Breaking NewsTrending & Latest News

Ngugi wa Thiong’o (1938-2025): A Literary Legacy

Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Kenya’s celebrated literary figure and anti-colonial thinker, has passed away at 87 in California, US. He died on May 28, 2025, due to complications related to kidney failure, after undergoing dialysis three times a week. Born on January 5, 1938, in rural Kenya, Ngugi wa Thiong’o was a renowned author, scholar, and activist known for his powerful storytelling, political activism, and commitment to African languages and identity.

Some of his most notable works include:
Notable Novels:
– Weep Not, Child (1964), the first English-language novel published by an East African author
– The River Between (1965), exploring tradition versus change
– A Grain of Wheat (1967), set during Kenya’s independence movement
– Petals of Blood (1977), critiquing corruption in post-independence Kenya
– Devil on the Cross (1980), originally written in Kikuyu as a political act of resistance
Other Works:
– Decolonising the Mind (1986), a manifesto for writers seeking to unshackle African literature from colonial frameworks
– Wizard of the Crow (2006), a sprawling novel set in the fictional Free Republic of Aburĩria

Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s literary career spanned decades, with his work often addressing colonialism, post-colonial struggles, cultural heritage, and social justice. He was imprisoned without trial in 1977 for staging the play “Ngaahika Ndeenda” (I Will Marry When I Want) in Gikuyu, and later held academic positions in Britain and the US, including at Yale University and the University of California, Irvine. His legacy as a literary revolutionary, political dissenter, and teacher continues to inspire generations.

Related posts

How Kidandala Withdrew Petitions Against Jailed Mp, Now The Late Ssegirinya

People’s Front for Freedom: The New Face of Opposition Politics in Uganda

Dean Lubowa Saava

Gashumba Campaigns for Lord Fred Sebatta Luxury Car Gone Wrong

Barbra Zeka

Ssegirinya is dead, a victim of Bad Politics

ndiwalanakiwa@gmail.com

Uganda’s Power Couple Apologize: Musevenis Admit Mistakes

Dean Lubowa Saava

PPDA Appoints New Board Members to Drive Procurement Reforms

Barbra Zeka

Renowned Ugandan Midwife Theresa Nansikombi Passes Away at 94

Dean Lubowa Saava

Democrats, protesters gather in Chicago to cheer, challenge Harris and Biden

ndiwalanakiwa@gmail.com

ICC Denies Request for Kony’s Confirmation of Charges Hearing in Uganda, Appeals Chamber to Decide Next Steps

Barbra Zeka

Anger and Disbelief as Voters Go Missing from NRM Register in Nakawa East

Barbra Zeka

Leave a Comment