 87
Prominent Kenyan author and champion of African expression, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 87. The news was shared by his daughter Wanjiku Wa Ngugi on Facebook, who confirmed that he lived a full life and fought a good fight.
Ngugi wa Thiong'o, known as east Africa's most influential writer, penned books that chronicled his country's history from British imperialism to home-ruled tyranny and questioned not only the narratives but the languages used in storytelling.
Details about the cause of his death and any funeral arrangements were not immediately available, but it was known that he had been receiving kidney dialysis treatments.
In a 2022 interview with AFP from California, where he resided in self-imposed exile, Ngugi expressed his strong belief in linguistic equality. "I am completely horrified by the hierarchy of languages," he stated.
Best recognized for his novels, such as "The River Between," "The Wizard of the Crow," and "Petals of Blood," as well as memoirs like "Birth of a Dream Weaver" and the landmark critique "Decolonizing the Mind," his work garnered admiration from authors worldwide, including John Updike and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Former President Barack Obama praise Ngugi's ability to capture the transformative impact of historical events on individual lives and relationships.
Ngugi's groundbreaking decision in the 1970s to abandon English in favor of his native Kikuyu and Kenya's national language, Swahili, was initially met with confusion and ridicule. In the words of Kenyan writer David Maillu, "We all thought he was mad... and brave at the same time. We asked ourselves who would buy the books."
However, this bold choice elevated his reputation and cemented his status as an African literary icon. In 1977, he and fellow writer Ngugi wa Mirii were imprisoned without charge after the performance of their play, "Ngaahika Ndeenda" ("I Will Marry When I Want"). During his imprisonment, he wrote his first novel in Kikuyu, "Devil on the Cross," which was published in 1980.
Amnesty International labeled him a prisoner of conscience, and a global campaign orchestrated his release from Kamiti Maximum Security Prison in December 1978. Throughout his life, Ngugi remained an advocate for resistance and the preservation of individual beliefs in the face of injustice.
- Connected Topics:
- Africa
- Books
- Kenya
- Literature
Ngugi wa Thiong'o, who authored several influential books, chroniced Africa's history and questioned the narratives as well as languages used in storytelling (books). His work, including "The River Between," "The Wizard of the Crow," "Petals of Blood," and "Decolonizing the Mind," garnered admiration from authors worldwide, proving to be a significant contribution to African literature (literature).
