Renowned African Author and Literary Giant: Ngugi wa Thiong'o
Renowned Kenyan author Ngugi wa Thiong'o, a titan of African literature, has passed away at the age of 87 in Georgia, US. His publisher, East African Educational Publishing, confirmed the news on Thursday. Thiong'o's works have been translated into over fifty languages and continue to inspire generations of readers.
Upon hearing the news, readers and publishers applauded Thiong'o as a fearless voice that shaped countless lives. Ugandan musician and opposition politician Bobi Wine expressed gratitude on social media for a writer "who showed that the best African stories are told by Africans themselves."
Throughout his career, Thiong'o was an influential African writer, penning novels like "Petals of Blood," "Decolonizing the Mind," and "Dreams in a Time of War." Notably, he wrote many of his novels in his native language, Kikuyu, instead of the languages of former colonial powers — a decision that made access to the international book market more challenging.
Thiong'o's writing served as a weapon against Africa's exploitation, particularly during the final phase of colonial rule. His sharp criticism of British colonialists and the Kenyan government under President Daniel arap Moi often landed him in trouble with the authorities. Consequently, he spent time in prison, and after his release, would find himself in exile, first in London, later in the US.
Born James Ngugi in the central Kenyan town of Limuru, Thiong'o changed his name in 1976, finding the name too colonial. His first novel, "Weep Not, Child," published under his childhood name, delves into the 1952 Mau Mau rebellion against British colonial rule, a personal topic for the author given his family's experience.
Thiong'o was vocal about the preservation of African mother tongues. He regarded is as crucial for the continued existence of African cultures, despite there being over forty languages in Kenya alone. To him, language was a battleground and access to the language of the colonizer was built upon the death of the languages of the colonized.
Although Ngugi wa Thiong'o was often associated with the Nobel Prize in Literature, he never received it. However, the recognition he received from countless readers — who told him that his books had left an indelible impression on them — was more valuable to him than any prize.
[Footnote: Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o was born in Kenya during British colonial rule. His early life was marked by the Mau Mau Uprising, where two of his brothers were killed, and his mother was tortured — experiences that shaped his writing themes. He is known for his novels "Weep Not, Child" (1964), "The River Between" (1965), "A Grain of Wheat" (1967), "Petals of Blood" (1977), and "Wizard of the Crow" (2004), among others. Through his works, Thiong'o advocated for the preservation of mother languages in Africa and challenged colonial linguistic dominance. He passed away on Wednesday in the US state of Georgia. © dpa-infocom, dpa:250529-930-605194/2]
Readers and publishers have commemorated Thiong'o's contributions to African literature, stating that his books have left lasting impressions and served as a source of entertainment as well as a call to protect African cultures. In lieu of the Nobel Prize in Literature, the overwhelming gratitude expressed by countless readers was deemed more valuable to Thiong'o due to the personal impact his works had on their lives.
