Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, the towering Kenyan author, playwright, and post-colonial theorist, passed away on May 28, 2025, at the age of 87.
Recognised globally for his powerful political voice and literary innovations, Ngũgĩ dedicated his life to championing African languages, culture, and liberation through his extensive works.
His death marks the end of an era in the African literary community and beyond.
Born James Ngugi in 1938 in Kamiriithu, near Limuru, Kenya, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o entered a world defined by British colonial rule.
His upbringing unfolded within a large Kikuyu family, deeply influenced by the tumultuous Mau Mau Uprising, which spanned from 1952 to 1962.
This period of intense conflict was not merely a historical backdrop; it profoundly shaped his formative years and future literary endeavours.
The Mau Mau War of Independence left an indelible mark on Ngũgĩ's personal life.
He witnessed immense suffering within his own family: two of his brothers were killed, and his mother endured torture. His family home was razed to the ground, and another brother, involved in the insurgency, was captured by British forces and sent to a concentration camp.
